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Famous sweets store in Ameyoko fills a bag with sweets and a show, but is it still worth it?
This bargain bag comes with a unique performance, but things have changed over the years.Ameyoko (short for Ameya Yokocho, or “Candy Store Alley”) has changed dramatically over the years. Starting off as a black market after World War II (some believe the “ame” in the name is short for “America”), the area grew to become known for its abundance of fresh seafood, produce and specialty foods, leading it to be dubbed “Tokyo’s kitchen” by locals. The lively calls
Yoshinoya and Dragon Quest slaying scalpers with shift to made-to-order collaboration merch
Following suspiciously swift sell-out of Yoshinoya’s Dragon Quest Slime bowls, new policy means that everyone who wants one can buy one at the regular price.At the start of the month, beef bowl chain Yoshinoyakicked off a collaboration with the Dragon Quest video game franchise. Part of the promotion were Dragon Quest Slime figures being given out as part of a Dragon Quest Walk Set meal being served at Yoshinoya branches, and we went on a very happy (and tasty) quest to get ours.In addition to t
Tokyo revises accommodation tax amidst tourism boom, Airbnb rentals now included
Both Japanese and overseas travellers could soon be paying more to stay in Tokyo.The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced major revisions to the city’s accommodation tax, replacing the current flat-rate system with a percentage-based tax from April 2027.Under the current system, guests staying in Tokyo hotels and ryokan (traditional Japanese inns) pay a tax of 100 yen (US$0.70) per person per night for rooms costing between 10,000 yen and 15,000 yen, and 200 yen per person per night for r
7-Eleven Japan now has Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, but how do they taste?[Taste test]
Vietnam’s star sandwich reaches a new milestone on the road to mainstream popularity in Japan.I’ve had a lot of people in Japan ask me what foods I miss from my hometown. Usually they assume I miss hamburgers, and as someone who grew up in southern California I do have a lot of fond memories of In-N-Out (and, as a cultured native son of San Dimas, I have especially fond memories of Bravo Burgers). But high-quality burgers aren’t all that hard to find in the Tokyo area, and the sandwiches I most
New Mt. Fuji overnight bus takes travelers from downtown Tokyo straight to the most popular hiking trail
If you’re looking to start your Mt. Fuji hike as early as possible without having to spend the night, here’s how.Popular tourism destination though it may be, there’s still a certain amount of planning and determination required to hike to the top of Mt. Fuji. As a matter of fact, just making it to the mountain itself from the Tokyo area can require some research, especially if you’ve got a time you want/need to arrive at the summit by and then have to work backwards through your various lodging
Potato-Chip-Flavored Dressing coming to stores in Japan
Dressed to impress.An age-old problem for many parents is how to get kids to eat their vegetables. In an age of hyper-palatable ultra-processed food, it can be hard to turn kids on to the wonders of spinach or even good old ants on a log. According to a survey of mothers in Japan, 90 percent want their children to eat vegetables, but struggle with the kids’ picky eating habits.This is a problem that food research firm and seasoning maker Riken Vitamin has decided to try tackling. Some might reco
Kirby Cafe gets even cuter with new summer menu and dishware you can take home[Photos]
Nintendo’s big-appetite video game star is ready to get summer started.When does summer start? For a layperson, the first day of June might seem the most natural, since it can feel weird to call, say, June 15 a “spring” day. Astronomers, though, would say we’re not into summer until we get past the solstice, which takes place around June 21. Meanwhile, staunch defenders of traditional Japanese culture and linguistic norms might argue that summer doesn’t begin until the end of the “rainy season”
Tokyo’s giant Pokémon Stamp Rally is back for 2026 with exclusive prizes up for grabs
Including a chance to relive your starter Pokémon anxiety a whole nine times.Japan is a nation that loves a stamp rally, and it’s not just kids getting in on the action. From highway rest stops to manhole covers, the simple act of stamping a design on a piece of paper is an enjoyable pastime for many people. Of course, there’s also the more traditional version of the activity, with countless people collecting the beautiful, handwritten calligraphic stamps called goshuin, which can be obtained at
Japan to get new high-speed train connecting Haneda and Narita airports, ease overtourism
There’s actually a good reason for a train to quickly get people between the Tokyo area’s two airports.Keisei Electric Railway, which operates trains in Tokyo and the neighboring prefecture of Chiba, is planning to add a new high-speed train service from Narita Airport, one of the Tokyo area’s major international travel gateways. Where will this speedy new train take passengers to? Tokyo’s other airport, Haneda.The idea of spending several hours on a plane to fly to Japan, only to get off, colle
Japan announces plans for twenty-fold increase in permanent residency fees, alongside higher visa costs
Government reveals long-awaited fee schedule ahead of proposed October implementation.On 3 July, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan published detailed draft guidelines setting out a new fee structure for visa renewals and permanent residency applications, following revisions to the Immigration Control Act passed in May.According to the draft proposal, fees for visa renewals and changes to status-of-residence will no longer be charged at the current flat rate of 6,000 yen (US$37.40) for in-
Japan moves to enforce language requirements for foreign nationals seeking permanent residency
Programmes on community etiquette may also become part of the screening process.Japan is moving forward with plans to establish more formal guidelines for foreign nationals seeking permanent residency in Japan, as part of a broader push by the government to strengthen integration and screening standards for foreign residents.The new policy guidelines, published on 3 July, were drafted by a specially appointed Immigration Services Agency project team led by Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Justice
A visit to Sri Lanka’s knockoff knockoff Uniqlo (no, we didn’t stutter) to see its rare “Pikachus”
Nicknack is the culmination of layers upon layers of branding quasi-copying, and also home to some very unusual Pikachus.Our travel-loving Japanese-language reporter Ikuna Kamezawa recently took a trip to Sri Lanka, and while out and about in the capital city of Colombo, she thought she spotted a familiar-looking sign in a shopping mall. The color scheme, font, and mixture of Latin alphabet letters and Japanese katakana script design instantly had her thinking of Uniqlo, Japan’s favorite casual
7-Eleven Japan releases chocolate cookies that taste like freshly baked melon bread
New melon pan crossover looks set to be a hit with customers.7-Eleven has been shaking up the convenience store scene in Japan recently, overhauling sandwiches with pink bread, rolling out tea-brewing machines, and adding Korean cheese balls to its hot food lineup. Now, the chain is continuing its run of exciting new creations with another innovation: chocolate cookies that taste like freshly baked melon bread.Produced for the chain’s “Seven Cafe Bakery” line, which features products
CPHI South East Asia 2026 to drive pharma partnerships across ASEAN
CPHI South East Asia 2026, one of the region's leading pharmaceutical trade exhibitions, is set to become a key platform for ...
How to cook shiitake mushrooms like a Japanese manga character
Easy recipe shows how to grill a mushroom so it tastes just like meat.There are a lot of places where you can pick up Japanese recipes and cooking tips, but when they come from a manga, we always sit up and pay attention. So when the main character of Otsuki from food-focused manga 1-Nichi Gaishutsuroku Hanchou (literally “One-Day Outing Foreman”) shared a delicious way to grill shiitake mushrooms in the latest chapter, we knew we had to try it out.▼ All you need for this easy recipe is a pack o
Udon pudding is about to shake up the noodle scene in Japan
Purin, like you’ve never seen, or tasted, before.Marugame Seimen (known as Marugame Udon overseas) has been outdoing itself with new noodle innovations recently, giving us all sorts of surprising creations, from shakeable noodles to udon doughnuts. Now the super popular noodle chain is pushing the boat out even further, with the announcement that it will soon be serving Udon Purin.Purin (“pudding”) is Japan’s take on crème caramel or flan, and its signature jiggly, creamy texture has made
The quest for Dragon Quest Yoshinoya figure sets: Worth taking for fans, tricky for scalpers[Pics]
Dragon Quest Slimes appear at Yoshinoya, and the restaurant is trying to make sure they go home with actual fans.Considering that dragons make up only a small portion of the games’ collective bestiary, you could say that the primary appeal of Dragon Quest is the questing. So it’s fitting that tracking down the Yoshinoya Dragon Quest meal, and its included exclusive Slime figures, is a quest in and of itself.Cool fan promotions like this are a dual-edged sword, in that they don’t only attract gen
Don’t judge this Kiki’s Delivery Service book by its cover, because it’s not actually a book!
Studio Ghibli pseudo-literature isn’t for reading, but is still something fans will want on their shelf.Ghibli specialty store Donguri Kyowakoku has a sub-brand called Donguri Closet. Aimed at fashionably minded women, Donguri Closet’s name is meant to bring to mind a closet filled with tastefully playful anime-inspired apparel, but today we’re looking at something from them that looks like it’d be more at home on a bookshelf or coffee table.Though the 1989 anime film is Kiki’s Delivery Service&
KFC Japan creates spicy summer fried chicken chips together with Calbee
Red-hot KFC chicken chips are on the way, and green-hot ones too.In May, Calbee, maker of some of Japan’s favorite potato chips, announced plans to switch to black-and-white packaging in response to shipping disruptions caused by the war in Iran affecting the company’s pipeline of naphtha, a liquid hydrocarbon used in the production of printing inks. However, it appears that Calbee has found a way to bring both literal and figurative color to its newest snacks, two different flavors of KFC potat
Sanrio’s new McDonald’s Japan Happy Meals give the spotlight all to Cinnamoroll[Photos]
One of Sanrio’s top dogs is headed to McDonald’s Japan with some very cute stuff.The recently concluded Sanrio Character Ranking election was another strong showing for Cinnamoroll, who received more votes than all but one other character. So with such a large fanbase, while McDonald’s Japan sometimes invites the Sanrio family to come play as a group, the fast food chain’s latest Happy Meals are a Cinnamoroll solo project.ハッピーセット®︎からご報告！7/10(金)にシナモロールがやってくるーーー！ pic.twitter.com/a660oz07ys—