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Over four billion yen in lost cash was found in Tokyo last year, setting new record

Billions turned in to police, and billions returned to owners.Botanists and economists agree that money doesn’t grow on trees, but it turns out that there’s actually a whole lot of cash to be found in the concrete jungle of Tokyo. With March being the start of the fiscal year, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police have released their annual statistics regarding lost and found property in the city, and a record-breaking amount of yen was turned in over the past year.In total, the police received more tha

Japan’s Human Washing Machine pods are now on sale for home use, and they’re not cheap

But can you really put a price on this kind of science fiction-grade luxury?When visitors to last year’s Expo 2025 world’s fair in Osaka saw that Japanese company Science was displaying a human washing machine pod, it must have felt like a vision of the future, and it was. However, this wasn’t a vision of the future of many centuries, decades, or even years ahead, but actually just a sneak-peak at what was coming in a few months, as you can now officially walk into one of Japan’s most popular el

Starbucks Japan has a limited-edition candle…that hasn’t sold out yet

Does this mean the candle isn’t any good? Starbucks is famous for its limited-edition wares, especially in Japan where you can get everything from sakura mugs and tumblers through to chocolatey Valentine’s Day goods.While most of these goods are only available for a limited time and disappear quickly from shelves, one product appears to have lingered longer than expected, because despite being released for Christmas, we were lucky enough to find it at one store in February.▼ The prod

Taste-testing Japan’s real-world Dragon Balls and Senzu Beans at Marugame Seimen

The treasures of Dragon Ball come to one of Japan’s favorite noodle restaurant chains.Marugame Seimen is a chain of udon noodle restaurants, and the “Marugame” part of their name translates literally to “circle turtle.” Someone apparently realized that the Japanerse kanji character for turtle, 亀, surrounded by a circle just so happens to be the emblem on Dragon Ball hero Son Goku’s outfit, and so as of this month Marugame Seimen and Dragon Ball are collaborating to bring the mythical foods and t

Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo

Updated forecast says a burst of warm weather, with more sun to come, will be speeding up cherry blossom buds’ development.Though the cherry blossoms are a symbol of spring, Japan starts thinking about them in the middle of winter. They’re only in bloom for a short time, so planning ahead is critical in making the most out of sakura season, which is why Japanese meterological organization Weathernews puts out its initial cherry blossom forecast almost as soon as the new year starts.As we get clo

Live-action One Piece’s Luffy teaches Sesame Street’s Elmo a Japanese word for friendship[Video]

Aspiring pirate kings share hugs with each other and a bit of Japanese culture with the world.Considering how anime and manga were still pretty much a niche hobby in most parts of the world when One Piece got started back in 1997, it’s amazing to see how huge of a global fanbase the franchise has today. Not only are there people around the world keeping up with the epically lengthy series’ new manga chapters and anime episodes, Netflix’s Western-made live-action adaptation has defied the odds an

Is Starbucks Japan’s new Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino suitable for adults?

Tiny Frappuccino is designed for young girls, so we find out if it’s too sweet for adults. In Japan, 3 March is Hinamatsuri, commonly known as Girls’ Day in English. It’s a day when families pray for the wellbeing of their young daughters by displaying traditional “hina ningyo” dolls – Hinamatsuri literally translates as “Doll’s Festival” – and eating special foods like hina arare (sweet, multicoloured rice crackers) and hishimochi (diamond-shaped

One Piece creator has hidden secret of anime treasure’s identity in chest at bottom of real-world ocean

After keeping secret for nearly 30 years, Eiichiro Oda has written it down on a paper, put that paper in a chest, and tossed it into the sea, where it remains even now.As both the writer and illustrator of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda has proven his talents as both a storyteller and a visual artist. However, the guy is also really, really good at keeping secrets.The core plot premise of One Piece is that before his death, the king of the pirates, Gol D. Roger, hid the world’s greatest treasure, which

Sakuramochi festival sweetens things up at Tokyo’s Seibu Ikebukuro this season

One of Tokyo’s biggest shopping areas is giving you the chance to try 19 kinds of the traditional spring sweet spanning two major regional differences.Perhaps you’re on your way to visit Chiikawa Park in Tokyo’s Sunshine City shopping complex, or to stock up on the latest character goods at Animate’s flagship location just down the road. Either way, there’s a very good chance that you’ll be passing through Ikebukuro Station to get to your destination. In that

Is Tokyo Station’s startlingly expensive wagyu bento boxed lunch worth its high price?[Taste test]

The Yukifuri Wagyu Obanazawa Sirloin and Rib Loin Steak Rice Box has a long name, a high price, and our stomach’s interest.With Tokyo Station being part of both the Tokaido and Tohoku Shinkansen lines, it’s the starting point for many journeys across Japan. But even before you step aboard the bullet train, your taste buds can take a virtual voyage of their own, as Tokyo Station has one of Japan’s best selections of ekiben, or station bento boxed lunches, featuring some mouthwatering regional ing

Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026

Sakura is usually associated with the colour pink, so why is this collection so blue?As we enter meteorological spring in Japan, the blossoming of the sakura trees is now only a few weeks away. However, at Starbucks the season has already begun, with a pink-hued range of drinkware released in February. Now, a second series is about to arrive at Starbucks, and this time the theme is “Sakura Twinkle Gently“, which is designed to conjure up images of cherry blossoms dancing against a bl

Kyoto raises hotel accommodation tax to fight overtourism, travelers could pay up to 10 times more

Higher rates now in effect, projected to bring in more than 7 billion yen in extra revenue.For many of the things that draw travelers to Kyoto, their appeal is timeless. The elegant architecture of a temple, the soothingly precise patterns raked into a stone garden, and the enticing aroma of a cup of freshly brewed, locally farmed tea are things that visitors to the city have been enjoying for centuries.However, a big change has come to Kyoto travel this week, with the introduction of new, and p

Sakura Festival in Chiyoda mixes illuminations, boats, music, and Rilakkuma in the heart of Tokyo

Celebrate the fleeting cherry blossom season with a plethora of things to do right around the Imperial Palace.While one of Japan’s most scenic spots has canceled its annual cherry blossom-themed event this year due to overtourism, others are still proceeding as planned. Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward is pretty much as central as you can get, with the Imperial Palace of Japan located right at its center. That pristine location–with the palace grounds only a short walk away from Tokyo Stat

Chance to play Teris on a massive staircase in Kyoto Station coming in March

The one time you won’t get in trouble for playing on the stairs.Four decades ago, Alexey Pajitnov created one of the most groundbreaking and universally beloved video games of all time in Tetris. It has appeared on countless gaming platforms over the years, and now it’s coming to a literal platform outside of Kyoto Station.Those who visit Kyoto and pass through its main station can’t help but be impressed by its huge, sprawling architecture, including its Grand Staircase (Daikaidan). This set of

Lawson adds doughnuts to its convenience store sweets range, but are they good enough to go viral?

A new convenience store sweet…but you need to be lucky to find it.Whenever we see the words “先行発売” (“senkou hatsubai“) during our travels in Japan, we always step in for a closer look. That’s because it translates as “advance sales” or “pre-sale“, which means you might just discover the next big thing before it goes viral and becomes widely available.So when we stopped by our local Lawson convenience store and saw those words on a large

Viral Japanese cheesecake from Osaka has a lesser known rival called Aunt Wanda

Move aside, Uncle Rikuro – Aunt Wanda is here to steal your fluffy souffle crown, without the raisins.If you’ve been following must-try Japanese food recommendations online, you may have heard of a super popular, fluffy souffle-style cheesecake called “UncleRikuro“. Born in Osaka, the cake is available in the Kansai region in and around the prefecture, but one question people tend to have after trying it is, “Are the raisins really necessary?”That’s because th

The best Hobonichi diaries, covers and stationery for 2026

It’s not too late to get organised with One Piece, Tomie, Mother, and Tamagotchi at your fingertips.If you’re looking for a diary at the beginning of the year, or the beginning of the school and fiscal year in April, then Hobonichi is a fantastic choice. Launched in Japan 25 years ago, the Hobonichi Diary, or “HobonichiTecho” (pronounced “tetcho”) to use its Japanese name, has grown to include a wide range of styles, with daily planners in the “Original&

Ramen for 99 yen?!? Best value-for-money noodles found at unlikely chain in Japan

Not many people know about it, but there’s a way to get ramen for just 64 cents in Japan.With wages stagnating and prices rising in Japan, households are tightening the purse strings and limiting outdoor meals, ultimately reshaping dining habits and the local food industry.In order to entice people back through their doors, some companies are stepping up with so-called “Household Support” items which serve to support household budget needs by being extremely affordable. One suc

Potama serves up epic rice balls like no other, and there’s only one store in Tokyo

Soul food from a tropical island, made fresh in the capital. Whenever we find ourselves in the vicinity of Tokyo Station, there’s one place we always visit, and its name is Potama. A cute amalgamation of the words “Pork” and “Tamago” (“Egg”), this specialty rice ball store has 11 branches throughout Japan, and only one in the entire Kansai region in and around Tokyo, located in Tokyo Midtown Yaesu.This branch of the hugely popular Okinawa-born chain open

Family Mart ups its convenience store food game with special burger from beef bowl chain Matsuya

Limited-edition release is quickly attracting attention online.In Japan, the difference between the syllables “gu” and “ga” are incredibly important in the culinary world, specifically when they follow the word “hanba“. If you were to request a “hanbagu“, for instance, you would receive a hamburg, which is a patty of ground beef, usually slathered in sauce and served with a side of rice. Ask for a “hanbaga“, however, and you’ll ge