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Mt Fuji installs new emergency shelters ahead of the 2026 climbing season

New reinforced shelters are designed to protect climbers from volcanic eruptions, falling rocks and lightning.As Mt Fuji prepares for the start of the 2026 climbing season on 1 July, two new emergency shelters have been installed on the Yoshida Trail, improving climber safety in the event of a volcanic eruption or other mountain hazards.The reinforced concrete shelters have been built along the Yoshida descent route near the seventh and eighth stations, and are designed to withstand volcanic deb

Live-action Spirited Away stage play announces world tour with first-ever U.S. and Canadian dates

The Spirited Away stage play will cross over to the other side of the Pacific for the first time ever, plus make its return to the U.K.Though in-the-know overseas otaku, cinephiles, and animation enthusiasts had sung the praises of films such as My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke after catching screenings at conventions and art house theaters, it wasn’t until Spirited Away came along that the works of Studio Ghibli really gained recognition around the world. Now, after international audien

Here’s what Shibuya’s famous scramble intersection looked like after the Japan vs. Sweden match

Did the aftermath of Japan’s final match in the World Cup group stage result in order or chaos at one of Tokyo’s biggest gathering spots?The FIFA World Cup currently taking place in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. has sparked all kinds of excitement in the air in Japan. The Japanese national team’s performance had been solid in the group stage, drawing in its first match and winning its second, prior to its last matchup against Sweden on June 25 local time.We had tried to grab tic

International fugitive Carlos Ghosn says he’d be best person to head Nissan now

I think I have a better chance of becoming CEO of Nissan at this point.In the evening of 30 December, 2019, when much of Japan was gearing down for the New Year’s holidays, a small team led by a former US Special Forces soldier were quietly breaking former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn out of house arrest and helping him flee the country back to his home in Lebanon.Prior to that, Ghosn had been under arrest for over a year, both in jail and then under house arrest, while he faced mounting charges, inc

Japan’s Mos Burger goes super-premium for summer with eel burgers that require pre-orders

Summer is the season for unagi, and Mos Burger has some very special, and very expensive, sandwiches on the way to celebrate Doyo no Ushi no Hi.Despite having a name that sounds intimidatingly identical to “moss burger,” Japan’s Mos Burger fast food chain has a broadly accessible menu. “Mos” is actually meant to represent “mountain,” “ocean,” and “sea,” symbolizing the chain’s championing of fresh, naturally delicious ingredients.That accessibility usually extends to Mos’ pricing too, since whil

Taco Spaghetti appears in Japan, and our taco fan rushes to try it[Taste test]

Tacos and spaghetti have earned love around the world, but will their meeting in Japan be a tragedy?Japan loves spaghetti, but doesn’t necessarily feel bound to tradition when it comes to the dish, So while you can find authentic Italian-style pasta in Japan, so too can you find things like Napolitan (spaghetti with ketchup sauce, bacon, bell peppers, onion, and mushrooms) and spaghetti with tarako (cod roe) sauce.And now restaurant chain Spaghetti no Pancho is expanding the concept of spaghetti

Blind Tokyo commuter explains the easiest place for him to stand while riding the train

While waiting for the train, there’s always one spot he hopes will be empty when it comes.Today, we’re featuring the writing of a special guest columnist, Ryoku. Ryoku works as a producer in the TV industry, and his hobbies include singing karaoke and traveling the country in a search for Japan’s tastiest gyoza.Ryoku also happens to have glaucoma, and has been almost completely blind since about four years ago. In this article, he’d like to talk about his experiences riding the train as someone

Beautiful new dangling Totoro socks let the Ghibli mascot sway with every step[Photos]

Lacework designers turn their talent to Totoro for adorably fashionable socks and clutch bag.As any Studio Ghibli fan can tell you, Totoro’s natural habitat is a lush forest. That doesn’t mean he’s confined to the woodlands, though. Between his flying top and apparent free pass to ride the Catbus, he’s actually a pretty mobile guy, and now he’s got a new way of getting around with these adorable Totoro socks.Newly added to the lineup at the Ghibli Museum store, these stylish socks are a collabor

Krispy Kreme Japan releases new fruit doughnuts…that taste better cold

We find out if these limited-edition treats really taste like the fruits that inspired them.
Krispy Kreme Japan is going fruity this summer, with not one, not two but three delicious creations designed to satisfy our sweet cravings. On the menu from 24 June, we were able to pop by for a taste of all three, to find out if they really taste as good as they look.▼ The three new doughnuts take their inspiration from watermelon, peach and pineapple.Each doughnut has a brilliant, glossy fruit glaze th

Japanese man’s gross conveyor belt sushi social media prank video gets him a 500,000-yen fine

Cost of sushi? 132 yen. Cost of being a moron? 500,000.In addition to being tasty, casual, and convenient, low prices are a big part of the appeal of Japan’s conveyor belt sushirestaurants. At the most popular major chains, for example, you can usually get a two-piece plate of mainstays like tuna or salmon for 200 yen (US$1.25) or less.A 43-year-old man’s meal at a branch of conveyor belt sushi chain Hama Sushi in Saitama Prefecture, though, is going to end up costing him a lot more than that, b

Testing Japan’s latest food hack trend: Adding instant corn soup powder to popcorn[Taste test]

A two-ingredient food hack promising a delicious upgrade.From time to time, Japan sees interesting and unusual food hacks popping up on the internet, preparing food in new ways for unexpected delights, or combining several to create unique flavors. Here at SoraNews24, we are keen to put our tastebuds and stomachs to the test in the neverending quest for culinary bliss, so when we spotted the latest idea and the positive reviews, we knew we had to give it a go for ourselves.The idea itself comes

Pikachu brings electric style to brand-new Pokémon G-Shock watch featuring every stater trio

Timepiece is a stylish salute to 30 years of Pokémon history.The name of Casio’s G-Shock line of watches is short for “Gravitational Shock,” a nod to its design priority of impact and vibration resistance. Linguistically, though, “shock” can also refer to electrical charges, so why not a tie-up with Japan’s favorite source of electrical energy, Pikachu?Yes, G-Shock’s latest creative partner is none other than the Pokémon franchise, and while Casio’s newest creation might bear the official design

Starbucks Japan releases three new peach drinks, but the real star isn’t the Frappuccino

One drink will have us coming back for more this summer.Summer has arrived in Japan, and the season is looking particularly peachy at Starbucks, where you’ll find several new drinks filled with the flavour of peach. However, the Frappuccino isn’t the star of the show for us this time around, as we believe another newly released beverage has more potential for enjoyment.▼ Let’s start by taking a look at the Peach & Peach Milk Frappuccino (720 yen [US$4.45] for dine-in).Peach-flavo

The adorable, delicious joy of the Totoro cream puff gift box[Taste test]

Turns out Studio Ghibli’s forest spirit is also a magical dessert.I don’t really have any close acquaintances who live in my neighborhood here in Japan. Sure, I’ve got plenty of friends, professional colleagues, in-laws, and even a brother whose family is occasionally in the country as part of the expanded Baseel family’s adventures in Asia, but no one who lives so close to my apartment that they’re going to pop in for a visit without letting me know ahead of time.So when someone appears at the

Tokyo cops arrest foreigner for suspected visa violation, don’t know what new residence cards look like

Seems like the people doing on-the-street immigration checks should know what immigration documents look like, doesn’t it?As we’ve talked about before, police officers in Japan sometimes engage ins something called shokumu shitsumon. Though it literally translates to “type of employment questioning,” in actuality shokumu shitsumon is a police tactic in which officers will stop someone on the street and ask them to show their ID and answer questions such as what they’re doing in the neighborhood.

South Asia unites to accelerate action on ending violence against children

Nepal, June 25 -- The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Government of Sri Lanka, UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA), the World Health Organization Regional Offices ...

Starbucks Japan reopens Shinkansen platform store after redesigning it for speed

Japan’s only Starbucks on a bullet train platform now has faster ways for passengers to get their coffee before boarding.Starbucks Japan has announced the reopening of its Shinkansen platform store at JR Shin-Yokohama Station on 24 June, following a temporary closure for renovations that began at the end of April.Operated by JR Central Retailing Plus, the store first opened in November last year as a new style of Starbucks based around a “Brewed to Go” concept. Designed to deliver a premium coff

Nintendo’s Animal Crossing crosses over to Baskin-Robbins Japan with special ice cream and merch

Nook Inc. takes part in delicious new business venture.Baskin-Robbins Japan’sDragon Quest promotion is down to its last few days, with the series’ Slime mascot set to shuffle off to Yoshinoya soon. Sweets fans don’t need to feel too bad about this, though, as some other adorable characters will be taking up temporary residence at Baskin-Robbins thanks to a collaboration with Nintendo’s Animal Crossing!Baskin-Robbins has teamed up with Nintendo before, but this is their first-ever Animal Crossing

Married Japanese man must pay 4.6 million yen after faking being single and impregnating partner

Falsifying a relationship status can land you with a massive bill.Romance is a beautiful thing: two strangers creating a bond that will tie them together for a lifetime of love and joy. Sadly, not every relationship endures, whether it be due to simply having different goals in life or being subjected to your partner’s dishonesty. In Japan, romantic deception can result in more than just tears, actually landing you in a civil court and facing a huge lawsuit, and a recent case demonstrates just h

Japanese theme park adding Immersive Death Game with a “bomb collar” you have to wear

Little kids are not allowed to play the death game inspired by Alice in Borderland at one of Japan’s favorite theme parks.Many would say that Japan’s Huis Ten Bosch theme park, located in Nagasaki Prefecture, is more about the atmosphere than the attractions. Inspired by the Dutch royal palace of the same name, Huis Ten Bosch doesn’t have any roller coasters, and it’s instead better known for its elegant architecture, beautiful flowers, and picturesque canals, some of which can be seen in the ph