This homey train station was where I would be meeting Hideo Goto, the fourth generation innkeeper of Takamine Onsen — a hidden ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) nestled 2,000 meters above the highlan…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 7 years, 11 months ago | 3 comments

Takayama is a castle town high up in the mountains of Gifu prefecture (4-5 hours from Tokyo), overflowing with traditional charm and busy streets waiting to be explored. Renowned for morning markets,…

posted by  Tanuki | 7 years, 11 months ago | 1 comment

Workaholic Japan is known for long office hours and stressed-out employees, but one company claims to have a cure: cats.

A total of nine fluffy felines eat, sleep and walk freely in the small office …

posted by  Tanuki | 7 years, 11 months ago | 1 comment

Sanrio Entertainment Co. said Thursday it will offer the right to “date” its popular character Hello Kitty to people who donate ¥100,000 each through crowdfunding for a summer festival to be held at …

posted by  Tanuki | 7 years, 11 months ago | 1 comment

OKAYAMA – An elderly man was arrested Friday on suspicion of starting a fire on seat aboard a shinkansen that was traveling through Okayama Prefecture, police and the train operator said.

Yasuhiro Wa…

posted by  Tanuki | 7 years, 11 months ago | 1 comment

Major Japanese electronics maker Hitachi has developed technology to make breast cancer screening more accurate.

The new system uses ring-shaped equipment to emit 360-degree ultrasound to detect tumo…

posted by  Tanuki | 7 years, 11 months ago | 0 comments

The city of Tokyo will be playing host to hundreds of talented artists from all around the world when it stages the third Tokyo International Art Fair by Global Art Agency (The GAA Ltd) on 26-27 May …

posted by  banzaitokyo | 7 years, 11 months ago | 0 comments

Just about 1 year ago Shun Kawakami’s branding agency artlessInc. opened a tea & coffee stand in Harajuku. But they recently relocated to a larger, cooler space under the Nakameguro train tracks.…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 7 years, 11 months ago | 0 comments

Six years after the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, the government has lifted evacuation orders on four municipalities around the plant, allowing residents to return home for…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 7 years, 11 months ago | 0 comments

Kyoto is known for its hundreds of temples and shrines dotting the city. Quite a few are UNESCO World Heritage listed, and even those that aren’t offer beauty and charm in their art, gardens, or arch…

posted by  Tanuki | 7 years, 11 months ago | 1 comment