Kite fanciers in central Japan are hard at work crafting giant kites in preparation for traditional aerial battles across a local river. The June event dates back more than 300 years.

Members of a ki…

posted by  Tanuki | 8 years, 1 month ago | 0 comments

In its initial application to host the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020, the Japanese organizing committee stated it would issue approximately 10.10 million tickets: 7.8 million for the Olympics themse…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 8 years, 1 month ago | 1 comment

Located roughly an hour north from central Tokyo is a fairly nondescript government building: Itakura Town Hall in Gifu prefecture. The building houses a small gallery that counts among its collectio…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 8 years, 1 month ago | 1 comment

Osaka is a city with a heck of a lot to offer; interesting museums, scenic parks and world-class shopping, with more than its fair share of quirky charm and thousands of back streets to explore. And …

posted by  banzaitokyo | 8 years, 1 month ago | 1 comment

A city in Kyushu that hosts one of the world’s largest hot-spring resorts has said it will open an amusement park this summer with a hot-tub merry-go-round and other bathing-themed rides following th…

posted by  Tanuki | 8 years, 1 month ago | 2 comments

Foreigners staying near Narita Airport outside Tokyo will be offered sightseeing bus tours starting next month.

The tours are organized by the operator of Narita Airport, local municipalities and a b…

posted by  Tanuki | 8 years, 1 month ago | 0 comments

The Suntory distillery in Yamazaki, near the ancient capital of Kyoto, is where the first drop of made-in-Japan malt whisky was distilled in 1924.

These days, Japanese whisky is winning accolades fro…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 8 years, 1 month ago | 2 comments

Most people look for a place to hide when a typhoon is on the horizon, but Atsushi Shimizu hopes that the fury of nature may one day help resource-poor Japan tackle its energy woes. The Tokyo-based e…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 8 years, 1 month ago | 1 comment

This is certainly not a fashion accessory even by the slightly outlandish standards of Tokyo. Instead, the Smaneck (“smartphone neck”) is a simple yet ingenious way to hold your phone while keeping y…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 8 years, 1 month ago | 1 comment

Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, on Tuesday unveiled self-service baggage drop machines for international flights.

posted by  banzaitokyo | 8 years, 1 month ago | 0 comments