On my first trip to Japan, I brought along a JR Rail Pass to take advantage of the subsidized rail transport for tourists. After riding the JR Yamanote Line and the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, I assumed JR must be a single … Read more
Oasis2me/Getty Images At first blush, it sounds like science fiction: supersonic jets able to traverse the vastness of the Pacific Ocean in under two hours. But recent tests by Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in conjunction with several Japanese universities … Read more
A Japanese manufacturer of animatronic wolves designed to scare off wild animals is being swamped with orders as the East Asian country grapples with rising bear attacks. Ohta Seiki, a company based in Hokkaido, has already received about 50 orders … Read more
Have fun and feel annoyed at the same time! It seems like these are especially stressful times, no matter where you are or what your background is. Whether it’s from unreasonable behavior, things not turning out as you expect, or … Read more
11 hours ago ShareSave Suranjana TewariAsia business correspondent, Hokkaido, Japan ShareSave Getty Images The island of Hokkaido has long been an agricultural powerhouse – now Japan is investing billions to turn it into a global hub for advanced semiconductors. More … Read more
Doai Eki, situated right by the border between Gunma and Niigata prefectures, is one of the most unique stations you’ll come across in all of Japan. Serving the Joetsu Line, the station seems relatively normal to any passengers travelling southbound … Read more
Discuss this post on Hacker News, Twitter While I was in Japan over winter, one thing that stood out to me was the incredible public transport system. Efficient and reliable, as expected, but the tap-in-tap-out gates at the stations were … Read more
During Japan’s Sengoku (Warring States) period, there was one name that instantly struck fear into the hearts of even the most powerful feudal lords: “Oda,” as in the merciless master maneuverer Oda Nobunaga (1534–1582). Interestingly, around the same time, there … Read more
Before Marie Kondo captured the world’s attention with her exhortations to rid ourselves of items that did not “spark joy,” there was another Japanese guru of decluttering. Her name is Hideko Yamashita. And while Ms. Yamashita, 70, has never reached … Read more
It’s an island without accommodation, shops, cafés or even any vending machines. Located a 30-minute ferry ride off the coast of Ozu city in Ehime Prefecture, it’s also a tricky place to get to. Yet despite all of this, Aoshima … Read more