In Beppu, a town renowned for its hot springs, exists a modest inn offering rental rooms. It’s a place of simple affordability, devoid of elaborate service, yet possesses an undeniable allure. Originally established to house those seeking t…

What is it they call "that bench"? It sits on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa, overlooking the expansive water. Popularized on social media a few years ago, it has since become a constant gathering place. A cyclist pauses during his circumna…

In the sprawling expanse of Okayama City lies a citizen's farm, a landscape equivalent to fifteen Tokyo Domes in size. Here, five hundred and forty plots of land are offered for rent, some at a mere 1,800 yen a month. Farm equipment is avai…

Tucked away in Ueno, the shop offers a surprising array of clothing – from practical everyday pieces to more glamorous items for evenings out. Many are available for less than half their usual retail cost. The store's secret lies in its bul…

The body glistens with sweat, the air thick with heat exceeding one hundred degrees Celsius. Here, within the walls of a venerable sauna in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture – a region famed for its towels and shipbuilding – a tradition endure…

The series, "Shinjuku Fair," unfolds within the vibrant city of Shinjuku, centering on a drugstore that maintains a constant, twenty-four-hour presence. More than just a purveyor of pharmaceuticals, the drugstore stocks cosmetics and prepar…

Snow falls on Sapporo as trucks navigate the city streets, each carrying a vital supply: kerosene. This fuel is indispensable for enduring the long winter months, and over three days, we follow one such delivery truck closely. At each stop,…

High in the mountains of Fukushima Prefecture lies an ice cream shop that thrives even through the coldest winters. For thirty years, since the ranch owner first opened its doors, the ice cream made with freshly squeezed milk has been a che…

The ceaseless cycle of wash and dry brings together a diverse array of lives. This particular laundromat, nestled near the Tsutenkaku Tower in Osaka, operates around the clock, a constant hum of activity seven days a week. Here, people from…

Motsu stew, fried rice, stamina set menus, curry – the offerings are familiar fare. National Route 4 extends north from Tokyo, and here, in Fukushima Prefecture, a 24-hour drive-in stands as a constant presence along its roadside. It posses…

The setting is a 24-hour discount supermarket, its aisles a vibrant display of inexpensive side dishes and bento boxes, each adorned with "half-price" stickers. Neon lights blaze, illuminating a well-known Osaka establishment that sees a co…

Spring approaches, and the air around Kagoshima Airport hums with departures. The scene is a poignant tableau: parents bidding farewell to children embarking on careers, friends parting with those heading to school. At this time of year, th…

The shop offers a variety of anime merchandise: dolls, keychains, badges, and more. Situated in Ikebukuro, Tokyo – the heart of the anime district – it sees a steady stream of customers daily. Some offer up bags of cherished items, having m…

Nestled in Akita City is an uncommon soba restaurant, a haven that opens at ten and remains open through the night, closing only around noon the following day. More than just noodles, it offers a selection of drinks and light fare, drawing …

The hum of drum-type washing machines, the glow of large televisions, the cool efficiency of refrigerators, the quiet promise of air purifiers—a familiar scene unfolds within a sprawling electronics retailer in Yokohama. The six-story sales…

Hidden beneath the vibrant streets of Asakusa lies a mysterious underground shopping arcade, reputed to be the oldest of its kind in Japan. Descending the stairs is like entering another realm. This sixty-nine-year-old subterranean market i…

The annual Banei Horse Racing takes place this year in Obihiro, Hokkaido. These are powerful horses, descendants of those once employed in agriculture. It's a singular event, rarely seen elsewhere, where competitors vie for strength by pull…

The aroma of meatball soup mingled with the scent of stewed tofu and crucian carp. This humble kitchen, tucked away in a Nanchang alley in Jiangxi Province, China, served as a quiet hub. Just beyond its walls stood a large hospital, dedicat…

The film unfolds aboard a ferry traversing the Sea of Japan, charting the three-day round trip between Niigata and Otaru – a journey of sixteen hours each way. The vessel offers a deck where the horizon stretches endlessly and a spacious ba…

The Nagara River, a clear stream threading through Gifu City, is particularly vibrant this season with its renowned cormorant fishing. It draws crowds to its banks, where during the day families frolic in the shallows and anglers pursue lar…

This project unfolds within the fluorescent glow of a twenty-four-hour gas station, a common sight in a region saturated with fuel outlets thanks to a nearby oil refinery. The resulting price competition draws customers from considerable d…

A quiet corner in Paris houses a unique haven: a manga cafe overflowing with twenty thousand volumes of Japanese comics translated into French. Mirroring the popular cafes of Japan, it offers time-based access and unlimited refreshments, dr…

The project unfolds within Hanamigawa Danchi, a vast housing complex housing 7,000 households, constructed in 1968 in Chiba City. Benefiting from rents considerably lower than those in central Tokyo, the community is experiencing a gradual…

The library resembles a grand theater, its shelves overflowing with countless volumes. I am here at the Ishikawa Prefectural Library in Kanazawa, a recently rebuilt space that draws visitors daily. Permitted to conduct an interview under th…

A narrow shelf overflows with gum, chocolate, ramune, and an assortment of snacks. This time, the scene unfolds within a candy shop in Akabane, Tokyo. The shop has been delighting customers with sweets for over seventy-five years, and boast…

On Awaji Island, just beyond the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, lies this expressway service area. During holidays, it sees a constant flow of twelve thousand vehicles traversing both upper and lower levels. More than just a place for food and souve…

Nestled in the southern reaches of Nagano Prefecture, the Ina Valley is embraced by the formidable Japanese Alps. Beyond the ripening cornfields lies a farmers' market, a vibrant hub offering far more than just vegetables. Here, one can fin…

Along the coast of the Sea of Japan lies a field of twenty thousand graves. This year, the setting is Hanamigata Cemetery in Kotoura Town, Tottori Prefecture, a natural burial ground of uncertain origins. Each Obon season, the cemetery draw…

In the window of the eyewear shop, countless spectacles gleam, arranged in neat rows. The selection spans a broad spectrum, from affordable frames paired with basic lenses, priced under four thousand yen, to stylish pieces imported from int…

A glimpse of warabi mochi for sale at a roadside stall remains a cherished Fukuoka tradition. These stalls, dotted throughout the city, offered delicate, translucent warabi mochi. Chilled and dusted with kinako flour, each piece cost 130 ye…

The daily rhythm of life is inextricably linked to the weather – sunshine, rain, snow, typhoons, and more. This time, we find ourselves at the "Weather Shrine" in Koenji, Tokyo. Here, the deity presides over the atmospheric conditions, draw…

The menu offered hamburger steak, pizza, fried set meals, and parfait. This family restaurant, nestled in a residential neighborhood of Adachi Ward, Tokyo, incorporates modern elements like tablet ordering and cat-shaped serving robots foun…

Appliances, clothing, and footwear are arranged in neat rows. The setting: a sprawling reuse shop, where one can find affordable treasures unwanted by others. A diverse collection of goods – baby and children's items, camping gear, musical …

The setting is a martial arts dojo in Tokyo. The clientele skews heavily toward novices – over ninety percent are new to the practice, and the gender balance is nearly equal. Here, individuals from every walk of life, spanning all ages and …

This series follows a single path through the heart of the Kii Peninsula, where the Kii Mountain Range dominates the landscape. National Route 425 climbs steeply for three days from its western start, a ribbon of road carved into the mounta…