Nestled near Kabukicho in Shinjuku, Hanazono Shrine transforms into a vibrant hub in late November, just before the year's close. The annual "Tori no Ichi" festival draws a crowd of 600,000 visitors. Here, people purchase rakes, symbolic of…

Tucked away in a residential neighborhood of Koto Ward, Tokyo, is a bakery that operates around the clock. Its Danish Bread, layered with butter and fresh cream, consistently sells over a thousand loaves daily. Customers seek out this bread…

The heart of winter grips Tsugaru Strait, where a massive ferry links Aomori Prefecture and Hakodate, Hokkaido, across the 120 kilometers of water. More than just transport, the vessel offers amenities like showers, a game center, and even …

In Tokyo's Takadanobaba district lies a game center often called the "holy land" for gamers. Weekdays see around five hundred visitors, swelling to nearly a thousand on weekends. The eye is immediately drawn to the extensive collection of f…

A short stroll from the Kaminarimon Gate in Asakusa, a burgeoning destination has steadily drawn increasing numbers of visitors in recent years. This is a batting center, distinguished by a prominent sculpture of a giant glove. Surprisingly…

Imagine the encounters, the stories unveiled, should one venture into town with a single flower and spend three days trading it for goods and services offered by strangers. We undertake a "72-hour bartering journey" to discover what unfolds…

Nestled near Narita International Airport, Sakuranoyama Park provides onlookers with intimate views of aircraft as they arrive and depart from Japan's primary gateway. Often, hundreds gather there daily to witness the awe-inspiring sight of…

In Tokyo, we shadowed a rat extermination company. Each early spring brings as many as a thousand requests for their services, and they labor tirelessly, around the clock, to eradicate the rodents. Their calls originate from a diverse range…

Route 45, a national highway that follows the Pacific coast of the Tohoku region, remains a crucial connection for communities recovering from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Beginning on the seventh anniversary of the disaster, we j…

The legal consultation office in Shinjuku is a haven for those grappling with problems they cannot navigate alone. A steady stream of people arrive, burdened by concerns ranging from financial anxieties – "I'm struggling with exorbitant int…

The practice of bringing beauty services directly to clients is gaining momentum. These mobile salons offer haircuts and chemical treatments to individuals who face mobility challenges, often within the confines of nursing homes and private…

A truck laden with roughly 2,800 books navigates the streets of Matsuyama City. This is a mobile library, an institution with a history spanning over four decades. Crossing the sea by ferry from the island's remote mountainous regions, it b…

For a brief span each spring, the typically tranquil fishing town of Toyama Prefecture transforms into a place of celebration as visitors flock from across Japan. They come to anticipate the firefly squid. Near the new moon, when conditions…

In the heart of Nishinari, Osaka, a neighborhood undergoing transformation, stands a restaurant that has maintained a constant presence for over four decades – open around the clock. Its enduring appeal lies in generous portions and the con…

Near Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture, a stretch of national highway is lined with a dense collection of pachinko parlors. Inside, rows of inexpensive machines – the kind offering "1-yen pachinko" – fill the floors. There's a 70-year-old wom…

While overall sales in department stores have lagged in recent years, their cosmetics departments have experienced a notable surge. In 2017, sales within these sections climbed 17% year-over-year, exceeding 500 billion yen. At one venerable…

Nestled in Akita Prefecture, Tamagawa Onsen is whispered to possess restorative powers, capable of easing a range of ailments. The entrance reveals a stark terrain of rocks, from which plumes of steam and the scent of hydrogen sulfide rise.…

They rotate fully backward. The studio is a popular "backflip class," filled with a diverse group: office workers and housewives unwinding after their day, alongside children. A man in his forties, a lifelong admirer of Jackie Chan, finds h…

Each year, the Japanese Derby attracts upwards of one hundred thousand spectators. Long before the race, which unfolds in a swift two and a half minutes, fans begin to gather near the entrances to Tokyo Racecourse – some arriving as early a…

The old hospital, a landmark constructed for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, is relocating to a new facility just two hundred and fifty meters away. To guarantee continuous patient care, the entire population must be transferred on a single day. T…

In June, a Nagoya institution, a department store cherished by generations of locals, shuttered after seventy-five years. Once the largest in western Japan by sales floor space, it had struggled since the collapse of the bubble economy. Reg…

Tucked away in a corner of a sprawling industrial district on Tokyo Bay lies a park open for fishing around the clock. Here, enthusiasts can land over twenty species, including horse mackerel and sea bass, drawn to the waterfront haven at a…

The undersea pedestrian tunnel, a straight and unremarkable 780 meters beneath the Kanmon Straits in southwestern Japan, consistently draws visitors. While many utilize it for practical passage between Fukuoka and Yamaguchi Prefectures, oth…

The Coast Guard officers safeguard Japan's maritime domain, enforcing regulations against illegal fishing and occasionally rescuing those in peril – acting as the nation’s "police of the sea." This program unfolds within the academy that tr…

In Shimbashi, a district of Tokyo teeming with office workers, a beloved juice stand offers respite. Its offerings span a vibrant spectrum – from peach and watermelon blends to more healthful concoctions of turmeric and aloe. Each day, over…

The setting is an Okubo remittance office in Tokyo, a district where forty percent of the inhabitants are foreign. A constant flow of visitors arrives at this place, drawn by the promise of sending funds to one of fifteen hundred countries …

Namie Amuro, dubbed the “Princess of the Heisei Era,” announced her retirement on September 16th. A special shop opened in the fashion district of Shibuya, a place long considered her stronghold, drawing devoted fans daily. Many were women …

Hakodate, a scenic city in Hokkaido Prefecture, draws approximately five million visitors annually. More recently, however, it has gained renown for an unpretentious draw: a hamburger restaurant famed for its exceptionally generous portions…

More than 1.8 million people traverse Tokyo Station each day. For half a century, the Gin-no-suzu (silver bell) waiting area has stood as a beloved landmark, a cherished place for gatherings. Countless reunions and goodbyes unfold beneath t…

After eighty-three years, Tsukiji Market ceased operations last month. A small standing soba noodle shop sits on a street just outside its former walls. Even before dawn, the shop is filled with customers. Men who work at the market are the…

Hidden in the tranquil mountains of Kumamoto is a stone staircase, a monumental climb spanning 2.1 kilometers and ascending 3,333 steps to its peak – the longest in all of Japan. The average person requires an hour and a half to complete th…

An hour's drive from Osaka, heading towards Nagoya and Tokyo, lies the Shiga/Kusatsu Parking Area – the largest in western Japan. Here, a 24-hour food court, gas station, and coin showers draw roughly ten thousand travelers each day seeking…

The setting is a sprawling home center in the Tokyo suburbs, a place where one can find everything from everyday essentials to materials for construction and garden projects. Here, a couple, united by a passion for do-it-yourself endeavors,…

Within the walls of a Hiroshima workwear shop, a diverse clientele of artisans gathers – metalworkers, carpenters, and others who shape the world with their hands. The store stocks robust tools and durable denim, the latter enjoying a surge…