Unseen Japan

Most visitors think of Osaka as neon lights, street food, and crowded entertainment districts. Yet just 30 minutes north of the sprawling metropolis lies Minoh: a leafy retreat where forest trails, historic temples, hot springs, and local specialties offer a completely different side of the region.

Nestled against the forested mountains of northern Osaka, Minoh has ...

Shibuya has been having problems with littering and has finally decided to put a price on it. Which is to say, as of June 1, 2026, anyone caught tossing trash on the ward’s streets can be hit with a ¥2,000 (USD $13) on-the-spot fine.

The story is being used as an example of how tourism is making Japan worse. However, the statistics show that locals are just as much ...

In a bid to create safe spaces for its customers, a large discount gym chain in Japan is rapidly expanding the number of facilities that allow only women. Some women, however, aren’t happy about how it’s been implemented. Meanwhile, some men in Japan are rehashing the same old arguments against creating safe spaces for women that they always have.

Self-declared gender ...

I always tell people that sushi in Japan hits different. You can go to some hole-in-the-wall spot and get fresh cuts and well-prepared bites for cheap that beat the stuffing out of most offerings in the states that cost three times as much. Heck, even the supermarket sushi here isn’t half bad.

Most nigiri sushi these days is served in a set modern style. Ho...

Most English speakers out there are probably already familiar with the term “pink tax,” but it’s a new one in Japan. The topic came up when a viral X post pointed out that MUJI’s linen pants cost the same for men and women, even though the women’s version uses less fabric.

For those who don’t know, the pink tax refers to a phenomenon where the women’s version of a g...