Manhole covers featuring local landmarks, specialties, and characters are increasingly popular. With the growth of tourism initiatives such as stamp rallies, 40% of local governments have begun issuing "manhole cards" that showcase these designs nationwide...
An increasing number of individuals are choosing to rent clothing instead of buying it, motivated by convenience, savings, and environmental considerations. This trend is particularly noticeable among local consumers and visiting tourists, broadening the way people engage with fashion fashion...
Osaka Gas is set to launch a groundbreaking system that harnesses weather data to forecast restaurant demand, revolutionizing the way eateries manage their operations. In collaboration with restaurant chains, the company is developing a demand forecasting system that predicts customer volumes based on weather patterns...
Sales for the new French wine "Beaujolais Nouveau" began on November 21. Import costs have increased due to a weak yen and higher fuel prices, but there’s a clear trend towards maintaining stable prices due to low demand. Sapporo Breweries has halted sales...
On November 18, Marriott International, headquartered in the US, opened its 100th hotel in Osaka. Room rates are expected to be between 15,000 and 16,000 yen per night. This initiative aims to cater to the influx of inbound tourists (foreign visitors to Japan)...
On November 18, Mori Trust revealed plans to bring the international hotel brand 1Hotels to Japan for the first time. 1Hotels will be part of the extensive redevelopment project Tokyo World Gate Akasaka in Minato-ku, Tokyo, which is set for completion in 2025...
Konica Minolta is planning to introduce an AI-based translation service for hotels and other lodging facilities by the end of 2024. The service will use large transparent displays to show real-time subtitles of translations and convert complex technical terms into plain language...
The trend of using ramen to drive regional revitalization is gaining momentum. With over 20,000 ramen stores in Japan, it's a hit among locals and tourists. Many local governments hope to benefit from the ripple effect, such as increased tourism...
Supermarket companies are empowering their employees by gradually relaxing their regulations on personal appearance, including part-time workers. In May, Summit announced that hair color is now allowed and employees are permitted to wear nail polish and false eyelashes...
Wireless earphones are convenient for listening to music and watching videos. Many people find that they can't return to wired earphones once they've used them. As their popularity grows, so does the number of lost items...
Located just an hour outside of Tokyo in Ami-machi, Ibaraki, lies the calming site of Tree House Bonsai. Tree House Bonsai is unique as it is the only Western-owned bonsai garden in Japan...
In February, the Ibaraki Prefectural Government organized the "One-Day Ibaraki Fun Tour" for Tokyo's expatriates. This tour is part of the Ibaraki PR promotion project, which introduces Ibaraki's attractions to hotel concierges...
The hot spring inns, set to open in Yufu City, Oita Prefecture; Yakushimacho, Kagoshima Prefecture; and Hakonemachi, Kanagawa Prefecture, will offer a unique blend of traditional Japanese hospitality and modern luxury...
UV rays affect us regardless of the season. While skincare for UV protection is well recognized, it's not widely known that UV rays can cause fatigue throughout the body when they affect the eyes. Taking the proper measures can help reduce this fatigue...
Over the past 20 years, global auction sales have increased 25-fold. The growth stage is set in emerging countries, particularly in Asia, where a younger generation emerges as artists and collectors. Amidst the unstable global situation, wealthy individuals seek to diversify their investments...
When it is closed, the museum will be utilized for facility tours and street reenactments to promote local attractions. This will allow more people to be exposed to the content without having to visit and may help generate more interest in the content...
In the subscription business model, customers pay a recurring fee to access a product or service. Publishers pioneered this model in the 17th century, and it is now widely used by businesses, websites, and pharmaceutical companies in partnership with governments...
JTB and Nippon Travel Agency are strategically focusing on attracting more visitors to Japan's local regions. This shift, a response to the current market conditions, where the weak yen has led to a decrease in Japanese overseas travel, which is yet to return to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels...
31 local governments have been selected for the government's "Expo International Exchange Program" in preparation for Expo 2025. This unique program not only fosters cultural understanding but also opens doors for significant business exchanges with participating countries and regions...
Many people who try Japanese food for the first time during their trips to Japan or at Japanese restaurants abroad fall in love with “tatami,” and some start to incorporate it into their own lives...
The depreciation of the yen has led to a rise in the consumption of intangible goods for experiential services. On the other hand, various regions are taking steps to combat the problem of over-tourism and create sustainable tourist destinations...
JTB, a leading travel agency in Japan, announced that they started offering evening tours to inbound tourists in partnership with Asahi Breweries in March 2024...
Compass Corp., a Tokyo-based company specializing in services for foreign visitors to Japan, plans to expand its kimono rental stores by the end of 2024 by opening two new stores...
Cross C Inc. based in Tokyo, Japan, started providing medical tourism packages in March. Although Chinese tourists, who were the significant contributors to the consumption of "tangible goods"...
The Ibaraki Prefectural Government hosted a monitor tour entitled “One-Day Ibaraki Fun Tour” to increase the number of foreign tourists to the Prefecture...
An increasing number of specialty onigiri shops have recently opened in Tokyo, attracting Japanese and friends from abroad. These shops offer onigiri with various toppings and fillings that are Instagram-worthy at affordable prices...
With the COVID-19 pandemic under control, the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan is increasing rapidly. Not only famous tourist destinations such as Kyoto but also places less familiar to Japanese people are creating spots crowded with foreigners one after another...
JTB (Japan Travel Bureau) will begin offering evening tours for inbound tourists in March in cooperation with Asahi Breweries. They plan to organize 10 to 15 tour programs per season, or about 50 per year, on themes such as "traditional performing arts" and "boats," mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area and the Kansai region...
Ibaraki Prefectural Government will host the “One-Day Ibaraki Fun Tour” to increase the flow of foreign tourists to the prefecture, inviting “expats” living in the Tokyo Metropolitan area...
TKP, a primary rental conference room provider, will open a trailer house-type accommodation facility on the "AEON MALL Hanyu" (Hanyu City, Saitama Prefecture) shopping center in the spring of 2025...
As listening to music via the Internet becomes more commonplace, cassette tapes are being reevaluated in the country and abroad. It has attracted the support of young people who find the soft sound quality and appearance unique to analog fresh and new...
