Episode 11 of the Japan Station podcast is here and this time we’re exploring the city of Tokyo. Dr. Steven Heine is the director of the Asian Studies Program at Florida International University and author of the book Sacred High City, Sacred Low City: A Tale of Religious Sites in Two Tokyo Neighborhoods. In this episode we talk about: …

Why pluck your grey hairs yourself when you can get an expert to do it for you?

For lovers of cute poops and silly poop puns. Japan has never been known to shy away from quirky and wacky attractions, but Yokohama’s newest offering may just take the cake. This March, the country’s second largest city will open a new museum devoted entirely to poop, or as it is known in Japanese unko. Called the Unko Museum, this …

Which one are you looking forward to the most? Japan is about to get even more fun with several new theme parks planned to open over the next four years. Already a playground for kids and kids-at-heart, things are about to get even better with expansions planned for two of the country’s most popular theme parks and an entirely new …

Become a holy rider. Shinto shrines can be found all over Japan and although most are dedicated to fairly universal things like good health, studies, and finding a romantic partner, others specialize in far more niche things. Take the case of a relatively new shrine located in the town of Miki (Miki-chō) in Kagawa Prefecture which is dedicated to keeping …

Travel to Kyoto in style, Kyoto-style. Japan’s famous train system is about to become even more unique, thanks to the introduction of the Kyo-train Garaku, a new train service that will soon start running between Kyoto and Osaka. Forget the dull, sparse interiors of most trains—the interior of the Kyo-train Garaku is styled on Kyoto townhouses and the carriages feature …

Is 2019 Tottori’s time to shine? When most people think of visiting Japan, they probably think of neon-lit, bustling cities like Tokyo and Osaka, or the old capital city of Kyoto. However, it was Japan’s most rural area—Tottori Prefecture—that was named the number one Japan place to visit in Japan  in 2019 by GajinPot Travel. GajinPot Travel is a popular …

A whole new way to enjoy Tokyo Skytree. On October 23, a little over six years after opening its doors, the 634 meter tall Tokyo Skytree began letting the general public onto a previously restricted open air observatory. Dubbed the Skytree Terrace, this observation deck is located 155 meters above ground. Formerly a maintenance area only used by employees, the …

Please do not shoot at any sideways walking employees. Along with Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and a handful of others, Space Invaders is easily one of the most well known and beloved games of the early days of arcades. This year marked the 40th year since those little crab-like aliens began trying to take over earth and in order to celebrate …

Hands down, one of the best things to do during your stay in Fukuoka. On the second floor of a building located on Oyafukō Street in the Tenjin area of Fukuoka is a little theater called Anmitsu Hime (hime means “princess” and anmitsu is a type of Japanese sweet). Featuring stunning costumes, extravagant song and dance numbers, and plenty of comedy, the nightly …

Another excuse to visit Tokyo Disney. Fans of Tokyo Disney have one more reason to be happy because it has been announced that DisneySea is about to get a whole lot more magical thanks to a massive 250 billion yen (~$2.26 billion USD) expansion. Red circle indicates expansion area. Green is Disneyland and blue is current DineySea. Set to be …

Your one-stop shop for “tattoo friendly” bathing in Japan. As fun and great as visiting Japan can be, it can also be a bit frustrating for anyone with a tattoo. Although attitudes have somewhat loosened up, many in Japan still very much disapprove of tattoos due to their association with organized crime. As a result, it is not at all …