Discover insider tips, travel guides, and inspiring stories for your next adventure in Japan
Plott Inc. has opened pre-registration for the first smartphone game based on its short anime series KAREKORE OF MIXED BLOOD, a tower defense RPG planned for release in October 2026.
Katayamazu Onsen in the Kaga Onsen-kyo hot spring region holds its "Yu no Matsuri" on August 22–23, highlighted by the powerful "Genpei Shobu Mikoshi," in which young men representing the Genji and Heike clans face off in an intense handstand duel atop the mikoshi.
Kinokawa Citizens' Festival 2026, a hand-made summer festival organized by the Kinokawa Citizens' Festival Executive Committee in Wakayama Prefecture, will feature one of the prefecture's largest fireworks displays alongside stalls run by local businesses and community groups.
KURAND is releasing "Yoibanashi," an original junmai daiginjo sake developed with Juufuutei Raden of the VTuber group ReGLOSS, in limited quantities from August 19 — the online sake shop's third collaboration with hololive production.
DU BOOKS will publish a new disc guide on September 15, 2026, spotlighting 619 landmark Japanese fusion and crossover albums from the 1970s and 80s, supervised by music writer Toshikazu Kanazawa.
Mimirin, a brand founded by 24-year-old Mina Ichikawa that turns retired kimono into teddy bears and gifts, opened its first physical store in Kyoto's Gion district on August 8, 2026, following a crowdfunding campaign that reached 110% of its goal.
A collaboration campaign between the anime NEEDY GIRL OVERDOSE and Rascal the Raccoon kicks off September 5, 2026, bringing newly illustrated merchandise, a pop-up shop, crane game prizes, and novelty drinks to GiGO Sohonten, GiGO Namba Avion, and other GiGO stores.
Makuhari Bay Park's Wakaba 3-chome Park hosts "NEIGHBORHOOD MARCHE vol.5," a two-day summer night market on August 22 and 23, 2026, with more than 60 marche stalls, 30-plus kitchen cars, live music, live painting, a kamishibai show for families, and a gacha game, open from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Netmarble has opened an official YouTube channel for its upcoming smartphone bishoujo RPG Pearl in Blue and released the game's first teaser PV, revealing the story's core "Pearl" and "Knight" concepts and confirming the title's appearance at Tokyo Game Show 2026.
On September 27, 2026, Oiso Prince Hotel will hold a one-night-only autumn dinner, "Harvest Moon Special Dinner ‐月の饗宴‐," featuring a moon-themed course by culinary advisor Yasuo Yamada served in the hotel's garden, with free-flowing drinks included.
Izumise Co., Ltd. is bringing back 001 Sparkling Sake 2019, the sold-out debut bottle from its ice-aged sake brand °Ondo, after additional sub-zero aging. Just 20 bottles of the ¥22,000 junmai daiginjo, brewed by Fukushima's Ninki Shuzo, go up for lottery sale from August 19 to August 26, 2026, with winners announced August 27.
B's International's four lifestyle brands have joined New York-based label ORIGINAL ROSE and 150-year-old sports brand SPALDING on a limited-edition ceramic basketball planter, sold for three days only at the INSTALLATION POP UP inside calif art gallery in Nakameguro, Tokyo, from August 21 to 23, 2026.