Discover insider tips, travel guides, and inspiring stories for your next adventure in Japan
Belgian waffle shop HASHLE introduces its first wave of autumn-themed waffles, including a chestnut Montblanc Liège waffle and a returning Pumpkin Pudding HASHLE waffle, available from August 16, 2026.
Virtual duo HIMEHINA has revealed its third cover album, HIMEHINA Utamita San, arriving December 23, 2026. The 10-track collection spans Vocaloid, J-POP, and VTuber hit covers, and first-press limited deluxe and standard editions are now open for pre-order.
Hirosaki Castle in Aomori Prefecture is holding a tower-return event from August 21 to 28, 2026, moving its main tower back to its original position for the first time since 1915. Visitors can watch the historic move up close alongside a night show, inner moat viewing, and other special programs.
From August 22 to September 30, 2026, Hoshi no Mori Auto Campground in Nagano's Uruki Village is running "Mori Office," a summer program that opens the air-conditioning-free campground at 1,200 meters elevation to remote workers as well as campers, with a shared meeting room, forest trails, and a mission-based stay that comes with a local specialty gift.
On September 27, 2026, Kyoto's Hotel Chourakukan will open Chorakuan, its normally private tea room, for a first-ever tea ceremony experience, part of the one-day "Art Festival in CHOURAKUKAN 2026" themed "Architecture and Hospitality Culture."
Hotel Kanazawa introduces an autumn afternoon tea built around Kaga vegetables and seasonal fruit, featuring a Gorojima Kintoki sweet potato tart and a gold leaf-topped Kyoho grape mousse. Available September 1 to November 30, 2026, at DINING TSUZUMI.
Hyatt Centric Sapporo, set to open in autumn 2026 near JR Sapporo Station and the former Hokkaido Government Office, has opened online and phone reservations from August 12, 2026, for stays from December 1 onward, alongside three opening commemorative rate plans and a World of Hyatt bonus points offer.
On Thursday, September 3, 2026, Ryoso Umi no Cho and Glamp Ocean Iseshima in Ise City, Mie Prefecture will hold "Ise-Shima x Okinawa – Musubi no Hibiki," a one-night cultural exchange event on their private beach featuring Okushima Ryujin Taiko drumming, Okinawan eisa dance, and hand-held fireworks, free and open to overnight guests and non-guests alike.
『日本の絶景500 テーマ別風景写真』, a 424-page collection of 500 landscape photographs from across Japan chosen for their beauty as photography, arrives August 21, organized into nine themes such as water, sea, flowers and autumn leaves, mountains, and rural scenery.
Kamakura Prince Hotel is offering an "Apple & Grape Afternoon Tea" featuring the fruits of the season, available from September 24 to November 16, 2026, at Restaurant Le Trianon.
Actor and artist Kaoru Mitsumune's solo exhibition "Semi Ningen, Osaka" runs August 26 to September 7, 2026, on the 9th floor Art Stage of Hankyu Umeda Main Store, celebrating the release of Mitsumune's first fully original art book, Semi Ningen, with original artwork, new pieces making their Osaka debut, and original merchandise on display and for sale.
The Kasama Noryo Bon Odori Fireworks Festival expanded to two days for the first time in 2026, drawing a combined total of over 15,000 visitors to Kasama Oike Park for dancing, live music, food stalls, and fireworks.