Discover insider tips, travel guides, and inspiring stories for your next adventure in Japan
Following a well-received spring run, Sapporo TV Tower is bringing back its 456-step stair climbing event on select weekends and holidays from September through early November, now offering six collectible achievement certificates, a new stamp card redeemable for original merchandise, and a giant candy lottery for those who reach the top.
Sendai Oktoberfest 2026 runs for 17 days from September 11 to 27 at Nishikicho Park, marking its 20th anniversary with a new Tohoku Minori Terrace area that welcomes drinkers and non-drinkers alike.
Starting September 4, 2026, Sendai PARCO's new PARCO FACTORY SENDAI event space is hosting four character pop-up shops in a row — Monchhichi, Moomin, Momoko Sakura's Chibi Maruko-chan and Kojikoji, and OSAMU GOODS — running through October 25.
A colorful new capsule toy series turns beloved Sesame Street characters into oversized flat pouches with different designs on the front and back, rolling out at capsule toy corners nationwide from September 7.
Netmarble is holding a media presentation for Shangri-La Frontier: The Seven Colossi, the series' first game adaptation, during Tokyo Game Show 2026, with a talk session featuring cosplayer Enako and a separate cosplay stage show at the Netmarble booth.
Shin-Yokohama Prince Hotel is adding Halloween-themed costumes, including pumpkin, bat, and black cat designs, to the rental goods in its stuffed animal dress-up stay plan, available from October 1 to 31, 2026.
Arma Bianca launches the fourth volume of Shugo Chara! online lottery featuring acrylic blocks, hand towels, BIG acrylic keychains, glitter can badges, and acrylic tiles.
Art toy brand HERE is adding a new emotion-themed series to its SiiNONO character line, with the SiiNONO Mood On surprise box set to launch in mid-September 2026 through Hashy Topin's own online store and retailers nationwide.
From September 9 to 16, 2026, Sogo Yokohama's 8th floor event space gathers hand-picked bakeries and dessert makers from across Japan for its first "Delicious Detour of Bread and Sweets," featuring photogenic sweets, hearty gourmet bread, and limited-time treats.
In Onomichi, Hiroshima, a renovated old house once home to a painter has opened as Sow., a whole-house rental that keeps the paint stains on its corridor banister as a trace of its past. The 5DK main house sleeps up to 10 guests on a hillside overlooking the Onomichi Channel and the Shimanami Kaido, and opened on September 1, 2026.
A second wave of collaboration merchandise for the Star Detective Precure! The Movie: The Mysterious Garden and a Secret Pair x ROUND1 campaign — including acrylic stands, can badges, and acrylic puzzle keychains featuring newly drawn artwork — goes on sale September 7, 2026 at select ROUND1 stores and online via GK Store.
On October 10, 2026, Tokyo's Sushi Saito is offering a single-day pairing course matching chef Takashi Saito's sushi with five vintages of Dom Pérignon, part of the champagne house's 2026 "Harmony"-themed dinner series.