Regular services for riverboat tourism on the Kumano River and its tributary, the Kitayama River, commenced Saturday, with tourists exploring the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range," a World Heritage site known for the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes, and is also referred to as the "river pilgrimage route."

Ghibli Park (located in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture) revealed its new European-style area, "Witch's Valley," inspired by Studio Ghibli's films "Kiki's Delivery Service" and "Howl's Moving Castle" to the press on the 28th. It is the largest area within the park.

JR Kyushu announced on Thursday that, in conjunction with the timetable revision on March 16th, it will begin a demonstration of autonomous driving on some trains on the Kagoshima Line, with a driver on board.

The Hilltop Hotel in Chiyoda, Tokyo, cherished by esteemed literary figures like Yasunari Kawabata, Yukio Mishima, and Shōtarō Ikenami as their regular retreat, closed its doors on Monday for last time.

The theme park 'Yumenoba,' focusing exclusively on transportation and set to open on the 11th in Chikusei, Ibaraki Prefecture, was previewed to the media on the 1st. Spanning approximately 56,000 square meters, the park features 25 facilities, including an aviation museum newly established by the National Museum of Nature and Science. Exhibits highlight Japanese airplanes and trains that were prominent in the 20th century.

The final judging of the "56th Miss Japan Contest 2024" was held on January 22nd in Tokyo, where Karolina Shiino, a 26-year-old model from Aichi Prefecture, emerged victorious as the Grand Prix winner.

In Noda Village, Iwate Prefecture, the 'Namomi,' wearing demon masks, go from house to house, raising their voices in a New Year's tradition. The event is held to pray for the healthy growth of children and the safety of households.

Resident Japanese macaques were seen enjoying an open-air bath on Sunday in Yunokawa Onsen, located in Hakodate, Hokkaido. (Kyodo)

One of the largest annual custom car shows in Japan, Tokyo Auto Salon 2024, opened on Friday at Makuhari Messe just outside of Tokyo in Chiba, featuring 900 concept cars and special edition vehicles.

Pencipta manga sepak bola Jepang "Captain Tsubasa" akan menyelesaikan seri tersebut pada bulan April, mengakhiri periode 43 tahun di mana manga ini memikat anak-anak dan bahkan pesepakbola profesional di seluruh dunia, termasuk bintang Spanyol, Andres Iniesta. (Kyodo News)

The creator of the Japanese football manga "Captain Tsubasa" will finish the series in April, ending a 43-year run in which it captivated children and even professional footballers around the world, including Spanish star Andres Iniesta. (Kyodo)

Japanese Emperor Naruhito in his New Year address released Monday expressed hope that people will continue to support each other with compassion in the coming year, while noting how the world has been grappling with ongoing conflicts and natural disasters. (Kyodo)

Pengadilan Jepang pada hari Selasa (12 Des) menjatuhkan hukuman penjara seumur hidup kepada seorang pria berusia 68 tahun karena menembak mati seorang dokter dan menyerang petugas medis lainnya sebelum terjadi pertikaian selama 11 jam dengan polisi di rumahnya di dekat Tokyo tahun lalu. (KYODO)

A Japanese university has moved to disband its renowned American football team after some members were arrested over possession or purchase of illegal drugs, a source with knowledge of the matter said Friday. (Kyodo)

Eddie Jones was named by Japan as their new head coach on Wednesday, six weeks after the Australian quit the Wallabies following their exit at the Rugby World Cup. (rugby.com.au)

The Chinese character meaning "tax" has been chosen as the kanji that best describes this year in Japan. (NHK)

A Japanese court on Tuesday sentenced a 68-year-old man to life in prison for fatally shooting a doctor and attacking other medical workers before an 11-hour standoff with police at his home near Tokyo last year. (Kyodo)

A Japanese airline will allow passengers to bring their small dogs and cats on board all of its domestic flights beginning January in a bid to attract more customers, its website showed Saturday. (Kyodo)

The new firm established to manage Johnny & Associates Inc. performers unveiled its company name Friday as Starto Entertainment Inc., in a bid to start afresh following a sex abuse scandal involving the late founder of the former male talent agency. (Kyodo)

The operator of Tokyo Disneyland on Friday apologized after clips of Minnie Mouse having her skirt lifted by another character during a recent Christmas parade went viral on social media, with some harshly criticizing the gesture as sexual harassment. (Kyodo)

The Japanese government on Thursday finalized a plan to allow drivers with a standard license to offer taxi services using their own vehicle in an effort to address a nationwide shortage of taxi drivers. (Kyodo)

Four senior members of a group suspected of organizing scams and burglaries in Japan from the Philippines were served fresh arrest warrants Tuesday for allegedly orchestrating a robbery that resulted in injuries in western Tokyo last year, police said. (Kyodo)

Japan's Diet has enacted laws banning the use of cannabis except for medicinal purposes. (NHK)

Kyoto is bracing for another influx of tourists. Next to the rollout of the city administration’s ‘mind your manners’ campaign, Kyoto has terminated its popular one-day bus pass to discourage tourists from using the city’s busses. (East Asia Forum)

Japan is considering postponing a project that aims to retrieve the world's first Martian moon surface samples from 2024 to 2026 due to issues with its new flagship H3 rocket, which is set to facilitate the probe's launch, sources close to the matter said Sunday. (Kyodo)