Officials with Tokyo's Shibuya Ward have started conducting patrols of some areas in a bid to prevent crowd trouble in the days leading up to Halloween on Sunday. (NHK)

The disproportionate weight of rural voters in Japan gives sparsely populated parts of the country more representation — and more government largess — than urban areas, perpetuating what critics call an unfair system. (nytimes.com)

Japan's former princess Mako and her husband have started their life as newlyweds at a condo in Tokyo. They are preparing to settle in New York, where husband Komuro Kei works at a law firm. (NHK)

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's push to restart Japanese nuclear power plants idled after the Fukushima disaster faces stiff opposition ahead of a general election on Sunday, where his future as leader hangs in the balance if the vote is tight. (Reuters)

Located in the heart of Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera is one of Japan's most famous and celebrated temples thanks to its iconic 13-meter high wooden stage with a unique view. (TokyoStreetView - Japan The Beautiful)

Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten Group will use digital tools to root out customers on its trip platform who are likely to cancel at the last minute, tackling a wider problem that has cost hotels and other businesses billions of dollars. (Nikkein)

Kanō Jigorō was the founding master of the martial art and combat sport Judo, as well as outstanding physical education teacher, foreign language translator (English - Japanese) and economist; as well as a member of the Japanese diplomacy. (The Technology)

Cases of Beaujolais Nouveau are arriving from France, ready to go on sale in Japan next month. But the volume is likely to be low compared to pre-pandemic years. (NHK)

Japanese golfer Matsuyama Hideki has won his seventh PGA Tour held in Japan after a year's absence. (NHK)

Japan's Princess Mako has officially left the Imperial household and is now a commoner. She married her former college classmate Komuro Kei on Tuesday. (NHK)

Around 130 elementary school students took part in an annual sumo event in Tokyo's Sumida Ward on Saturday. (NHK)

Japanese consumers can count the toll of disruptions in global supply chains and shipping on their dinner plates. (Nikkei)

Most anti-coronavirus restrictions on restaurants and bars were lifted in Japan on Monday as new daily infections continue to drop across the country. (NHK)

A Japanese forest and trails that were forgotten long ago. There are no blogs, no maps, and nothing that shows where they lead. Today we camp out in Japan, and hike them to see where they take us. (Tokyo Lens)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government confirmed 17 new cases of coronavirus on Monday. That is the lowest single-day figure in the capital this year, falling below what had been the record low-for-the-year registered on Sunday. (NHK)

After the park's operator postponed special events because of the spread of COVID-19, Tokyo Disneyland had its first Halloween programme in two years on Monday. (republicworld.com)

In Japan, coronavirus restrictions are being lifted across the nation. (NHK)

Train services on part of the inner loop of Tokyo's Yamanote Line have been suspended for two days due to renovation work at Shibuya Station. (NHK)

Omotesando is a high-end shopping area in Tokyo, but is unique in that models hang here. The main reason for this being major modelling agencies are located here as well. (KON'CHA! Japan Travel Guide)

A men's PGA golf tournament restarts in Japan, after a year's absence, featuring some of the world's best players, such as Olympic gold medalist Xander Schauffele of the United States and this year's Masters winner Matsuyama Hideki. (NHK)

The operator of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea said Thursday that it will extend the operating hours of the theme parks, beginning next month, and resume the Dreamlights nighttime parade in Disneyland on Nov. 1. (Japan Times)

Japanese tipplers will be able to return to their normal carousing on Monday when pubs in the capital and Osaka resume full operating hours as the number of new coronavirus infections continues to drop. (Nikkei)

The Play! Museum in the Japanese city of Tachikawa has built a playground made entirely of recycled plastic, using mainly bubble wrap. (South China Morning Post)

Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures are set to lift COVID-19 restrictions on dining establishments from next week amid a steady decline in the number of infections, officials said Wednesday. (Kyodo)

Japan's Empress Emerita Michiko turned 87 years old on Wednesday. (NHK)