We're heading to Hachinohe Station in Aomori Prefecture, about 3 hours from Tokyo by bullet train. Today, we'll be staying at a hot spring ryokan themed around a local Japanese festival. (It's Time to Travel)

Handa District in western Tokushima Prefecture is one of Japan's leading somen-producing regions, with over 20 workshops. For over 300 years, somen has been made here, utilizing the clear waters of the Yoshino River and the salt from the Naruto Strait.

Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko has won her third term following Sunday's vote. Koike addressed her supporters and cited various challenges Tokyo is facing, such as soaring prices and the falling birthrate.

July 7 saw dangerously high temperatures across a broad region from Kyushu to Tohoku. Shizuoka City recorded the nation's first 40°C day this year, and over 200 locations experienced extreme heat.

Sony Group has announced its plan to gradually reduce and eventually end the production of Blu-ray discs and other optical discs.

In May, a tragic accident occurred in Tokyo when a 2-year-old girl died after her neck was caught in a car window. This incident raises concerns about the potential dangers of car windows. What precautions should be taken when traveling with children in a car?

Corporate bankruptcies in Japan have reached their highest level in a decade, driven in part by labor shortages. According to a report released by Tokyo Shoko Research on July 5, the number of corporate bankruptcies in the first half of this year increased by 21.9% compared to the previous year, totaling 4,931 cases. This marks the third consecutive year of increases.

A bear poster created by Akita Prefecture, Japan's northern prefecture that had the highest number of human casualties in 2023, is causing a stir for being 'too cute.'

With rising sea temperatures, the habitats of marine life are changing, and some of these changes involve dangerous creatures that require caution. One such creature is the venomous Blue-Ringed Octopus, which has poison hundreds of times more potent than cyanide.

A ceremony for the Japanese team participating in the Paris Olympics, which begins on July 26, was held on the 5th at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No. 2 in Tokyo with the attendance of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino. Misaki Emura, the flag bearer and a female saber fencer from Tachihi Holdings, expressed her determination by stating, 'I will carry the awareness and responsibility of representing the nation, and fight with integrity to the very end.'

On July 5, geisha and maiko from Kyoto's Gion district participated in the 'Ochi-do' ceremony at Yasaka Shrine in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto. The event, held to pray for the improvement of their performing arts skills and for good health during the summer, takes place annually in early July as the excitement of the Gion Festival builds up toward the Yamahoko Junko parade on July 17.

A dry rainy season has led to the massive growth of vegetables, with prices significantly lower than usual, offering a double benefit for consumers. This week, some stores are selling large heads of lettuce for as low as 54 yen each.

Hitachi Zosen has announced that its subsidiaries, Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine and Aimex, falsified fuel efficiency data for ship engines. The tampering involved 1,364 engines shipped since September 1999, with data altered to minimize discrepancies.

Over ten individuals sit still in a pool, extending their arms and legs forward, holding their breath. Dressed in wetsuits, they all keep their eyes open.

In the 2024 Information and Communications White Paper published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, it was revealed that only 9.1% of individuals in Japan use generative AI, significantly lower than China's 56.3% and the United States' 46.3%.

The Tokyo gubernatorial election, with voting on July 7, has sparked a debate over the 'Senkyo-Wari' campaign, which offers discounts and services at participating stores upon presenting a voting certificate, aimed at boosting voter turnout. Approximately 250 establishments, including ramen shops, cafes, and beauty salons, are participating in Tokyo.

The 'Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival,' known as one of Japan's premier Tanabata festivals, began on July 5 in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture.

The top 5 things to experience in Yokohama - Japan. (japan-guide.com)

A 30-something male elementary school teacher has been arrested for breaking into the home of a female high school student who was once his pupil, using a spare key he had made five years ago. The teacher reportedly took the original key during a school event and secretly made a copy.

According to Teikoku Databank, the number of bankruptcies among businesses operating yakiniku restaurants has reached 20 cases by last month this year.

In the upcoming Tokyo gubernatorial election, a key issue is incumbent Governor Yuriko Koike's projection mapping project.

In Nagoya's bustling downtown, a foreign passenger boarded a taxi by opening the door from the street side. The man, who only kept saying 'Shichē!', seemed incapable of holding a proper conversation. What followed was a series of shocking actions.

Michelin, renowned for its restaurant guide, has unveiled its first-ever hotel rating system in Japan. The top honor, the '3 Michelin Keys', equivalent to three stars in the restaurant guide, was awarded to six accommodation facilities.

This summer, fewer people in Japan are expected to travel for vacation compared to last year, with high prices influenced by a weak yen being a contributing factor.

Japan's new banknotes, which began widespread circulation on July 4th, have sparked a frenzy among collectors and the general public alike. At the Mitsubishi UFJ Bank's main branch in Marunouchi, Tokyo, many people lined up to exchange their old bills for the new ones on the second day of issuance.