The scene early in the morning in Nagano was striking: dozens of people with cameras lined sidewalks, riverbanks, and even grassy fields, all intent on capturing a moment they would never see again. More than 100 fans had gathered to witness the final run of the Cassiopeia sleeper train.

Japan Post is facing new sanctions after the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism issued notices of administrative action against about 100 post offices nationwide for failing to properly conduct roll calls to confirm delivery staff readiness.

What's on this autumn in Japan, including events, exhibitions, new shops and updates on attractions. (Cakes with Faces)

Japan's tourism sector is on a remarkable upswing, with international visitors returning to the country in droves. In the first half of 2025 alone, over 18 million tourists arrived, signaling a resurgence after the challenges of the pandemic.

A ranking has been released evaluating the attractiveness of cities across Japan, based on 87 indicators across six categories including economy, lifestyle, and transportation.

A woman was fatally stabbed multiple times by a stranger in the elevator of an apartment building in Kobe in August, triggering a surge of discussion online about personal self-defense products.

Prince Hisahito, the eldest son of Crown Prince Akishino, will celebrate his 19th birthday on September 6th, when he formally marks his coming-of-age. On the eve of the milestone, the Imperial Household Agency released footage of Hisahito’s daily life at the University of Tsukuba, where he is currently enrolled.

As of 11:20 a.m. on September 5th, operations on the Tokaido Shinkansen were suspended due to heavy rain. Northbound services between Shin-Osaka and Toyohashi stations and southbound services between Tokyo and Nagoya stations have been halted. Railway operators warned that depending on weather conditions, further suspensions and delays may occur.

A low-pressure system in the Pacific is expected to strengthen into a typhoon, with forecasts raising the possibility of it sweeping across Japan later this week. Meanwhile, unstable atmospheric conditions on September 3rd triggered sudden downpours and thunderstorms across the Kanto region, leading to flooding and property damage in several areas.

Telework, which spread rapidly during the COVID-19 crisis, gave rise to the concept of “workation,” where employees worked remotely not only from home but also from tourist destinations. However, as pandemic restrictions ease, a clear shift back to office-based work is underway.

At a regular press conference of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, Takeshi Niinami, who stepped down as chairman of Suntory Holdings, appeared with a calm demeanor and used the opportunity to deny wrongdoing over his alleged involvement in the import of illegal supplements.

A video showing a foreign man desecrating a cemetery in Japan has triggered widespread criticism on social media and led the Australian Embassy in Tokyo to issue a rare warning.

The Liberal Democratic Party held a joint meeting of both houses on Tuesday to review its crushing defeat in the Upper House election, where it was revealed that all three top executives, including Secretary-General Moriyama, intend to resign.

Gold prices reached an all-time high in Japan, with the announcement on Tuesday that the retail price had hit 18,211 yen per gram, exceeding the 18,000 yen mark for the first time.

The Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center, which served as a venue during the Tokyo Olympics and has been familiar to residents for 30 years, has been converted into an ice rink and will open on Saturday, September 6.

A Chinese Navy destroyer and supply ship have completed a near circumnavigation of the Japanese archipelago before returning to the East China Sea.

As summer vacation ends, absenteeism among schoolchildren is on the rise, with the number of cases reaching record levels. The impact extends beyond children, with parents increasingly being forced to leave their jobs to care for them.

In this video, Shizuka is on the quest to hit up FIVE local spots (NO chains!) where each serves something different from udon to fluffy omurice. Everything has to be priced under ¥1,500 or US$10 as proof of how good food in Tokyo can be cheap – if you know where to look. (Japan by Food)

AI is rapidly integrating into everyday life in Japan, with new applications ranging from real-time speech translation on smartphones and recipe planning to grading children's homework in seconds.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a tick-borne illness, is spreading across Japan with health authorities warning that infections can lead to fevers above 38°C followed by severe abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Norlevo, a morning-after pill, won support from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's expert committee on August 29 for non-prescription sales, aiming to reduce unintended pregnancies.

Honda said it will relocate its headquarters to the Yaesu district in front of Tokyo Station sometime in 2029. The company will transfer part of its ownership interest in its headquarters building in Minami-Aoyama, which is currently under reconstruction, to Mitsui Fudosan Residential.

Prime Minister Ishiba rode the Tohoku Shinkansen with Prime Minister Modi on August 30 as Japan promotes its bullet train system for India’s first high-speed rail project, highlighting safety, comfort, and reliability.

Rice plants are generally developing on schedule ahead of the new-crop harvest, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Japan’s manufacturing sector suffered a noticeable blow from the so-called Trump tariffs, with transport equipment makers particularly hard-hit.