| May 25 | Nagoya Castle structures restored |
 At the Nagoya Castle compound in central Japan, restoration work has been completed on the entrance and reception room of the main residential building for the first time in 70 years. (NHK  ) |
| May 23 | Foreign travelers to Japan hit record-high |
 The number of foreigners visiting Japan reached a record high last month. Analysts say the weakening yen is making Japan a more affordable destination. (NHK ) |
| May 23 | Skytree celebrates 1 year |
 Tokyo Skytree, the 634-meter-high tower in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, marked the first anniversary of its opening on Wednesday. (Yomiuri ) |
| May 22 | X Japan waxes lyrical at Madame Tussauds debut |
 This Monday, members of the seminal metal band X Japan were in Odaiba rubbing shoulders with the likes of Brad Pitt, Lady Gaga and AKB48′s Yuko Oshima. The catch? They were all made out of wax. (Japan Times ) |
| May 21 | Japan panel proposes allowing long stay for wealthy foreigners |
| A government panel discussing measures to boost tourism on Monday drew up an interim report proposing creating a new type of entry qualification that would allow wealthy foreigners to stay in Japan for several years. (Jiji Press) |
| May 20 | 634-meter high Tokyo Skytree attracts 6.34 mil. visitors |
 The number of visitors to the observation deck of Tokyo Skytree, the world's tallest broadcasting tower at 634 meters, reached 6.34 million on Monday, matching the numerals of its height two days before the first anniversary of its opening, according to the operator. (Kyodo ) |
| May 20 | Japan panel seeks quicker immigration procedures |
| A private advisory panel to Japanese Justice Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki compiled a report Monday urging the government to speed up immigration procedures under its policy to increase the number of foreign visitors to Japan. (Jiji Press) |
| May 19 | Low-cost carriers looking to open new domestic, intl routes |
 The nation's three low-cost carriers, coming off a successful Golden Week holiday period, are hoping to increase demand by opening up new routes. (Yomiuri ) |
| May 18 | Traditional dance performed at Nikko temple |
 A traditional dance was performed on Friday at an ancient temple in Nikko City, northeast of Tokyo. (NHK ) |
| May 18 | Japan entrepreneur offers package tours for stuffed animals |
| The Unagi Travel company caters to a decidedly underserved corner of the tourism market: Clients must be quiet, petite, and fluffy. It is a travel agency, in other words, for stuffed animals. (cbsnews.com) |
| May 14 | Quake resistance check begins on A-Bomb Dome |
 Work started Monday to assess the earthquake resistance of the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima to confirm whether there is a need to reinforce the structure, part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. (Japan Times ) |
| May 14 | Japan visa issuance up 50 pct in 2012 |
 A total of 1,986,539 visas were issued by Japan in 2012, up 46.5 pct from a year before, the Foreign Ministry said Monday. (Jiji Press ) |
| May 10 | Yokohama Bay Bridge too low for modern ships |
 Some new large cruise ships are too tall to pass under the Yokohama Bay Bridge, and the Yokohama city government is concerned about problems this may cause at the port. (Yomiuri ) |
| May 06 | Transport packed as Golden Week U-turn begins |
 Holidaymakers crammed bullet trains, flights and highways bound for Tokyo and other cities Sunday as the Golden Week holidays began to wrap up. (Japan Times ) |
| May 04 | Mt. Fuji becomes far more visible from Tokyo: survey |
 Mount Fuji has become far more visible from Tokyo than a half century ago, possibly because the atmosphere of the Japanese capital has become cleaner and drier, according to a long-term survey by a school climate observatory in Tokyo. (Jiji Press ) |
| May 03 | For Golden Week, tourists flood a newly affordable Japan |
 The yen's sharp drop is transforming Japan's reputation as a prohibitively expensive place to visit, turbocharging the country's tourism industry long identified as a growth engine for the maturing economy. (Wall Street Journal ) |
| May 03 | Snow falls in Hokkaido as cold spring continues across Japan |
 Unseasonable low temperatures have been keeping Japan's spring cool, resulting in snowfall in the country's northeast this week. (Japan Today ) |
| May 03 | Garbage, heavy traffic major issues confronting Mt Fuji |
 The Agency for Cultural Affairs issued a notice Wednesday saying Mt Fuji was recommended for World Heritage status by the International Council on Monuments and Sites, a body affiliated with UNESCO. Formal approval is expected in June at a World Heritage Committee meeting in Cambodia. (Japan Today ) |
| May 02 | Mt. Fuji to become World Heritage site |
 Japan's iconic Mt. Fuji has been recommended for registration as a World Heritage site by an advisory panel to UNESCO, the government said Tuesday. (Kyodo ) |
| Apr 27 | Holidaymakers' rush starts as Japan enters Golden Week |
 Major airports, highways and railway stations in Japan were crowded with holidaymakers Saturday as the country entered the Golden Week spring holiday season. (Kyodo ) |
| Apr 26 | Japan OKs Dreamliners to fly again |
 Japan has authorized passenger airlines to resume flights of Boeing 787 Dreamliners in the country starting Friday, authorities said. (CNN ) |
| Apr 26 | Japan to ease visa requirements for travelers from SE Asia |
| A panel under Japan's transport and tourism ministry on Thursday outlined a set of measures to help increase foreign visitors to Japan, including an easing of criteria for issuing tourist visas mainly for Southeast Asian nations. (Jiji Press) |
| Apr 26 | Narita Airport sees record flights in FY12 |
 The total number of arrivals and departures at Narita Airport rose 13 percent from a year earlier to a record 212,078 in fiscal 2012, the airport operator said Thursday. (Yomiuri ) |
| Apr 25 | Roppongi Hills Celebrates 10th Anniversary |
 Roppongi Hills, a large-scale commercial and residential complex in central Tokyo, celebrated its 10th anniversary on Thursday, with its reputation as one of the busiest trendy facilities in Japan showing no sign of fading. (Jiji Press ) |
| Apr 24 | Palace's moat to be cleaned up |
 The Environment Ministry has started to improve the water quality of Chidorigafuchi moat of the Imperial Palace and its surrounding natural environment, including the cherry trees for which the moat is popularly known. (Yomiuri ) |
