Fire Ceremony and Luxury Dining by Japan’s Highest Lake

Mar 21, 2023 | News On Japan

Mar 21, 2023 (Japan by Food) - Shizuka visits Nikko for a wonderful luxury retreat in the mountains. She gets to witness an engaging fire ritual, where rhythmic chanting and the leaping flames of holy cedar transports you to an otherworldly scene.

After the tour of the temple's main hall and scenic spots like Chuzenji Lake and Kegon Falls, Shizuka enjoys a fancy kaiseki meal in the Ritz Carlton’s dining room. The delicate art of kaiseki course dining is brought to life by the regional quality of unique mashiko-yaki ware and cuisine infused with Tochigi spirit. ...continue reading

Heatstroke Alert Issued For Record 17 Prefectures This Year

Dangerous heat is expected across a wide area from western to eastern Japan today, prompting authorities to issue heatstroke warning alerts for 17 prefectures, the highest number so far this year.

Russian Spy Base In Japan?

Japan has become an unexpected base of operations for Russian intelligence agents since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, with spies allegedly using the country to procure and smuggle high-tech equipment and other goods to Russia, The New York Times reported on July 12.

Convenience Stores Tackle Bear Crisis

Convenience store operators in Japan are strengthening safety measures as bear-related damage grows more serious, with Lawson expanding the use of bear repellent spray and considering drone-based remote monitoring.

Osaka’s Minami Rebuilt Into Tourist Hub

Osaka’s Minami district, now entering another period of major change with the planned opening of the Naniwasuji Line, the redevelopment of Midosuji and improvements around Nankai Namba Station, has transformed from an area once described as "scary" and "dirty" into one of Japan’s leading tourist destinations.

Crowds Join First Pull of 10-Ton Gion Festival Float

A 10-ton hoko float was pulled through central Kyoto on July 12 in a trial run ahead of the Yamahoko Junko procession during the Gion Festival's early parade.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Food NEWS

Morning Market Heats Up As Starbucks Joins In

Japan’s breakfast market is gaining new momentum, with Starbucks launching morning offerings at some locations in May and a growing number of newcomers entering the increasingly lively sector.

Single Pacific Saury Priced Above 210,000 Yen at First Auction

The first Pacific saury of the season landed in Hokkaido fetched a record 1.112 million yen per kilogram at an auction in Sapporo on July 10, with one fish later displayed at a retail price of 216,000 yen.

Tokyo Wasabi Growers Keep a Rare Japanese Flavor Alive

Wasabi, a food ingredient native to Japan, has long been valued not only for enhancing the flavor of other foods but also for its reported antibacterial and antioxidant properties, making it an essential part of the Japanese table.

Mos Burger Wins Customers With Budget and Premium Menus

Mos Food Services, operator of the Japan-born hamburger chain Mos Burger, is riding a strong recovery, with sales surpassing 100 billion yen for the first time in the year ended March 2026 and both revenue and profit reaching record highs.

Impact of Japan’s Stricter Foreign Business Manager Visa Rules

A Nepalese manager of a busy Indian restaurant in Kodaira, Tokyo, says he fears for the future of his business after Japan tightened the requirements for foreign entrepreneurs seeking to stay in the country under the business manager visa.

Sushiro Opening Packs in 1,000 Customers on First Day

Sushiro, Japan’s leading conveyor-belt sushi chain, drew heavy crowds to a new outlet near Ayase Station in Tokyo on June 11, with the first day of business revealing both the brand’s strength and the pressure behind running a high-volume sushi restaurant.

The Hidden Logistics Behind Hit Frozen Food

Japan Access, Japan's leading general food wholesaler, is expanding the potential of food logistics with frozen-to-chilled processing, a system that stores products frozen and thaws them only when orders arrive before shipping them to retailers as chilled goods.

Aichi Miso Impresses Chefs Preparing Asian Games Menus

Seven chefs tasked with developing athlete menus for the Asian Games opening in September visited a long-established Hatcho miso maker in Okazaki on June 22, as organizers look to promote Aichi’s food culture through fermented seasonings such as miso and soy sauce.

< 2 3 4 5 >