Hikaru Utada Unfurls Album Cover for 'Colorless Flower'

TOKYO, Jan 30 (News On Japan) - Hikaru Utada's new single "Nani Iro Demo Nai Hana" to be released on February 12, has unveiled its jacket artwork. The cover photo for Hikaru Utada's "Nani Iro Demo Nai Hana" was shot by photographer Takay in Obihiro, Hokkaido, in January this year.

"Nani Iro Demo Nai Hana" is the theme song for the currently airing Fuji TV Monday night drama "Kimi ga Kokoro wo Kureta Kara." In addition, a pre-order campaign for "Nani Iro Demo Nai Hana" is being held on Apple Music, Spotify, and the iTunes Store. Among the campaign participants, 300 will be selected by lottery to receive an "Original Sticker of Nani Iro Demo Nai Hana," and all participants will receive an "Original Wallpaper" as a gift.

Source: Natalie

Kyoto Raises Lodging Tax as Peak Travel Season Begins

Kyoto City significantly raised its lodging tax from March 1st, increasing the maximum charge per person per night from 1,000 yen to as much as 10,000 yen, in a move aimed at tackling overtourism and funding the preservation of cultural assets, even as questions remain about its impact on visitors and the local economy.

Foreign Visitors and Ex-Rescuer Pull 80-Year-Old Woman From Hakuba Crashed Car

A former emergency responder and foreign tourists worked together to rescue a woman in her 80s who was trapped inside an overturned light vehicle in Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture.

Tokyo Metro Begins Touchless Ticket Gate Trial

Tokyo Metro and Toshiba have launched Japan’s first demonstration test allowing passengers to pass through ticket gates without touching them by using their smartphones’ Bluetooth function.

Himeji Castle Hikes Admission Fee for Non-Residents

The admission fee for the World Heritage-listed Himeji Castle in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, was revised on March 1st for the first time in 11 years, introducing a dual pricing system that significantly raises costs for visitors from outside the city.

Australian Girl, 8, Dies After Snowmobile Overturns in Hakuba

An eight-year-old Australian girl died after a snowmobile overturned in Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture, at around 11 a.m. on February 28th, with authorities investigating the cause of the accident.

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