News On Japan

Foreign Tourists Immerse in Japan's Nighttime Economy

TOKYO, Nov 11 (News On Japan) - The rising number of foreign tourists has spurred growth in Japan’s inbound tourism market. A key to enhancing the experience of these visitors lies in the 'nighttime economy,' which focuses on leisure activities.

Amid a nighttime forest, a breathtaking sight emerges—installations of light that change brightness randomly, creating a pulsing effect reminiscent of a living creature's heartbeat. This mesmerizing display is set in a glamping facility in Kitaibaraki, Ibaraki Prefecture.

A favorite among foreign tourists, the cottages offer a rare experience, where the sunlight gives the forest an endless glow during the day. By contrast, at night, the forest transforms, showcasing art installations that weave light into the landscape.

Manager Shota Takahashi: “This is a facility for guests to enjoy after nightfall. The natural environment becomes a work of art, offering an extraordinary experience.”

Once terraced rice fields nestled in a valley, the area now integrates seamlessly with the forest to form an artistic space at dusk. This transformation has gained widespread attention on social media, drawing many tourists from overseas.

Visitors remarked, “It’s even more magical at night,” and “It’s a one-of-a-kind experience, totally worth the trip.”

The nighttime economy also extends to the taxi industry. One unique initiative is the “Urban Legend Taxi,” a limited-time horror tour. Passengers board this tour to find themselves startled by an apparition wielding scissors.

The tour takes about an hour, driving through Tokyo as a fictional horror program plays inside the vehicle. Passengers are given earphones connected to a designated smartphone to listen to urban legends while walking dark streets and experiencing Japan’s distinct horror style.

Passenger: “It was a fresh way to enjoy horror, watching scary scenes while looking out at the cityscape—it was a lot of fun.”

The tour includes 3D videos capturing actors dressed as ghosts and a storyline supervised by a renowned Japanese horror planner, enhancing the scare factor with cutting-edge visual effects.

Hiroki Matsui, Business Development Department, S.RIDE Inc.: “During the day, all our hire vehicles are booked, while at night, a significant number remain unoccupied. So, we decided to offer a nighttime horror tour, given the few examples of similar events.”

As a pillar for growing inbound tourism, the nighttime economy is set to expand further in Japan.

Source: FNN

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi has been appointed commander of the International Space Station (ISS), becoming the third Japanese to assume the role.

Transportation of a 150-meter railway rail—the longest in the world—manufactured at a steelworks in Kitakyushu City, began on April 18th. The rail will be delivered to Hokkaido over the course of about four days for use in the Hokkaido Shinkansen extension project.

The Japan Society for the Study of Obesity has issued a warning about the health risks of excessive thinness and poor nutrition among women, positioning what it calls 'women's underweight and malnutrition syndrome' as a newly recognized health condition.

Once a familiar and comforting presence on urban streets, Japan's cherished ramen stalls are quietly fading away as stricter regulations, an aging workforce, and evolving consumer preferences make their survival increasingly difficult.

A bear attacking a live deer outside a hotel in Kamikawa, Hokkaido, has shocked onlookers and prompted heightened alert from local authorities.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Travel NEWS

As Golden Week approaches next weekend, one major headache for travelers is the soaring cost of hotel stays. In central Tokyo, a single night can now cost 23,000 yen—not for a luxury or business hotel, but for a capsule hotel.

Kobe Airport has launched its first regular international charter flights since opening in 2006, connecting the city with five major Asian destinations—Incheon in South Korea, Taipei and Taichung in Taiwan, and Shanghai and Nanjing in China—with a total of 40 round-trip flights per week.

The 2025 World Expo opened its doors this Sunday (13) in the city of Osaka, Kansai, Japan - with the aim of emphasizing future technologies and harmony in a world facing “countless divisions”. (Hi Japan)

A regular flight route between Fukuoka and Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan resumed on April 15th for the first time in nine years, operated by Taiwan's China Airlines.

On the fourth day of the Osaka-Kansai Expo on April 16th, under clear skies, large crowds gathered once again as the long-delayed Brazil Pavilion finally opened after a minor fire scare and construction delays.

A cherry tree blooming in the garden of the Shiga Peace Memorial Museum carries the legacy of Hiroshima. This tree, known as a 'hibaku zakura' or atomic-bombed cherry tree, descends from a tree that survived the atomic bombing in Hiroshima, just two kilometers from ground zero.

Strong winds battered wide areas of Japan on April 15th, disrupting air travel, toppling trees in central Tokyo, and fueling a fire that burned down homes in Toyama.

The official start of the swimming season was held on April 12th at Sesoko Beach in Motobu, Okinawa Prefecture, where children’s excited voices echoed across the sand as they welcomed the long-awaited day.