Travel

Visitors Throng to Shirahama Ohama Beach

SHIZUOKA, Sep 14 (News On Japan) - Shizuoka Prefecture’s Shimoda City announced that the number of visitors to its ten beaches this season rose significantly, with Shirahama Ohama, the city’s largest beach, recording an 80 percent increase compared with last year.

According to the city, 264,320 people visited the ten beaches in the summer of 2025, up by about 60,000 from 2024. Shirahama Ohama alone attracted 170,000 visitors, more than 80 percent higher than the previous year.

The city’s tourism exchange division attributed the strong performance of Shirahama Ohama to favorable weather during the holiday period and the impact of temporary advisories related to the Nankai Trough in 2024, which had dampened visitor numbers that year.

In contrast, the other nine beaches recorded fewer visitors than in 2024, partly because the swimming season was shorter in 2025 due to the calendar.

Source: SBSnews6

Crimes by U.S. Military Personnel Hit Record High in Okinawa

The number of U.S. military personnel arrested for criminal offenses in Okinawa has reached 77 so far this year, already surpassing the record total for all of 2024 as of the end of September.

Japan to Tighten Visa Rules on Foreigners Behind on Health Insurance

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare plans to introduce a new system starting in June 2027 that will, in principle, deny changes or renewals of residence status for foreign residents who fail to pay their national health insurance premiums despite repeated requests for payment.

New Typhoon is Forming, Okinawa Could Be Affected Next Week

As of November 4th, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced that a tropical depression near the Caroline Islands is expected to develop into a typhoon within the next 24 hours. The system is separate from Typhoon No. 25 (Haiyan) currently near the Philippines and is projected to move northwestward once it intensifies.

Akita Woman Becomes 13th Bear Victim

Japan’s record-breaking bear crisis has entered a new and deadly phase, with authorities confirming that a 79-year-old woman missing in Akita Prefecture was found dead in the mountains, believed to be the 13th fatality from bear attacks this year.

Second Bird Flu Case of the Season, Massive Culling Underway

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed at a poultry farm in Eniwa City, Hokkaido, prompting authorities to begin culling operations on Sunday afternoon.

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The Yamanote Circles Tokyo for 100 Years

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