Beaujolais Nouveau Arrives at Kansai Airport, Expectations High

Oct 23, 2025 | News On Japan

OSAKA - The first shipment of Beaujolais Nouveau, the new French wine whose sale will be officially released on November 20th, arrived at Kansai International Airport on the morning of October 22nd.

Around 7 a.m., a cargo plane carrying Beaujolais Nouveau landed at the airport, where customs officers conducted inspections before the bottles were cleared for distribution.

Beaujolais Nouveau is a freshly produced wine made from grapes harvested that same year in the Beaujolais region of Burgundy, France.

According to importer Suntory, this year’s production was cut to roughly half of last year’s due to the severe summer heat, but the result is a wine with a rich, concentrated aroma and sweet, full-bodied flavor—said to be one of the finest in recent years. Despite rising production costs, the company announced that prices will remain unchanged.

The official sale of Beaujolais Nouveau will begin on November 20th.

Source: YOMIURI

Japan on Alert as Typhoon No. 24 Moves North

Typhoon No. 24 was moving slowly north over waters south of Japan as of 3 p.m. on September 2, with forecasts showing increasing uncertainty in its path after September 4 and the possibility of prolonged effects around the Nansei Islands.

Japan to Conduct First Nationwide Survey of Animal Cafes

Japan's Environment Ministry will conduct its first survey of animal cafes, where customers can interact with animals including exotic species, as concerns grow over infection risks, injuries and the welfare burden placed on animals.

Haneda Tightens Baggage Deadline

Haneda Airport introduced two major changes on September 2, opening a new boarding facility at Terminal 1 while moving the checked-baggage deadline for all domestic flights to 30 minutes before departure.

USJ Eyes First-Ever Park Expansion

Universal Studios Japan is considering its first expansion since opening in 2001, with plans to use about 60,000 square meters of former Nippon Steel factory land adjacent to the park and potentially increase its total area by roughly 10%.

Japan Cuts Speed Limit on Residential Roads to 30 km/h

Japan will lower the statutory speed limit on certain residential roads from 60 kilometers per hour to 30 km/h from September 1, with police in Hyogo Prefecture urging drivers to familiarize themselves with the new rules and drive more carefully in neighborhood areas.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Food NEWS

3 Tokyo Michelin-Listed Meals (Under $10!)

Japan byFood and Shizuka are back with Worth The Trip the series where we will discover food spots in Japan that are actually worth traveling for! This time we are going to award-winning eats around Tokyo under one rule – we can only eat for $10 or around ¥1,600 yen.

2026 Rice Harvest Forecast Slightly Higher in Five Prefectures

Japan's 2026 rice harvest is expected to show mixed results across the country, with yields slightly above the previous year's level in five prefectures, roughly unchanged in 20 and slightly lower in 21, according to an Agriculture Ministry forecast released on August 31.

Edamame Harvest Begins in Hokkaido

The edamame harvest has begun in Nakasatsunai, Hokkaido, one of Japan's leading production areas, with favorable weather supporting strong growth and farmers expecting about 3,000 tons of the local specialty to be harvested by mid-September.

Edo-Tokyo Vegetables Face Extinction

Traditional vegetables cultivated in Tokyo for generations are facing a growing threat from extreme heat and a shortage of farmers willing to carry on their cultivation, with some growers reporting that seeds are failing to germinate or young plants are dying in increasingly severe summer temperatures.

Asahi Ponzu Production Halted as Sudachi Shortage Deepens

Production of Asahi Ponzu, a popular seasoning that has been a fixture on Kansai dining tables for decades, has been suspended for the first time in the product's roughly 60-year history as a severe shortage of sudachi citrus exposes a deepening crisis in Tokushima Prefecture, which accounts for 98% of Japan's shipments.

Shinjuku's Best-Value Steak Grill

Gutsu Grill Shinjuku has been serving hearty, affordable steak in Nishi-Shinjuku since 1999, attracting crowds with generous portions and a menu built around value for money. The 44-seat restaurant regularly fills up at lunchtime, with customers praising its tender meat, large servings and reasonable prices.

Lawson to Cut Onigiri Prices by 10 Yen

Lawson plans to cut prices on its main line of onigiri rice balls by 10 yen from September 29 as falling rice prices begin to feed through to retail costs.

Asian Games Reveals Meals for Athletes

Athletes competing in the Asian Games will be served around 370 dishes ranging from Asian-style curries and chicken dishes to Nagoya specialties such as chicken wings and kishimen noodles, with menus also designed to accommodate religious and dietary requirements.

< 2 3 4 5 >