Hot Springs Cut Operating Hours as Fuel Supply Tightens

Apr 28, 2026 | News On Japan

SHIZUOKA, Apr 28, 2026 (News On Japan) - Shizuoka City said it will shorten operating hours at three municipally run hot spring facilities from May 7 for the time being, after instability in heavy oil supplies linked to the situation in Iran.

The affected facilities are Yunoshima Onsen Bathhouse and Kuchisakamoto Onsen Bathhouse in Aoi Ward, and Shimizu Nishizato Onsen Bathhouse Yamasemi no Yu in Shimizu Ward.

According to the city, securing sufficient heavy oil used at the hot spring facilities has become difficult since mid-March because of the impact of developments involving Iran.

Kuchisakamoto Onsen Bathhouse and Yunoshima Onsen Bathhouse in Aoi Ward will operate from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., a reduction of two hours.

Shimizu Nishizato Onsen Bathhouse Yamasemi no Yu in Shimizu Ward will operate on weekdays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., shortening hours by two hours and 30 minutes.

The reduced schedule will begin on May 7 and is expected to remain in place until heavy oil supplies stabilize and normal operations can resume.

Source: SBSnews6

Okinawa Braces for Strong Winds as Typhoon No. 26 Intensifies

Typhoon No. 26 was moving slowly north-northeast over waters south of Okinawa's main island at 9 p.m. on September 26 and is expected to intensify into a strong typhoon by the evening of September 27, bringing powerful winds and high waves to Okinawa before heading northeast over the Pacific Ocean south of Japan.

Flood-Hit Chiba Faces Double Blow From Another Typhoon

Residents in flood-hit areas of Chiba Prefecture continued clearing mud and damaged belongings from their homes on September 25 as emergency repairs began on a breached embankment at Lake Inba, with fresh heavy rain forecast for the weekend and Typhoon No. 26 threatening to bring further disruption next week.

Asian Games Day 7: Japan Takes Four Skateboarding Medals

Japan's teenage skateboarders delivered two gold medals and two bronze medals on September 25, with 15-year-olds Mizuho Hasegawa and Ian Nagahara winning the women's and men's park competitions at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

10-Vehicle Pileup Closes Kobe Expressway

A major traffic accident involving 10 vehicles, including trucks and passenger cars, left one man seriously injured and nine others with minor injuries on the Daini Shinmei Road in Kobe on September 24, forcing the closure of part of the expressway.

ANA Plane Makes Emergency Landing at Naha Airport

An All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight bound for Saga Airport made an emergency landing at Naha Airport in Okinawa at 10:05 p.m. on September 23 after developing trouble with its right engine shortly after takeoff, with some passengers suffering minor injuries during an emergency evacuation.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Japan's Long-Term Interest Rate Climbs to 3.115%, Highest in 30 Years

Japan's benchmark long-term interest rate climbed to 3.115% during trading, reaching its highest level in nearly 30 years for the second consecutive day as persistent inflation concerns and expectations of further interest rate hikes fueled selling in government bonds.

Nikkei Climbs 850 Points as Chip Shares and Dividend Buying Lift Tokyo

Tokyo stocks rose strongly on September 25, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 66,364, up 850 points, as buying in semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related shares combined with demand for dividend-paying financial stocks ahead of the September 28 interim dividend deadline.

Tokyo Used Condominium Prices Fall for First Time in 28 Months

Prices of used condominiums in Tokyo fell for the first time in two years and four months in August, ending a 28-month streak of increases, while neighboring Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures recorded their fourth consecutive month of gains.

SoftBank Expands AI Investments With 1.76 Trillion Yen Bond Issue

SoftBank Group announced on September 24 that it will issue approximately 1.76 trillion yen worth of foreign currency-denominated bonds, the largest simultaneous bond offering in its history, to finance a further $10 billion investment in OpenAI as founder Masayoshi Son accelerates his strategy of building a global business spanning artificial intelligence, semiconductors and data centers.

Nikkei Rises as AI and Chip Shares Lead Tokyo After Silver Week

Tokyo stocks rose on September 24, with the Nikkei 225 climbing to 65,647, up 628 points, as investors returned from the Silver Week break with renewed appetite for artificial intelligence and semiconductor-related shares, while the broader TOPIX edged lower as value and financial stocks came under pressure.

Japan's Beer Market Undergoes Major Shake-Up

Japan's beer industry is preparing for a major transformation as a liquor tax revision takes effect on October 1, unifying tax rates across beer, happoshu and third-category beer for the first time, with conventional beer becoming cheaper while lower-priced alternatives face tax increases.

Japan Targets Shipbuilding Revival

Japan is stepping up efforts to revive its shipbuilding industry, aiming to double annual construction volume by 2035 through government-backed investment in next-generation vessels, ship repair facilities and liquefied natural gas carriers, while Japanese manufacturers accelerate the development of hydrogen-powered engines and other advanced maritime technologies.

Higher Interest Rates Divide Japan's Young and Old

Japan's transition toward an economy with higher interest rates is creating sharply different outcomes for households, with younger generations facing rising mortgage repayments while older savers stand to benefit from increased deposit interest, following the Bank of Japan's decision to raise its policy rate by 0.25 percentage points to 1.25%.

< 2 3 4 5 >