Visitors Cry for Shirako Onions

Climate change is reshaping Hokkaido's fishing and agricultural industries, contributing to declining salmon and pink salmon catches while allowing crops such as sweet potatoes, once considered unsuitable for large-scale production in Japan's far north, to take root.

Japan's cat cafes, now numbering around 300 nationwide, trace their origins to Neko no Jikan in Osaka's Nakazaki-cho district, where founder Yoko Yoshida combined the quiet atmosphere of a manga cafe with the companionship of cats to create what is regarded as the country's first cat cafe in 2004.

We explore the streets around Nishiki Market, stroll through Teramachi and Shinkyogoku, take a sweet break, and slow down beside the Kamo River before ending the day with a bowl of ramen that is anything but ordinary.

Water spinach, a heat-resistant leafy vegetable that can cost about half as much as spinach and be regrown at home from leftover stems, is attracting attention in Japan as households look for affordable ways to cope with rising summer vegetable prices.

A banana grower in Okinawa is working to transform the fruit into a major local industry after recognizing the potential of a market that depends almost entirely on imports despite strong consumer demand.

Shipments of Kyotango Melons, a luxury fruit known for its juicy texture and refined, rich sweetness, have reached their seasonal peak in Kyotango, Kyoto Prefecture.

Wasabi, an essential condiment on Japanese dining tables, is seeing rising demand as its popularity grows among foreign consumers drawn to its distinctive flavor and ability to enhance food.

A cafe where visitors can interact with nine giant dogs weighing more than 50 kilograms each is set to open next week in Tondabayashi, Osaka Prefecture, offering close encounters with the animals as well as dining excursions accompanied by a favorite dog.