Tokyo and Surroundings

Ginza Sony Park: Experiencing Tokyo’s Newest Park on the Site of the Former Sony Building

Ginza Other Shopping

The new Ginza Sony Park opened on the site of the former Sony Building. It’s a “vertical park” expanding down five basement floors – but what does that mean? It features a garden by exotic plant hunter Seijun Nishihata, a free indoor roller rink, and a variety of gourmet spots, including a craft beer stand serving brews for a single coin, the shaved ice store Toraya Café, and a shop making and selling red bean paste! Let's dive right in.

Running in Japan: See the sights and stay fit in locally made wear!

Ginza Other Shopping Sponsor Content
White Christmas? 4 Spectacular Day Trips from Urban Tokyo to See Snow

Tokyo's Surrounding Areas Winter
Tokyo Tower vs. Tokyo Skytree: Best Photo Spots for Your Instagram Shots!

Roppongi Landmarks
8 Laws You Should Know About Before Coming to Japan!
Enjoy Tasty Sushi for Under 1,000 Yen at These 3 Sushi Shops!

Shinjuku
Forget to Pack it? Don’t Worry! Things You Can Get at Convenience Stores in Japan
Onsen in Tokyo: Enjoying a Traditional Hot Spring Day at 'Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari'!

Odaiba Hot Springs (Onsen) & Bath Houses (Sento)

Top 10 Best-Selling Items from the Japan’s Best Lifestyle Brand MUJI

Other Shopping

MUJI, Japan’s premier lifestyle brand, has transformed the way Japanese shop since coming on the scene in the late 1980s. The brand has gained legions of fans domestically and worldwide through its simplistic, minimalist packaging, subdued colors, and high-quality products. You can even find MUJI stores in nearly 25 countries around the globe. But, you certainly must visit a MUJI store while you’re in Japan. We’ve rounded up the top 10 best-selling items at MUJI for your convenience! This top 10 list includes items across a variety of genres like skincare, textiles, stationery, and even food. If you're curious to find out what’s trending among Japanese shoppers at MUJI or need a few gift-giving ideas, read on!

Japan’s Autumn Leaves: 2018 Fall Foliage Calendar

Tokyo Station Autumn
Beyond the Sushi: 31 Must-Try Japanese Dishes!

Japanese cuisine
Japan Fashion Trend Check: Bags by #Anello are Tokyo’s Latest Must-Have Accessory!

Shibuya Clothing Stores
Japan 2019 Cherry Blossom Forecast: When and where to see sakura in Tokyo, Kyoto and beyond!

Spring
Tokyo Events Calendar for October, November & December 2018

Tokyo Station Autumn
The Best Variety Stores of Harajuku and Omotesando: Fancy Up Your Life!

Harajuku Discount Stores

Purikura: Change Yourself Up with Photo Booth Fun!

Arcades

You simply cannot take a trip to Japan without trying one of the mega-popular sticker photo booths known as purikura! For just a few hundred yen and a few minutes, you can take home a souvenir that is as fun to make as it is to share. Purikura isn’t just about the final photos, but about the experience and fun of posing and decoration. This is not your average photo booth! LIVE JAPAN took a visit to the purikura area of the Taito Station game center in Shinjuku to try purikura for ourselves and to take you through the process step by step!

[MOVIE] DRUM TAO’S MANGEKYO – a Kaleidoscope of Taiko Drums

Shinagawa Shows
[MOVIE]Become a True Gundam Pilot - Step into the P.O.D. at a Japanese Arcade!

Arcades
Learn the Art of Flower Arrangement at Ohara School of Ikebana

Harajuku Other Traditional Arts
[MOVIE] Tokyo Joypolis: Odaiba’s Indoor Amusement Park of Thrills and Fun

Odaiba Theme Parks
[MOVIE] A Japanese Drum Experience at TAIKO-LAB

Shibuya Other Sightseeing
[MOVIE] Sightseeing Taxi: Tour Tokyo the Easy Way!

Odaiba Adventure Activities

5 Major Outlet Malls In and Around Tokyo

Chiba Suburbs Outlet Malls

Ready to go on a proper Tokyo-style shopping spree? If you want to save some money while getting a new wardrobe, head to the large outlet malls scattered around the suburbs of Tokyo. There are five major malls near Tokyo in total: Mitsui Outlet Park in Makuhari and Iruma, Shisui Premium Outlet near Narita Airport, Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza, and Gotemba Premium Outlets. Let’s take a look at how to get to these five major outlet malls, their main shopping features, as well as special services and discounts for international visitors!

Careful! Things You "Can" and "Can't" Take Out of Japan
Shibamata: Snacking and Sightseeing in Tokyo’s Old Edo Neighborhood

Shibamata / Kita-Senju / Kameari Old Towns (Shitamachi)
How to Eat Sushi: the Complete Guide to Japan’s Most Famous Food

Sushi
Welcome to Tokyo's Street of Youth! Top 6 Recommendations in Shimokitazawa for 2018

Shimokitazawa
Tokyo’s Top Hotel Chains: Quality Rooms That Won't Bust Your Budget!

Tokyo's Surrounding Areas Hotels
Cheap Japanese Convenience Store Breakfasts: Enjoy a Variety of Choices for $5!

Convenience Stores

Fall in Japan is the Best! 10 Reasons We Love Autumn in Tokyo

Harajuku Autumn

Autumn is one of the best seasons to visit Tokyo! The city dyed in hues of red, orange and yellow. The humidity and heat of the summer give way to more temperate weather where strolling the streets through the day no longer leave you feeling like you’ve just hit the gym. It’s the season when rice is harvested, mackerel swim south and a myriad of celebrations through the country leave locals and anyone who visits in a perpetual sense of festivity.

How to Make Bento for Beginners: 3 Big Rules and Easy Tips & Tricks!

Asakusa Bento
Amazing Rice Paddy Art! Behind the scenes of a unique modern Japanese tradition

Tokyo's Surrounding Areas Other Nature
Japan Beyond the Guidebook: 6 Expats Share Their Top Autumn Food Choices!

Tokyo Station Autumn
Asking Japanese Expats: How Do Cities Around the World Compare to Tokyo?

Tokyo Station Other Sightseeing
[MOVIE] Henn-na Hotel: Checking Out Japan's Quirky Robot Hotel!

Tsukiji Hotels
Sightseeing in Kamakura, Japan: Visiting the Ancient Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine

Kamakura Shrines

5 Essential tips on being a vegetarian in Japan – from a vegetarian’s perspective!

Tokyo Station Other Restaurants

Japanese cuisine has spread around the world rapidly in recent years, its image shifting from being an exotic raw fish centered cuisine to being featured on order-in menus in all the major metropolitans in the world. Proven combinations, traditional ingredients, and precision-driven techniques have put Japanese food on the map, with more than 100,000 restaurants in Tokyo alone feeding millions of hungry mouths each day. As a vegetarian on an island where the concept of a diet without meat or fish is uncommon, the task of finding a fulfilling and delicious meal can be daunting. The recent influx of tourists has brought a wave of vegetarian and veganism to the cities of Japan. Cafes are opening to cater to this new demographic and some places are even modifying old Japanese recipes to fill this new need. And with a little guidance, Japan can still be a culinary paradise for all the vegetarians out there!