Bon Odori dancers circle yagura Shibuya summer festival Japan

Japan Now! Bon Odori Takes Over Shibuya! The 600-Year-Old Dance in Japan’s Trendiest District (7/13)

For decades, Shibuya has been shorthand for everything new in Japan: the scramble crossing, youth fashion, neon-soaked nightlife. However, on the evening of August 8, the district will do something radically old. The streets around SHIBUYA109 will close to traffic, a wooden yagura tower will rise in the middle of the road, and thousands of people in yukata will dance in circles to songs their great-grandparents knew. This is Bon Odori, and it is one of Japan’s oldest living traditions. Quick Answer: Bon Odori is the traditional circle dance of Obon, Japan’s midsummer festival honoring ancestral spirits. Shibuya Bon Odori…

View More Japan Now! Bon Odori Takes Over Shibuya! The 600-Year-Old Dance in Japan’s Trendiest District (7/13)
Red Brick Sunset 2026 Santa Monica theme Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse

Japan Now! Japan Is Building Its Own Santa Monica, and It Opens August 1 (7/10)

For years, Japanese pop culture fans in America have recreated a little piece of Japan at home, from ramen nights to anime conventions. However, this summer the tables have turned completely: Japan is building a full-scale replica of Santa Monica, palm trees, pier, white sand and all, right on the Yokohama waterfront. It is called Red Brick Sunset 2026, and it might be Japan’s most American event ever. Quick Answer: Red Brick Sunset 2026 runs August 1 to 30 at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, one of Japan’s most popular waterfront venues. This year’s theme is Santa Monica, complete with a…

View More Japan Now! Japan Is Building Its Own Santa Monica, and It Opens August 1 (7/10)

Japan Now! What Is Typhoon Season in Japan, and Should Travelers Worry? (6/25)

If you are planning a summer trip to Japan, you have probably pictured warm evenings, festivals, and clear skies over Mt. Fuji. Here is something that does not always make the travel brochures. Summer is also typhoon season, and right now two of them are spinning near Japan at the same time. If you are visiting between roughly June and October, this is worth understanding before you go. Quick Answer: Japan’s typhoon season runs from about June through October, with the peak in August and September. Typhoons are powerful tropical storms (the Pacific cousin of hurricanes) that can bring extreme…

View More Japan Now! What Is Typhoon Season in Japan, and Should Travelers Worry? (6/25)

Japan Now! Why is Japan Quintupling Its Visa Fees? The Story Behind the Massive 2026 Price Hike 🇯🇵 (6/19)

For decades, Japan has been the ultimate dream destination for American travelers, offering stunning temples, unmatched hospitality, and in recent years, an incredibly favorable exchange rate due to the weak yen. But Japan visa fees are about to change in a big way. A major financial update from Tokyo is currently making headlines across Japan, and it’s something every future traveler and expat needs to know. Starting July 1, 2026, the Japanese government will implement a massive hike in foreigner visa fees, marking the first major overhaul of its kind since 1978. “【Announcement】Visa fees for foreigners to be raised 5…

View More Japan Now! Why is Japan Quintupling Its Visa Fees? The Story Behind the Massive 2026 Price Hike 🇯🇵 (6/19)