Anime Blog Tracker

Are Foreign Tourists Eating All of Japan’s Rice?

Newspapers and TV reports are blaming inbound tourists for Japan's rice shortfalls. However, the numbers don't add up.

Unseen Japan

Aug 29, 2024 • Subscribe

How Are Foreign Tourists Getting Japanese Driver’s Licenses?

Think you need a residence card to get a Japanese driver's license? Turns out you don't - you just need a piece of paper from a hotel.

Unseen Japan

Oct 24, 2024 • Subscribe

Tourists Are Flocking to Japan – and Leaving Their Luggage

Tourists to Japan are leaving a lot behind - in some cases, including their broken luggage. One hotel found a neat solution to the problem.

Unseen Japan

May 19, 2024 • Subscribe

Are More Tourists Getting Defrauded in Japan?

More tourists to Japan report getting overcharged or just plain ripped off for goods and services. Here's how to avoid getting fleeced.

Unseen Japan

Jun 14, 2024 • Subscribe

What Are the Top Inconveniences for Tourists in Japan?

Japan is often touted as the land of convenience. But for tourists, when it comes to some key activities, the struggle is real.

Unseen Japan

Mar 12, 2024 • Subscribe

The Shopping Destinations in Japan Tourists Are Loving Now

Tourists are spending more than ever in Japan. But where? Check out these popular shopping destinations on your next trip.

Unseen Japan

Feb 13, 2024 • Subscribe

The Shopping Destinations in Japan Tourists Are Loving Now

Tourists are spending more than ever in Japan. But where? Check out these popular shopping destinations on your next trip.

Unseen Japan

Feb 13, 2024 • Subscribe

Tourists are Spending More in Japan Than Ever

Tourism to Japan is almost back to its 2019 levels - but spending is through the roof, with travelers shelling out more than ever.

Unseen Japan

Nov 12, 2023 • Subscribe

Tourists Return to Japan – But Japan Stays Home

More and more people are coming to Japan, with some countries setting new records. So why isn't Japan returning the favor?

Unseen Japan

Apr 20, 2023 • Subscribe

Japan and the Foreign Language Film Oscar

Japan’s choice of Wim Wenders’ PERFECT DAYS (2023) as its submission for Best International Feature at this year’s Academy Awards and its subsequent nomination got me to thinking…

Brian Camp's Film and Anime Blog

Mar 3, 2024 • Subscribe

Kyoto Ryokans Stop Serving Traditional Japanese Food That Foreign Tourists Hate

Many inbound travelers to Japan love staying in a traditional Japanese ryokan. However, they're not so keen on the food that comes with it.

Unseen Japan

Apr 23, 2025 • Subscribe

In Japan, It’s Hard for Foreign Residents to Get Help

Right-wingers constantly claim that foreigners are sucking Japan dry. But the reality is that few can get help even when they need it.

Unseen Japan

Sep 27, 2022 • Subscribe

Will Japan Eliminate Tax-Free Sales to Tourists Completely?

A growing chorus of voices across the political spectrum says the country should collect the money to improve the lives of its citizens.

Unseen Japan

Apr 8, 2025 • Subscribe

Do Tourists to Japan Have Bad Changing Room Manners?

From wearing heavy perfume to failing to remove their shoes, Japan tourists are making headaches for shoppers and staff alike.

Unseen Japan

Feb 11, 2025 • Subscribe

Japan Tourist Attraction Issues “White Taxi” Warnings to Tourists

Here's why police around Himeji Castle are telling tourists that if the plate is white, you should say, "thanks, I'm alright."

Unseen Japan

Jan 30, 2025 • Subscribe

Attraction

Senkyaku Banrai: Why This Tokyo Tourist Trap Has So Few Foreign Tourists

More foreign tourists will visit Japan this year than ever. But you won't see many of them at this spot near Toyosu.

Unseen Japan

Mar 10, 2025 • Subscribe

Japan’s Earthquake Info: Are Foreign Being Left in the Dark?

This month's earthquake reignited fears of a mega-quake hitting Japan soon. Is Japan doing enough to equip tourists and foreign residents?

Unseen Japan

Aug 17, 2024 • Subscribe

The Most Popular Castles in Japan Among Tourists

Which castles in Japan have the most fans among incoming tourists? One company ran the numbers to find out.

Unseen Japan

Feb 19, 2024 • Subscribe

Japan Really, Really Wants Tourists to Stay Outside of the Big Cities

Japan is welcoming more tourists than ever. Unfortunately, their money isn't benefiting the entire country.

Unseen Japan

Jan 3, 2025 • Subscribe

Japan To Charge Tourists Consumption Tax and Refund At Departure

Thanks, scammers. Due to some people exploiting the system, Japan will now change how it handles duty-free purchasing by tourists.

Unseen Japan

Nov 30, 2023 • Subscribe

Will Japan Mandate Tourists To Travel With Tour Guides Soon?

Is your experience of Japan about to become a lot more regulated? A new proposal would require tourists in some cases to hire tour guides.

Unseen Japan

Sep 30, 2023 • Subscribe

Are Japanese TV Interviews with Tourists Staged?

Why are "tourist on the street" interviews so abundant on Japanese TV? One local columnist takes these "staged" segments to task.

Unseen Japan

Sep 14, 2023 • Subscribe

Get Ready, Japan Tourists – Here Comes the “Tourist Tax”

As tourists pour back into Japan, more and more municipalities are taxing their stay. Here's what it means for your trip.

Unseen Japan

May 3, 2023 • Subscribe

Japan’s Combini are Increasingly Powered by Foreign Exchange Students

Labor-strapped convenience stores in Japan are increasingly turning to exchange students to work the shifts Japanese workers don't want.

Unseen Japan

Jul 8, 2024 • Subscribe

What Are the Most Popular Restaurants in Shinjuku for Tourists?

Shinjuku's culinary scene is a magnet for tourists, but some eateries have truly captivated the hearts — and stomachs — of inbound travelers.

Unseen Japan

Mar 22, 2024 • Subscribe

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (Book Review)

Review of "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit" by Jeanette Winterson

Yuri Stargirl

Jul 11, 2022 • Subscribe

Japan to End Entry Ban on 106 Countries; Tourists Not Yet Included

Japan's government has announces that a slew of countries will no longer be subject to their wide-ranging entry ban, yet the practical effect remains limited.

Unseen Japan

Apr 6, 2022 • Subscribe

How to Avoid Being Bad Tourists in Japan: Essential Dos and Don’ts

Learn how to avoid common mistakes made by bad tourists in Japan with our guide on respecting local customs and public spaces.

GaijinPot

Sep 22, 2024 • Subscribe

Stolen Ones

The best books are the stolen ones. Okay, not STOLEN, stolen. Please don’t go into Barnes and Noble and walk out with a copy of The Stand hidden…

A Tiny Ray Of Light

Oct 28, 2020 • Subscribe

Tourists are (Literally) Poking Holes in the Mt. Fuji Lawson Curtain

One town in Japan put up a giant curtain to deter overtourism at a famous Mt. Fuji tourist spot. But where there's a will, there's a way.

Unseen Japan

May 28, 2024 • Subscribe

Tourists’ Number One Complaint About Japan is…Nothing

51.1% said they had no complaints, a big improvement over last year. However, crowding and immigration wait times have become issues.

Unseen Japan

Apr 30, 2025 • Subscribe

Why Tourists Are Smitten with Japan’s Popular Egg Cuisine

Forget sushi and ramen. More than ever, tourists to Japan are discovering the delectability of the country's egg-based dishes.

Unseen Japan

Dec 12, 2023 • Subscribe

Here Are Japan’s Top Scenic Nature Spots for Tourists

Want to get out of the city and see some natural beauty while in Japan? Here are what other tourists deem the country's top nature spots.

Unseen Japan

Aug 12, 2024 • Subscribe

Tourists in Hokkaido are Walking on Thin Ice (Literally)

More and more tourists to Japan are putting themselves in danger - this time, by literally walking out into the sea.

Unseen Japan

Feb 26, 2025 • Subscribe

Letters From Japan: “Did He Just Want To Try Sleeping With A Foreign Woman?”

"Love in Japan" columnist, Hilary Keyes, answers the anonymous question: Did he just want to try sleeping with a foreign woman?

Savvy Tokyo

Nov 16, 2024 • Subscribe