Osaka is grappling with a wave of confusion and last-minute activity after announcing it would halt new approvals for special “minpaku” short-term rental properties in response to mounting complaints over noise and garbage. One week after the policy shift, application counters are fully booked, with wait times stretching to two months. (News On Japan)
The intersection of modern interior design and real estate has become increasingly significant in recent years, fundamentally transforming how properties are valued, marketed, and sold. (News On Japan)
Fender, the US-based instrument maker, unveiled its first collaboration guitar with Godzilla on October 9 in Tokyo, featuring a special-edition “Godzilla Guitar” capable of reproducing the monster’s iconic roar. (News On Japan)
Japan’s annual prefectural attractiveness ranking has placed Saitama Prefecture at the bottom for the first time, surprising even local restaurant owners. Now in its 17th year, the 2025 survey once again crowned Hokkaido as the most attractive prefecture — maintaining its perfect record since the ranking’s inception. (News On Japan)
Japan's Imperial Household Agency has released The Official Record of Empress Kojun, chronicling the life of Empress Kojun, wife of Emperor Showa and grandmother of the current Emperor. (News On Japan)
Bear attacks are intensifying across Japan, with fatalities in fiscal 2025 already matching the record high set in 2023. Experts warn that the rise reflects not only an increase in bear numbers but also changes in human society that have blurred the line between mountain habitats and residential areas. (News On Japan)