Steller’s sea eagles have arrived off the coast of Rausu, Hokkaido, near the World Natural Heritage site of Shiretoko, seeking a winter refuge. These birds, designated as a national natural treasure, typically breed in Russia’s Far East and can span over two meters when spreading their wings. (News On Japan)

Overnight buses are gaining attention as a convenient travel option this spring. While not always highly profitable for bus companies, they continue to operate these services as part of a broader strategy. What kind of passengers are using them, and how are companies adapting? (News On Japan)

March 3rd marks the traditional Girls’ Day festival in Japan. At Kyoto’s Kamigamo Shrine, the annual 'Floating Hina Dolls' ritual was held, where paper dolls are set adrift in the river as a prayer for good health and protection from misfortune. (News On Japan)

In Kawachinagano City, Osaka, 56 customers of the renowned "Kiichi" Japanese restaurant reported symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting. The local health office has identified norovirus as the cause and issued a two-day operational suspension earlier in February when 33 patrons fell ill. (News On Japan)

The annual Shunie ceremony, commonly known as Omizutori, has begun at Todai-ji Temple in Nara. Carrying large torches, attendants lit the way as monks, known as the Rengyoshu, slowly ascended the steps of Nigatsudo Hall. (News On Japan)

A train derailed after colliding with a fallen rock near Hishima Station on the Echizen Railway in Fukui Prefecture on Sunday. No passengers or crew were injured, but service remains suspended on some sections of the line. (News On Japan)

Furano, a town in central Hokkaido long known as the "navel" of the region, is experiencing a surge in inbound tourism. Once overshadowed by Niseko, Furano has now become a hot spot for skiers and snowboarders seeking pristine powder snow. (News On Japan)

An avatar robot has been introduced at Kitakyushu Airport to assist with customer guidance. A trial aimed at addressing labor shortages began on February 26th. (News On Japan)

We'll introduce some great places you can reach within 30 minutes on the Keikyu Line from Haneda Airport terminal 3. There is a popular tonkatsu restaurant loved by locals and hidden spots that most tourists don’t know about, so be sure to check them out! (SAMURAI JUNJIRO Channel)

A newly decorated train promoting tourism along the Kintetsu Railway line began operations on February 25th, aiming to attract visitors from the Osaka-Kansai Expo to Nara. (News On Japan)

The annual 'Plum Blossom Festival' was held at Kyoto's Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, where maiko and geisha served tea to visiting worshippers. (News On Japan)

Japan’s oldest existing train, the Kyoto Electric Railway streetcar (Kyoto City Transport Bureau No. 2 train, commonly known as N-Den), was relocated by crane early on February 19th near the Otenmon gate at Heian Shrine in Kyoto’s Sakyo Ward. (News On Japan)

Welcome to Saitama! (Tokidoki Traveller)

The All-Japan Gyoza Festival, held at Ai-Chikyuhaku Memorial Park in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, has brought together 34 gyoza vendors from across Japan, spanning from Hokkaido to Okinawa. (News On Japan)

As March 3rd's Hinamatsuri approaches, 'Ebitokanino (Shrimp & Crab) Aquarium' in Susami is displaying a collection of unique marine creatures representing the arrival of spring. Among them is the vibrant pink goldie (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), resembling delicate peach blossoms, and the hishigani crab, whose folded claws resemble the layered colors of traditional Hishimochi rice cakes. (News On Japan)

Kansai International Airport’s newly renovated immigration area was unveiled this week, boasting an open-concept design that allows travelers to submit passports, facial photos, and fingerprints in a single step. (News On Japan)

Hakuba Village in Nagano Prefecture has become one of Japan’s leading resort destinations, drawing approximately 250,000 foreign visitors each year. Walking through the town, one can see multilingual signs at train stations and restaurants, evidence of the efforts being made to accommodate international travelers. (News On Japan)

With the arrival of the Spring Festival, a surge in Chinese tourists is bringing an influx of foreign patients to Japanese clinics. From a vegetarian suffering appendicitis after indulging in local cuisine to an American traveler sustaining a head injury at a ryokan, clinics are seeing a wide range of medical cases. (News On Japan)

A powerful cold wave brought extreme winter weather to Japan on February 19th, with strong northern winds sweeping through Tokyo and heavy snowfall blanketing the Sea of Japan side. In Odaiba, Tokyo, pedestrians struggled to walk against the fierce winds, some forming single-file lines to shield themselves from the chill. (News On Japan)

In today's video, we head back to Fukui to discover more of what the region has to offer: from dramatic cliffs to scenic shrines to dinosaurs (!!). (japan-guide.com)