Tokyo is still the region’s top performer, but Hong Kong is now the talk of the town with Bar Leone named the world’s best bar. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/10/10/food-drink/worlds-50-best-bars-2025-japan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #life #fooddrink #alcohol #drinking #bars #worlds50bestbars #tokyo

Tokyo has been ranked as the world’s best large city for the second consecutive year, solidifying Japan’s position as a global tourism powerhouse. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/09/japan/tokyo-large-city-ranking/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #tokyo #hotels #tourism

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group is in talks to acquire naming rights for Japan's National Stadium, the main venue for the Tokyo Summer Games held in 2021, people familiar with the matter said Wednesday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/10/08/more-sports/mufj-financial-national-stadium-naming/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #moresports #nationalstadium #mitsubishiufjfinancialgroup #tokyo #2020tokyoolympics

JR East on Saturday started operating trains decorated with designs of two past Yamanote Line models, ahead of the 100th anniversary of the line's circular operation on Nov. 1. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/04/japan/yamanote-commemorative-trains/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #jreast #yamanoteline #tokyo

JR East on Saturday started operating trains decorated with designs of two past Yamanote Line models, ahead of the 100th anniversary of the line's circular operation on Nov. 1. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/04/japan/yamanote-commemorative-trains/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #jreast #yamanoteline #tokyo

Ever eaten a helium balloon? Grant Achatz’s Tokyo residency promises edible surprises and immersive culinary theater. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/10/04/food-drink/achatz-tokyo-alinea-modernist/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #life #fooddrink #finedining #chefs #tokyo #restaurants #meat #vegetables

An independent global conservation organization visited 25 animal cafes in Tokyo and its surrounding areas, where it found bacteria such as E. coli at six of the stores, as well as inadequate sanitation at many of them. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/03/japan/society/wwf-japan-survey-animal-cafes/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #animalwelfare #animalcafes #tokyo

Have a “good Halloween,” not a disruptive one, Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe is urging foreign visitors ahead of the celebration, during which costumed revelers typically descend upon the popular Tokyo district. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/03/japan/society/shibuya-halloween-restrictions/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #tokyo #shibuya #kenhasebe #halloween #alcohol #tourism #drinking

The parents of a man arrested for allegedly killing an elderly woman in Machida, Tokyo, have expressed wishes for their son to atone for his crime. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/03/japan/crime-legal/machida-attacker-parents-interview/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #japanesepolice #machida #tokyo #stabbings

The suspect held over the stabbing of a 76-year-old woman in Machida, western Tokyo, said he was driven to kill someone out of frustration after his mail failed to arrive and garbage was left outside his home. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/02/japan/crime-legal/machida-stabbing-frustration/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #machida #tokyo #japanesepolice #stabbings

An elderly woman was fatally stabbed at an apartment building in Machida, Tokyo, on Tuesday evening, with one suspect in custody. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/01/japan/crime-legal/man-arrested-over-stabbing-elderly-woman-to-death-in-tokyo/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #tokyo #japanesepolice #stabbings #machida

I always get overwhelmed by the sheer number of cafes in #Seoul. It feels like, to me, that there are 5-10X as many cafes here compared to a similar neighborhood in #Tokyo or #Osaka

It's so hard to tell which ones are good for #coffee and which ones aren't - most are mediocre but some are amazing.

In #Japan I've got this skill down - identifying good vs mediocre just from appearance, but in #Korea I'm lost.

Dreaming of an apartment in Tokyo? Soaring prices, foreign investment and scarce supply are making that dream harder to reach. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/29/japan/society/rising-property-prices-tokyo/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #property #tokyo #affordability #realestate #housing #buildings

Through the help of Nina-Arica and other organizations , #Hiroshima will have their first ever #pride parade on October 11, 2025, with the parade taking place at 2pm. 🏳️‍🌈

With a large-scale pride parade happening outside of bigger cities like #Tokyo and #Osaka the #LGBTQ community in #Japan especially for those that may not have access to these bigger hubs.

For more details, read Avi Gokool’s latest article on the upcoming Pride Parade.

https://www.unfiltered.coop/hiroshimas-first-pride-parade/

People from Japan and South Korea kicked off a two-day cultural exchange event in Tokyo as this year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two Asian neighbors. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/28/japan/japan-south-korea-cultural-exchange-event-tokyo/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #southkoreajapanrelations #southkorea #tokyo

In announcing its 2026 lineup of Michelin-starred Tokyo restaurants, the organization made special note of 97-year-old chef Kenjiro Kanemoto, the world’s oldest, active Michelin-recognized chef. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/09/27/food-drink/tokyo-michelin-three-stars/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #life #fooddrink #chefs #michelin #japanesecuisine #frenchcuisine #awards #tokyo #restaurants

There needs to be a backup capital in Japan that can take over Tokyo's functions in an emergency, Yoshimasa Hayashi, a candidate in the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election, said in a recent interview. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/26/japan/politics/hayashi-interview-tokyo-backup/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #yoshimasahayashi #ldp #tokyo #nipponishinnokai #osaka #taxes #inflation #earthquakes #disasterpreparedness

Inflation concerns have topped a key Japan survey with a level of worry not seen since just after the 1973 oil shock. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/09/26/economy/japan-cost-survey/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #tokyo #japaneseeconomy #inflation #food #economicindicators #cabinetoffice #surveys

Tokyo police have arrested four people on suspicion of getting a disabled man heavily drunk on whiskey and stealing his phone while he was unconscious. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/26/japan/crime-legal/four-arrested-over-theft-from-person-with-disability/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #japanesepolice #theft #disability #tokyo

Consumer inflation in Tokyo unexpectedly held steady on the effects of temporary subsidies, in data that back the Bank of Japan’s cautious approach to raising its benchmark interest rate. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/09/26/economy/tokyo-cpi-september/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #tokyo #japaneseeconomy #boj #internalaffairsministry #inflation #food #economicindicators