It used to be the tallest statue in Japan and is still a major tourist attraction. But why is the Sendai Daikannon sporting a shade of pink? — By Nyri Bakkalian A beloved Sendai tourist landmark has had a sudden change of color. Why is the Sendai Daikannon, which anchors the west side of Sendai’s skyline, now pink? Background The Sendai Daikannon– in full, official name, Sendai Tendō Byakue Kannon– is one of Sendai’s most visible landmarks. …

Animation giant Studio Ghibli, fresh off a new film, is now announcing its acquisition by Nippon TV following decades of independence. — By Noah Oskow Today has brought big news for Japan’s most internationally beloved animation house. Studio Ghibli, creators of such filmic staples as My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Grave of the Fireflies, is now set to become a subsidiary of domestic television company Nippon TV [1]. The…

Looking forward to celebrating Halloween in Shibuya this year? Well, don’t be — the ward’s mayor says you’re not invited. — By Himari Semans Nobody is welcome to Shibuya this year for Halloween. Referring to last year’s Itaewon Halloween crowd crush, Mayor Hasebe made the unprecedented announcement citing concerns over potential overcrowding accidents occurring in Shibuya. The city will ban public drinking and ask businesses to temporarily halt sales of alcohol…

Rumors and disinformation sparked the Kanto Massacre in the wake of the Kanto Earthquake. Today, denialism continues to dishonor the victims. — By Himari Semans The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 was a disaster for Japan in its own right. In the aftermath, disinformation — particularly targeting ethnic Koreans — stoked confusion, hate, and fear. The uncounted victims Victims of the Great Kanto Earthquake — –a total of 105,385 of them. They are who the…

Why are “tourist on the street” interviews so abundant on Japanese TV? One local columnist says it’s because, for TV producers, they’re cheap blank canvases. — By Jay Allen Tune in to Japanese news and variety programs and you’re likely to see some segment on foreign travelers to Japan. These bits are mostly complimentary fluff pieces, extolling Japan’s virtues as a top tourist destination. But one columnist recently wondered: how many of these pieces are put-ons…

A true tourist trap? Japanese customers who used Booking.com had their vacations ruined recently thanks to a hotel that someone made up. — By Jay Allen People perhaps overuse the phrase “tourist trap.” But for some domestic tourists in Japan, a hotel listing on a popular booking Web site was indeed a trap — one that cost them money and, in some cases, ruined their vacations. The hotel that wasn’t there

A recent survey asked tourists to Kyoto about their favorite spots. Here are their top five — along with five recommendations from UJ. — By Nyri Bakkalian Recently, Honichi Labo interviewed foreign visitors to Kyoto and asked them about their favorite tourist spots. Here’s their top five, plus another five from us here at Unseen Japan. Kyoto Samurai Ninja Museum

The assumption has been that The Boy and the Heron would be Miyazaki Hayao’s last film. Now, Ghibli VP Nishioka Junichi suggests otherwise. — By Noah Oskow The idea of animation maestro Miyazaki Hayao retiring has been a bit of a meme for well over a decade. Think back to 2013, when, at the age of 72 and hot on the heels of the release of his film The Wind Rises, he announced his…

The weak yen has made it more attractive than ever to travel to Japan — but some restaurants and stores are taking advantage of that. The latest on tourist scams in Japan and how to spot them. — By Kay Benton On September 6, 2023, it took 147.65 Japanese yen to equal a single US dollar. This is the weakest the yen has been in 2023, and the trend shows no signs of reversing. After several years of roughly 110–120 yen equaling a dollar, rates began to tip…