If you’ve ever visited Japan or seen photos of its food, you might have spotted little rice dumplings on a stick. These chewy treats are called mitarashi dango, and they’re one of Japan’s most beloved traditional sweets.

Step into art that moves, glows, and comes to life all around you. The art collective teamLab is opening a new museum in Kyoto, Japan, called teamLab Biovortex Kyoto. It opened on October 7, 2025, and it’s just a short walk from Kyoto Station.

Shikoku is the smallest of Japan’s four main islands, a peaceful region renowned for its scenic beauty and tranquil lifestyle. It’s also home to a special kind of sugar that perfectly reflects this relaxed way of life — wasanbon.

The name yamaimo (literally meaning “mountain yam”) refers to a species of Japanese yam that grows naturally in the cooler, mountainous regions of Japan.

After more than a century abroad, the spirits of three Ainu ancestors have finally returned home to Japan. In May 2025, the University of Edinburgh formally returned skulls that once belonged to members of Japan’s Indigenous community. Their return marks an emotional and symbolic moment for the Ainu people, whose cultural heritage was long overlooked under Japanese imperial rule.

Across the tropical rooftops and street corners of Okinawa, you’ll find fierce yet friendly-looking creatures sitting in pairs, one roaring proudly, the other calmly closing its mouth. These are shisa, Okinawa’s legendary lion-dogs, protectors that have watched over homes, temples, and entire villages for centuries.