Daily oddities from Japan. The stories travel guides skip.

All Stories

Every Weird Thing We've Covered

Browse the full archive of strange, wonderful, slightly-too-much stories from Japan.

A row of four brightly colored Japanese vending machines—white, red, and blue—lined up on a Tokyo street.
Only In Japan

Why Japan Has 4 Million Vending Machines That Sell Everything from Fresh Eggs to Used Underwear

Japan has one vending machine for every 30 people. They sell hot ramen, live crabs, fresh strawberries, neckties—and yes, even used underwear. Here's why.
A cat walks along a quiet street next to a weathered wall in a Japanese village.
Culture

Japan Has 11 Islands Where Cats Outnumber Humans. We Visited One.

On Aoshima, six cats roam for every human resident. There are no cars, no shops, no hotels — just felines, fishermen, and a slowly evaporating village. Here's what we found.
Rows of stacked capsule beds with white mattresses and folded blankets in a Tokyo capsule hotel.
Only In Japan

I Spent the Night in a Tokyo Capsule Hotel — Here's What ¥3,000 Gets You

A coffin-sized sleeping pod, mandatory pajamas, communal sento baths, and a strange feeling of privacy among 100 strangers. Welcome to Japan's most efficient form of accommodation.
A busy Akihabara street at night, glowing with dense neon signs and the dim hum of electronics shops.
Tech & Culture

Inside Akihabara's Maid Café Boom — Where 'Welcome Home, Master' Is a Career

Akihabara has over 200 maid cafés. Most tourists don't realize they're walking past a multi-billion-yen industry built on lonely office workers, anime fandom, and ¥1,500 omelet rice.