Fujieda was the 22nd station, serving as a castle town and commercial hub with 37 inns at its peak. During the Meiji period, residents blocked railway construction, fearing locomotive smoke would damage their tea crops. The station was built 3km away, causing the old town's decline. #東海道五十三次

If you get the chance to visit the Kadokawa Culture Museum in Tokorozawa, Saitama, don’t miss the exhibition "Immersive Digital Art Theater: Ukiyo-e RE:BORN – The Spirit of Edo and Timeless Japonism" (on view until Jan 18). You won’t be disappointed!

November 11 is Pocky and Pretz Day in Japan. The date 11/11 was chosen because it resembles four sticks lined up. Created by Glico in 1999 as a marketing campaign, it has become one of Japan's most celebrated unofficial holidays, with millions of boxes sold annually.

Pokémon UNITE Festa 2025 in Nagasaki on November 30 at Happiness Arena features public viewing of the Japan League finals, open battles with prizes, Pokémon meet-and-greets, and a raffle for original merchandise.

Nothing beats hot yakiimo on a cold day! 🍠

The Nōjiru Sentō (Brain Juice Bathhouse), running Nov 26 – Dec 7 in Tokyo, transforms a traditional bathhouse into a vivid, psychedelic cyberpunk experience – perfect for sento enthusiasts and anyone drawn to immersive visuals. More www.hey-japan.com/event/nojiru...

We present our Song of the Week! #HeyJapanSOTW PUFFY - SweetSweet Listen on Apple Music: music.apple.com/jp/song/swee... Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/track/7LgPH3... Listen on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHls...

Game Market is Japan’s largest analog-game convention, showcasing board games, card games, TRPGs and more. The Autumn 2025 edition takes place November 22–23 at Makuhari Messe, Chiba. Over 1,000 booths and demo zones are expected!

The Hōfu Tenmangū Gojinkō-sai Festival, held on November 22 in Hōfu, Yamaguchi, is one of western Japan’s most dynamic traditional rituals. It is also known as the “Naked Monk Festival”.

The "Attack on Titan: Attack on Memory" exhibition in Osaka offers fans an immersive experience into the world of the anime and manga series. Visitors can explore detailed displays, interactive installations, and exclusive merchandise.

Fuchu served as the provincial capital of Suruga and housed one of the Tokaido's largest post towns. The station featured Sengen Shrine, dedicated to Mount Fuji's deity. As an administrative center, it maintained greater political importance. #東海道五十三次

“Design Festa vol.62” will feature over 6,500 booths and is expected to attract around 140,000 visitors during the two-day event on November 15–16, at Tokyo Big Sight.

Kagawa Prefecture, nicknamed “Udon Prefecture,” is famous for its udon. The Marugame Udon Festival, held November 16–17, offers a chance to experience regional varieties and local specialties.

It's Saizeriya's find the difference challenge again. Can you spot all 10 differences before our two time champion Huntressfan finds them. 🤔

‘Nighttime Special Opening: Autumn Foliage and Building Light-Up’ at the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, November 22–23. More on www.hey-japan.com/event/nightt...

Where art meets nature: the 'Ikebana Ryūsē Exhibition – The Faces of Plants' explores floral beauty and expression in Tokyo, November 21–24.

Don't feed the pigeons in Japan - they are doing a self-found run.

Starting November 19, Universal Studios Japan introduces 'Monster Hunter Wilds: Moriba’s Feast,' a themed restaurant where fans can immerse themselves in the game’s world by enjoying dishes inspired by the franchise.

Shinto purification fire rituals in Japan use sacred flames to cleanse people and objects of impurities and to express gratitude to the gods. The rituals are also believed to bring good health and protection from illness.

The World Character Summit in Hanyu, Saitama, celebrates Japan’s mascot culture with parades, performances, meet-and-greets, and exclusive merchandise. It will be held on November 15–16, 2025.

Kurakake Castle Festival, held on November 16 in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi, features the Kurakake Warrior March, bringing local history to life through traditional performances, reenactments, and a celebration of the region’s cultural heritage.

The Mikuni Minato Crab Festival on Nov 15–16 in Fukui Prefecture celebrates the region’s famous crabs. Visitors can taste fresh seafood, enjoy local traditions, and experience the rich flavours and culture of Mikuni’s coastal community.

The 'Insect MANIAC' exhibition (8 Nov-1 Feb) at Nagoya City Science Museum is a fascinating journey into the world of insects. With over 3,000 specimens and giant models, it’s a truly captivating event for nature and insect lovers. www.hey-japan.com/event/insect...

We present our Song of the Week! #HeyJapanSOTW Kenshi Yonezu, Utada Hikaru - JANE DOE Listen on Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/song/jane... Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/track/4oE7My... Listen on YouTube Music: music.youtube.com/watch?v=sPLq...

Monthly Shōnen Magazine 50th Anniversary POP UP STORE 
Location: Kichijoji NAKAMICHI GARDEN, Tokyo
 Dates: Nov 8–24 Visitors can explore classic works from the magazine’s history and purchase exclusive merchandise.

Seasonal products — Illustrated Postcards 2025 Winter Edition — available at selected post office counters and on the Japan Post Online Shop starting November 4.

The Satomi Kakashi Festival in Hitachi-Ōta, Ibaraki, showcases hundreds of handmade scarecrows (kakashi), symbols of agriculture and field guardianship. The 2025 Grand Prize winner is ‘70-Year Godzilla’. Events run until Nov 22.

AMUSEMENT EXPO, Japan’s largest festival celebrating arcade games and amusement entertainment, will take place this year on November 15 at Tokyo Big Sight.

Ejiri functioned as a bustling port where the Tokaido met Suruga Bay. Its harbor connected inland travelers with maritime routes, making it a commercial hub for fishing and trade. The town offered clear views of Mount Fuji across the water. #東海道五十三次

The Tohogu Sauna Tour “Sa-Kin Kōtai” is a regional sauna event running from November 1, 2025, to May 24, 2026. It features a modern sauna pilgrimage across Tohoku and seeks to promote regional revitalisation through sauna experiences.

In autumn and winter, illumination events across Japan highlight scenic spots normally seen by daylight. Here are two notable light-up events in Takamatsu, Kagawa: Tamamo Park-Takamatsu Castle Ruins (Oct 31– Nov 3) and Ritsurin Garden (Nov 21–Nov 30).

The Sengoku Chronicle: The Battle of Kawanakajima is a captivating historical reenactment that brings to life one of Japan's most iconic Sengoku-era conflicts. Scheduled for Nov 9, in Fuefuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture. www.hey-japan.com/event/sengok...

Wood netsuke depicting two cats. Netsuke are miniature Japanese sculptures that functioned as toggles for securing items to kimono sashes during the Edo period. Animals were commonly incorporated into netsuke designs.

The Oyama Balloon Festival in Tochigi Prefecture is a fascinating event for nature and adventure enthusiasts, held from November 8 to 9. Visitors can experience the breathtaking beauty of hot air balloon rides!

Kusunoki Masatsura was a 14th century samurai who fought for the Southern Court during Japan's Nanboku-chō period. The son of legendary warrior Kusunoki Masashige, he died at age 22 in the Battle of Shijōnawate in 1348. This ukiyo-e depicts him as a character from the Taiheiki chronicle.

The Kominka Night Camp offers a unique overnight experience inside historic Japanese folk houses, where participants can stay in Edo-period buildings designated as Important Cultural Properties. Dates: 22 Nov - 23 Nov Application Period: until November 7 www.hey-japan.com/event/komink...

The Fox's Wedding – Rice Ear Festival is held annually on November 3 in Kudamatsu, Yamaguchi. The event features a wedding procession where participants wear fox masks and parade through the town, celebrating local tradition.

The Kurobe Gorge Railway operates a narrow-gauge line through one of Japan's deepest V-shaped gorges. The train crosses red bridges over the Kurobe River throughout the year. In autumn, the 20-kilometer route showcases spectacular fall foliage as deciduous trees turn orange and red.

The Sylvanian Families 40th Anniversary Exhibition in Nagoya at the Kanayama Minami Building, Art Museum Wing, celebrates the beloved dollhouse series launched in 1985, featuring character displays, themed photo spots, and a large-scale Sylvanian Village diorama.

We present our Song of the Week! #HeyJapanSOTW tofubeats - Suisei feat. Kariya Seira Listen on Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/song/suis... Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/track/3LhICp... Listen on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6eC...

Japanese Horror Movies for Halloween: These handpicked films tap into primal fears through vengeful spirits, cursed technology, and psychological terror.

Nakamise-dori is Tokyo's oldest shopping street, stretching 250 meters from Kaminarimon Gate to Sensoji Temple in Asakusa. Established in the late 17th century, the street features approximately 90 shops selling snacks, souvenirs, and crafts. The street attracts over 30 million visitors annually.

Okitsu served as a favored rest stop for nobility traveling the Tokaido. The station housed Seiken-ji temple, where Tokugawa Ieyasu spent time in his youth. Its scenic location and cultural significance made it more prestigious than typical post towns. #東海道五十三次

This ukiyo-e shows New Year's Day festivities at the Ōgiya brothel in Yoshiwara, Edo's licensed pleasure quarter. The scene depicts courtesans, attendants, and guests engaged in traditional activities across multiple rooms of the elaborate establishment.

Kagoshima’s biggest celebration, the Ohara Festival, lights up Tenmonkan on Nov 2–3 with Sō Odori group dances, thunderous Ogojo Taiko drumming, lively marching bands, and colourful traditional costumes.

Sumo has been part of Japanese culture for 1,500 years. Six major tournaments happen annually, running 15 days each. Wrestlers compete in a 4.55m clay ring called a dohyo. Victory comes when you push your opponent out of the circle or make any part of their body besides the soles touch the ground.

Rice straw sculptures at the Wara Art Festival in Niigata, themed “Mythical Beasts of Echigo”, are on display until the end of October. Here are some photos of the stunning sculptures from previous years!

Special illustrations of 'Back to the Future' by prominent manga artists and illustrators. Top row, from left: Koji Inada, Masakazu Katsura, Kazushi Hagiwara, Akira Miyashita, Masanori Morita. Bottom row, from left: Raita Kazama, Naoki Saito, Ryosuke Takeuchi, Ryo Fujiwara, lack.

Tsuchiya Kōitsu's "Asakusa Kinryuzan Temple" (1938) showcases the five-story pagoda of Sensō-ji temple in Tokyo under moonlight. Part of his "Sketches of Famous Places in Japan" series, this shin-hanga woodblock print captures the temple's architectural grandeur in atmospheric blue-green tones.

Fate/Grand Order Servant Art Chronicle 'Final Ascension Exhibition' is coming to Osaka from 25 Oct - 9 Nov, 2025, at VS. in Grand Green Osaka. The show features 500+ illustrations, new Final Ascension and Spiritron Dress art, exclusive merchandise, and rotating visitor bonus sticker sets.