NHK -- Oct 10
People in Chichibu, a city north of Tokyo, launched hand-made rockets on Sunday to express their gratitude for the season's harvest.
The annual festival, held in a mountainous region of the city, dates back several centuries. The rockets, described as dragons, are made from hollowed pine tree logs.
This year, each of 30 rockets was attached to the tip of a 16-meter-long bamboo stick. The projectiles went up into the sky one after another, trailing white smoke, and reached a height of 300 meters. Then the rockets fell down slowly to the ground with parachutes.
Many viewers applauded each launch. A man in his 60s said he enjoyed the tremendous impact of the loud sound of each liftoff.
News source: NHK
Apr 25
Convenience store and retail chain Seven-Eleven Japan Co in a joint project with travel agency JTB Corp will launch an automated service for minpaku (private temporary rented lodging) that allows guests to check in, collect and leave room keys 24 hours a day at 7-Eleven convenience stores. (Japan Today) Apr 24
With sakura season done in the Tokyo area, it’s time to switch from pink to blue and the 4.5 million Nemophila flowers of this amazing park. (soranews24.com) Apr 23
The volcanic alert level for Mount Kusatsu-Shirane in central Japan have been raised due to increased activity. (NHK) Apr 23
Visitors to a park in the city of Hirosaki in northern Japan's Aomori Prefecture have been enjoying the breathtaking sight of about 2,600 blossoming cherry trees. (NHK) Apr 22
A summer-like spell of hot weather has gripped Japan, with temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius across the country.
(NHK) Apr 21
An outbreak of measles in the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa is affecting local tourism ahead of the spring holiday season. (NHK) Apr 20
English-speaking guides will be available for visitors to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo from the beginning of May, in response to a surge in the number of foreign tourists, the Imperial Household Agency said Thursday. (Jiji) Apr 20
A new baggage-screening system that is better at detecting bombs has started operation at Haneda airport in Tokyo. (NHK) Apr 19
The estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan in fiscal 2017 came close to 30 million at 29,772,570, another record high, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Wednesday. (Jiji) Apr 18
UNESCO has listed the Izu Peninsula in central Japan as a Global Geopark for its unique landform featuring many active volcanos in line.
(NHK)