Travel

Pokémon and Splash Parade Take Over USJ This Summer

OSAKA, Jul 07 (News On Japan) - Universal Studios Japan is rolling out a packed summer lineup in 2025 with its high-energy “No Limit! Summer Splash Parade” held daily from 11 a.m. Popular characters including Pikachu, Charizard, My Melody, Kuromi, Mario, and Minions will join the parade, thrilling visitors with powerful water sprays from floats and crew members.

The event runs through August 31st.

Exclusive summer-themed food is also drawing attention. At Mel’s Drive-In, the “Crunch Tacos Burger Set” features the crisp texture of tortilla chips with refreshing avocado and lime, delivering a flavorful Mexican-style burger perfect for recharging in the heat.

At night, the park transforms with the “Summer Dance Night with HYBE JAPAN,” where guests can dance to tracks from HYBE artists including BTS and LE SSERAFIM. This nighttime event, filled with music and light, offers a completely different experience from the daytime festivities and runs through August 20th.

In addition, special collaborations include a thrilling VR coaster ride with the hit anime Spy x Family and a mystery walk experience based on The Apothecary Diaries. Both attractions are available through January 4th, 2026.

Source: YOMIURI

Water Supply Disruptions Continue in Hakone

A renewed water outage struck Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture after supplies briefly resumed on February 11th morning, with authorities reinstating water restrictions from 9 p.m. as frozen pipes and low reservoir levels linked to an intense cold wave continued to disrupt supply across the region.

Japan’s Oldest Man Dies at 111

Kiyotaka Mizuno, the oldest man in Japan and the oldest resident in Shizuoka Prefecture, died of natural causes at his home in Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, on February 8th at the age of 111, according to local authorities.

Can Japan End Hay Fever by Killing Male Cedar Flowers?

The arrival of pollen season has once again begun to affect large parts of Japan, but new research aimed at preventing cedar pollen from dispersing is raising hopes that the future could bring relief for millions of sufferers, with scientists working on a method to wither only the male flowers of cedar trees and stop pollen at its source.

Construction of Yamanashi Prefecture Station for Linear Chuo Shinkansen to Begin March 11

JR Tokai has decided to begin construction on the Yamanashi Prefecture station for the Linear Chuo Shinkansen on March 11, marking the start of work on the only station along the Tokyo–Nagoya section where construction had yet to begin.

Murase Lands Historic Gold With Daring Final Run in Olympic Big Air

The women’s snowboard big air final was held at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, where Beijing Olympic bronze medalist Murase Kokomo, 21, of TOKIO Inkarami captured the gold medal, becoming the first Japanese woman to win gold in the event and the first in women’s snowboarding history to reach the podium at two consecutive Olympics.

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MORE Travel NEWS

Blossoms Draw Crowds to Famous Plum Grove in Wakayama

Plum blossoms are now at their best viewing season at the plum groves of Minabe Town in Wakayama Prefecture, widely known as Japan’s leading plum-producing region.

Construction of Yamanashi Prefecture Station for Linear Chuo Shinkansen to Begin March 11

New Don Quijote Opens in Kyoto

A large discount retailer Don Quijote has opened its first inbound-focused specialty store in the Kansai region in Kyoto City, aiming to better serve the growing number of overseas visitors.

Ninjas Clear Weeds From Castle Wall

Workers dressed as ninjas are carrying out weed removal on a castle stone wall in Koka, Shiga Prefecture, a city known as the home of ninja.

JR East and JAL Join Forces for Regional Travel

JR East and Japan Airlines have signed a partnership agreement aimed at regional revitalization and revealed they will consider integrating tickets in the future.

Fire Festival Held at World Heritage Site in Wakayama

A traditional fire festival in which men dressed in white race down steep stone steps carrying blazing torches was held at the World Heritage-listed Kamikura Shrine in Shingu, Wakayama Prefecture, on February 6th.

Nara Targets Wealthy Travelers With Luxury Lodging on Former Todaiji Grounds

A new wave of high-end hotel development in Nara is accelerating as Kintetsu Miyako Hotels announced plans to open a luxury accommodation facility on former grounds of Todaiji Temple, aiming for an autumn 2028 launch.

Oigawa Railway Bets on Thomas and Percy

Oigawa Railway, where around half of its entire line has remained out of service for more than three years due to typhoon damage, is pressing ahead with a long and difficult recovery plan toward full reopening in the spring of 2029, as its president—known as a “local railway revival specialist”—makes a painful but strategic decision to prioritize commercially viable steam locomotives while keeping a small margin for dreams.

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