Plan ahead with Japan’s newest stays. This roundup highlights headline hotel openings in 2025, from Rosewood Miyakojima and Waldorf Astoria Osaka to Fairmont Tokyo, and looks ahead to JW Marriott Tokyo, 1 Hotel Tokyo, and Imperial Hotel Kyoto. Useful for adding fresh luxury, wellness, and regional charm to 2026 itineraries and beyond.

Wellness in Japan is more than a hot spring soak. This guide shares easy ways to slow down, from Zen meditation and temple stays to scenic yoga, forest therapy, healthy eating, and onsen. With 67 percent of the country covered in forests, it’s also a great place to try shinrin yoku. Use these ideas to build calmer, restorative itineraries.

Meet Hachiko’s hometown in Akita. In quiet Odate, visit Akita Inu no Sato near the station and learn more at Akita Inu Kaikan. Then warm up with kiritanpo, pounded rice grilled on cedar skewers, often served in a cozy chicken-and-vegetable hot pot. Complete the trip with a countryside farm stay and try making kiritanpo around a traditional hearth.

Kansai International Airport and Japan Transocean Air are currently running a boarding campaign targeting customers living overseas. When you purchase a ticket for the Osaka (Kansai) = Okinawa (Naha) route using the special fare JAL JAPAN EXPLORER PASS, you will receive a coupon that allows free access to the domestic lounge at Kansai International Airport. Please take this opportunity to travel to Okinawa with JTA!

Discover RENTAL FAMILY, directed by HIKARI and starring Brendan Fraser as an American actor working for a Japanese "rental family" agency. Filmed in Tokyo, Kumamoto, and Yamanashi, this heartfelt story explores connection and purpose. This heartfelt story of connection offers inspiration for your next trip to Japan.Now In Theaters.