Tokyo – October 31, 2026 -- Travelers heading to Japan can download Naviu, an AI-powered augmented-reality travel companion, on iOS and Android starting November 1. The app answers questions about whatever is around you in any of 29 languages, based on your exact location.

Tokyo – October 30, 2026 -- A pilot tour in Tokyo's Asakusa district will take visitors through a traditional craft workshop, a neighborhood walk and an introduction to ozashiki, the intimate setting where geisha and hōkan entertain guests. Organizer ROJICOYA has not yet opened bookings, and details on availability, duration and participation requirements will appear on its official website.

NIIGATA, Japan – October 28, 2026 -- Skiers and snowboarders can ride three linked resorts in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, from Saturday, December 26, 2026, when YUZAWA SNOW LINK opens for the 2026-2027 winter season.

Tokyo is 71 minutes away by bullet train

GALA Yuzawa Station can be reached in as little as 71 minutes from Tokyo on the Joetsu Shinkansen. That makes the area workable for both day trips and overnight stays, and visitors can pair time on the snow with sightseeing in the surrounding area.

Seattle – October 28, 2026 -- Alaska Airlines will start its first nonstop service between Anchorage and Tokyo Narita on May 13, 2027, with introductory round-trip fares from $999. The seasonal route links Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and Narita International Airport. It remains subject to government approval.

Jersey City – October 14, 2026 -- Casio America has launched Pink Moflin (PE-M11PK), the first new color for its furry smart companion, priced at $429 and sold at casio.com/us/moflin. It joins the original gold and silver models.

Fans asked for pink more than any other color

Since Moflin debuted in Japan in November 2024, pink has been the owners' most frequent request. Casio Japan responded with Sakura Pink on September 4, 2026. Casio says the soft shade was chosen to evoke comfort, warmth and calm.

Seattle – October 06, 2026 -- REI Co-op and Japanese retailer BEAMS today launched the BEAMS x REI Co-op Expedition Parka, a limited-edition jacket based on an original 1986 design found in REI's archive. Only 500 units were made, and the parka goes on sale October 6 for $599 online and at select stores.

Osaka – October 02, 2026 -- MIMARU Osaka Namba Station Annex opened its doors on October 1, bringing 68 apartment-style guestrooms designed for families and groups to Japan's Namba district. Half the units sleep up to six guests, while the other half accommodate up to four, and every room comes with a kitchen, dining area and in-room washer-dryer.

The property is operated by Cosmos Hotel Management Co., Ltd. under its MIMARU brand, which positions itself as Japan's apartment hotel chain for families and larger travel groups.

Kanazawa – – September 30, 2026 -- Roughly 40 vendors will gather at Shiinoki Ryokuchi park in Kanazawa, Japan, for the two-day KANAZAWA Oishii Festa 2026, running Saturday, October 17 through Sunday, October 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tokyo – September 21, 2026 -- Netmarble let fans go hands-on with three unreleased games at Tokyo Game Show 2026, marking the South Korean publisher's second consecutive year at the event.

The company expanded its booth from 56 units in 2025 to 63 units this year, swapping last year's lineup of MONGIL: STAR DIVE and The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin for three new titles: Shangri-La Frontier: The Seven Colossi, Solo Leveling: KARMA and Pearl in Blue.

Tokyo – September 19, 2026 -- Tanseisha Co., Ltd. has relaunched the official website for THE TOKYO PASS, a digital pass granting access to over 50 of Tokyo's cultural attractions, gardens, and landmarks through a smartphone QR code. To mark the renewal, the company is running a limited-time 50% discount campaign this autumn exclusively for international visitors to Tokyo.