If these walls could talk, they would probably scream. Nothing brings the story of samurai warriors to life quite like seeing and touching the marks left in wood by their swords in battle. You can almost hear the desperate shouts and feel the wind slicing through the air with the thrusts that must’ve occurred when these marks were made, and one place where you can see them is at the Former Maekawa Residence in Mibu, Kyoto. The Shinsengumi, a police force of elite swordsmen formed in 1863 to help protect the Tokugawa Shogunate, stayed in several houses in this area, and although they only lived here for about two years, the stories that unfolded during that time are legendary. While people who visit the area today can get a taste of the samurai life at the Yagi residence, once the headquarters for the Shinsengumi, the Maekawa residence just across the road from it has, curiously, long been closed off to the public. ▼ The Maekawa residence Now, though, this residence is preparing to open its doors and share its previously guarded secrets with the public. As the site where anti-shogunate rebel Furuta Shuntaro was tortured and General Commander of the Shinsengumi, Yamanami Keisuke, committed seppuku, there are many stories this building can tell. ▼ This corner room, for example, was where Shinsengumi member Kenji Noguchi is said to have committed seppuku. ▼ Stepping through the grand entrance to the East Storehouse is like stepping back in time. Though the Former Maekawa Residence has a shop that’s open on weekends and holidays, visitors can usually only tour the area around the entrance. The interior has long been closed to the public, save for a few limited occasions, when select visitors have been invited for special cultural property exhibitions, the memorial service for Yamanami Keisuke, and for crowdfunding campaign rewards. ▼ Currently, the shop is at the front, with the main house on the right, and the courtyard and storehouse on the back left. The Shinsengumi banner displays the single kanji “誠” (“makoto”), usually shown in white on a blood‑red field. 誠 literally means “sincerity”, “truth”, or “fidelity”, and the character was chosen to express the corps’ ideal of absolute loyalty and honest devotion to duty. The East Storehouse is well known for its connection to the Shinsengumi. It’s famous as the site where Vice Commander of the Shinsengumi, Hijikata Toshizo, is said to have tortured the anti-foreigner patriot Furutake Shuntaro. Based on testimony obtained through torture, the rebels’ meeting place was identified, leading to the infamous “Ikedaya Incident“, which became an important turning point in Japan’s history that led to the Meiji Restoration and the eventual abolition of the samurai class. The Maekawas were a samurai family who ran a “kakeya“, a business dealing in currency exchange. As such, the storehouse was used to store gold coins (“ryo”), so thick, multi-layered walls and mechanisms to safeguard against fire, similar to modern-day automatic locks, can be seen everywhere. With plenty of underground space, where rows of senryobako (thousand-ryo chests) would’ve been lined up, the storehouse essentially functioned as a vault for storing valuables. The Maekawa family was so influential that they could be considered a financial conglomerate by today’s standards. Looking up, you can see the pulleys that were once used to lower cases to the basement…and they were also used to torture Furutaka Shuntaro by hanging him upside down. If you go up to the second floor, you can get a good look at the ropes hanging from the beams, taking you right back to the pivotal moment that led to the Ikedaya Incident. The building’s structure, with an open ceiling all the way to the basement, and sturdy ropes to carry heavy cases up and down, suggests this would have been a convenient place for the Shinsengumi to conduct brutal interrogations. As a storehouse, though, this is a magnificent building. The thick beams, which appear to be several times thicker than those in comparable buildings, and the wall panels, which are smoothed with a plane despite not being designed for public display, are indicators of luxury. However, it’s said that the Maekawa family was forced to move out when the Shinsengumi moved in to use it as one of their bases. ▼ It’s amazing to think that samurai once looked out this window. Today, you can find a different man looking out from the windows, and his name is Hitoshi Tano. As the current owner and resident of the Former Maekawa Residence, Tano actually lives in the main building (the omoya) on the property. Tano has been living here since his grandfather’s time, when the family purchased it without initially knowing it was a Shinsengumi site. After becoming aware of its history, Tano vowed to stay on the site for as long as possible, even dedicating his own money to preserving the building. We were privileged enough to be given a special tour of the main house where Tano lives, and he led us to the small room where Noguchi Kenji committed seppuku, before taking us to another room, where Yamanami Keisuke is said to have committed seppuku. ▼ This room is now being used as a Buddhist altar room. The lattice window where Yamanami is said to have mourned his separation from a sex worker called Akari no longer exists. In fictional works, Yamanami is often portrayed as a knowledgeable and gentle man, but there are many mysteries surrounding his origins and school of thought, and the existence of Akari has not been confirmed or denied. ▼ Tano says the lattice windows were once in this area of the home. ▼ This location correlates to the Bojo-dori side of the building, which is where the latticework would’ve once existed. Although our friendly host pointed out areas of note around the home in a casual, unassuming manner, we found ourselves trembling with excitement at every detail. Despite the homely ambience, remnants from the past remain in the building, including sword marks on the alcove pillars in the next room. ▼ Sword marks also remain on the removed latticework that once stood beside the tenement gate The history of the building was absolutely captivating, and experiencing it was completely different from viewing displays behind glass like you would at other museums and tourist attractions. The Former Maekawa Residence is special in that it’s a home where people actually live – the entire mansion seems to be alive and breathing. With extra details to be found around the home, it’s as if the breath of the warriors from centuries past can be felt all around you. Some of the valuable documents in Tano’s possession include feng shui charts that allow you to see changes in the house before and after the arrival of the Shinsengumi. The Shinsengumi were wary of enemy attacks and strengthened the defenses of the Maekawa residence. Training mainly took place at the nearby Mibudera temple, but there was apparently enough land within the mansion grounds for training as well. The diorama above, a three-dimensional representation of the mansion based on ancient documents, was created by Toshimichi Tabata, a private researcher of the former Maekawa residence. He refines the diorama and adds to it whenever a new discovery is made. ▼ Another diorama shows the surrounding area and its associations with the Shinsengumi. ▼ Former panoramic view of the old Maekawa residence. Some of the items, like the piece below, which once belonged to Shinsengumi corporal and investigator Shimada Kai, are so valuable they wouldn’t be out of place in a museum. Japan’s samurai can so often seem like distant, idolised characters from a fictional world, but here in this residence, their presence is palpable. The two years they spent in Mibu were a time of uphill struggle, with many of the samurai being young people who simply dreamed of success, with desires of making their mark on Kyoto. ▼ Knowing their future fate from the viewpoint of today makes those short days here feel precious. So why was the former Maekawa residence closed to the public for so long? As it turns out, the entire residence was in a state of general deterioration, and with insufficient funds, repairs were impossible, making it unsafe for the general public. In order to make it safe for visitors, two rounds of crowdfunding were conducted, and the funds kindly generated from those campaigns are now being used to improve and renovate the roof, gates, and passageways. ▼ Thanks to the efforts of Tano and his supporters, the number of days this gate opens to the public is increasing every year. The aim is to have the East Storehouse open to the public on a regular basis, so that Tano’s dream of it becoming “a place where Shinsengumi fans can interact” can finally come true. Although the large-scale crowdfunding campaign has now come to a close, the Former Maekawa Residence is currently working on a system for continued support through crowdfunding site “Readyfor” with plans to allow people to submit even small amounts. It’s crowdfunding campaigns like this that help to keep the history of the Maekawa residence alive, so that future generations can immerse themselves in samurai culture and learn more about its secrets. Related: Former Maekawa Residence, Previous Readyfor Crowdfunding Page Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

A fully recreated Showa-style living room, with a modern surprise, awaits retro-seeking visitors. There’s always that time period that people tend to romanticize, or look back upon with nostalgia-tinted glasses, and for most of Japan that period is the Showa era. To mark 100 years since the start of the Showa era, a delightfully retro celebration is being held in the Otemachi Place entertainment complex in Tokyo from December 8 to December 12, 2025, called Otemachi Timeslip 2025: Back to Those Nostalgic Days. What’s even better is that the event is completely free, so you don’t need to factor the ticket price into your budget, and it’s only a seven-minute walk away from Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi North Exit, or right next to the subway’s Otemachi Station’s A5 exit. While the Showa period officially spans a long stretch from 1926 to 1989, Showa nostalgia in Japan tends to center around the 1960s to 1980s, when sights of rooms with tatami flooring, complete with cathode-ray televisions and wooden furniture, were frequently seen. This event offers visitors a small glimpse into the everyday scenes and textures that defined the pre-’80s Showa atmosphere. The main highlight of the event is a fully recreated Showa-style room for guests to enjoy. However, the organizers have also included a modern twist where the television displays an image of the guest who is standing in the photo spot, for a little fusion of modern technology and retro charm. Whether you just want to snap some photos of the room from the outside, or step inside to immerse yourself in a little bubble of nostalgia, this room is a charming example of a time before more minimalistic interiors. The event doesn’t  end there, as there is another corner that displays real Showa-era items that are rarely seen today, including small juice and cigarette vending machines, enamel signs, and a vintage Tiger mechanical calculator. These artifacts will stir memories of visitors who lived through this period, as well as spark curiosity in younger and international visitors who may be encountering them for the first time. For Japanese book lovers, on the third floor of the building, a collection of secondhand bookstores will gather to sell used books, manga, picture books, and magazine clippings from the era, which is wonderful news for all who prefer the tactile charm of printed media. However, no nostalgic trip is complete without a taste of the past. The beloved bakery Yoshida Pan will be in attendance, offering a tempting lineup of koppe-pan, a classic bread roll that was once iconic in school lunches. From savory fillings to sweet varieties, these simple yet satisfying snacks have something for everyone. Visitors will also be able to write and send event-exclusive New Year’s cards through a Showa-style post box, adding a little retro flourish to Japan’s customary year-end greetings Japanese people send cards to family and friends to wish them well. Though the event runs until December 12, the photo spot will be open until December 19, so even if you can’t make it down there this week, you still have a chance to step back into history before Christmas without having to wait and rely on a ghost of the past to whisk you away back down memory lane. If your schedule still doesn’t quite line up, or you want more of that Showa-style charm, the Odaiba Retro Museum might just be right up your alley. Event information Otemachi Timeslip 2025 Mukashi Natsukashii Ano Koro E / OTEMACHI タイムスリップ 2025 -昔懐かしいあの頃へ- Address: Tokyo-to, Chiyoda-ku, Otemachi Nichome 3-ban 1-go kara 2-go 1F&3F 東京都千代田区大手町二丁目3番1号から2号 1F&3F Event time: 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Event website Location website Source, images: PR Times ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

GQuuuuuuX kicks are ready to help you walk around in mobile suit style. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX isn’t just the newest Gundam anime series, nor is it merely the one with the most unintuitively pronounced title (it’s meant to be said like “G quacks”). It’s also the first creative collaboration between Sunrise, perennial production studio of the Gundam anime franchise, and Studio Khara, founded by Hideaki Anno and best known for the Rebuild of Evangelion movies. Because of that, you could describe some aspects of GQuuuuuuX as being Gundam through an Evangelion lens, especially the mecha designs, which blend the sleek futuristic style and unnervingly organic aspects of the two. And hey, while GQuuuuuuX is out here bringing new creative partners together, why not through in a few more with some stylish Gundam GQuuuuuuX sneakers from Reebok? Designed for Gundam fashion brand Strict-G, two models are on offer, both variants of Reebok’s Instapump Fury 94. One takes its cues from the titular Gundam GQuuuuuuX, with the bright white and bold blue, yellow, and red that’ve become the calling-card colors of the Gundam franchise’s hero mecha. As part of the Rebok Pump family, there’s a button on the tongue that you press to inflate the shoes’ bladder parts with air for a better fit, and on the GQuuuuuuX model one of them button has a Pomeranian on it, the symbol of the faction protagonist Amate joins up with. The mecha’s Greco-alphanumerical designation, gMS-Ω, is also displayed on the side of the shoe. ▼ Ω is “omega,” just in case GQuuuuuuX wasn’t enough of a “How do you say that?” challenge. The other sneaker model gets its design from GQuuuuuuX’s Red Gundam. This eye-catching mecha works as a visual metaphor for GQuuuuuuX’s core what-if premise, as it’s meant to show the fate of the original RX-78 Gundam had it been captured by original Mobile Suit Gundam antagonist Char and become his personal combat machine, receiving his preferred customizations and paint job in the process. Instead of a Pomeranian, the pump button here bears the emblem of the Principality of Zeon, and gMS-α (alpha) is printed on the side. ▼ Reebok released its first Pumps in 1989, and they’ve still carry a sort of ‘80s/early ‘90s vibe, making them an appropriate pick for a partnership with GQuuuuuuX, a series that’s often tipping its hat to the past. Both versions are priced at 27,500 yen (US$180) and officially go on sale in March, but they’re already available for preorder through the Premium Bandai online shop here between December 12 and January 25. Source: PR Times, Premium Bandai Top image: Premium Bandai Insert images: PR Times, Premium Bandai ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

A new product so good it’ll likely go viral.   These days, many visitors to Japan get their information on what to buy at convenience stores through social media accounts, but it always pays to keep your eyes open for other interesting finds while you’re browsing the aisles, because then you can discover new products before they go viral online. ▼ Take, for example, this humble product hiding out in the seasonings aisle, overlooked by many foreign tourists. Called “Aventure Meshi“, with “Aventure” referring to “adventure” and “meshi” meaning “rice” or “meal“, this product brands itself as “Seasoning for Potato Chip Meshi.” ▼ That’s not something a lot of customers will be familiar with, so the pack includes an image of the intended meal to illustrate the concept. Sold exclusively at 7-Eleven stores from 13 October, this new seasoning is designed to enhance the joys of a forbidden combination: potato chips and white rice. As ardent lovers of potato chips, this sounded like a weird but possibly wonderful pairing, so we picked up the two flavours available, Garlic Butter and Mentaiko Mayo, with each one priced at 213 yen (US$1.36). According to the instructions on the back, making the so-called “Potato Chip Rice” is easy – simply mix one seasoning sachet with 180 grams (6.3 ounces) of warm rice, and then top it with potato chips. As for the type of potato chips to use, the makers recommend trying a classic lightly salted flavour first, before trying something a bit stronger like seaweed salt. ▼ As this was our first time, we opted for the lightly salted chips. One gripe we had with the instructions was the second step, which says to place an “appropriate amount” of chips on top. How much is an “appropriate amount” of potato chips? That’s a question for the ages, and we had no idea what it meant here so we just decided to pile on a sensible amount that would ensure they wouldn’t fall out of the bowl. ▼ Behold, Potato Chip Rice. It was a meal that seemed to break all the rules of traditional Japanese dining etiquette… and we couldn’t wait to try it. As expected, it wasn’t bad at all. In fact, it was almost too good. The seasoning sachet turned out to be an essential ingredient, as it contained a delicious garlic butter flavour that spread gently throughout the palate, adding a rich and full-bodied umami to the crunchy potato chips. However, there was one surprise we weren’t expecting. ▼ We could hardly taste the chips. The seasoning was so good that it pushed the potato chips to the sidelines, leaving them to provide a textural accent rather than any type of flavour. Though we were expecting the rice and potato chips to dance together, in reality the seasoning took the lead, relegating the potato chips to a spectator seat. As we had a pack of seaweed salt flavour chips in the pantry, we grabbed a few of those and added them to the rice in the hopes they might provide more flavour. However, it hardly made a difference. Still, these potato chip flavours aren’t really that strong on their own, so it’s no surprise that the Garlic Butter seasoning took over, and it tasted so good that we certainly weren’t complaining. With our expectations now raised, we ripped into the Mentaiko Mayo seasoning pack, and after mixing it with the rice, we found that it was of equally high quality, and even richer, with a more junky, decadent taste that stole the spotlight from the potato chips once again. The potato chips were great for textural contrast, but in the end, we left them out of the equation altogether so we could enjoy the rice with the seasonings alone, and the results were extraordinary. ▼ After all, the fine print says “希望のままにご用意ください”, which means “Please prepare it as you desire”. The seasonings took the white rice to a whole other realm of deliciousness, and as soon as we finished one bowl we were keen to have another. It’s a fantastic hidden find, and we haven’t seen anyone talking about this product on social media yet, so now’s the time to stop by 7-Eleven to try it before it disappears from shelves. With the chain also selling rice that staff will heat up for you at the register – simply grab a tub from the fridge and say “Atatamete onegai shimasu” (“please heat it up”) – you can easily try it out in your hotel room or rented accommodation. Reference link: Ebara Foods Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Mysterious warehouse is a secret destination that’s yet to be discovered by overseas tourists.  The rise of social media continues to funnel overseas visitors to the same tourist sites time and time again, but locals tend to have different places on their travel itineraries. One such hidden gem is a warehouse in Shirai City, in Tokyo’s neighbouring prefecture of Chiba, where you’ll find the “Dagashiya Ahiru Shop“, which specialises in an all-time Japanese favourite – dagashi. Dagashi gets its name from the words “trivial” or “low-grade” (“da”) and “sweets” or “snacks” (“kashi”). Known for being relatively small, with equally small price points, these cheap sweet and savoury snacks were traditionally designed for children, who could easily use their pocket money to buy them at dagashiya (dagashi shops). With a strong association to childhood, dagashi are also popular with adults, who remember them fondly from their younger years. ▼ A sample of Japanese dagashi sweets This off-the-beaten-path dagashiya adds the word “ahiru” (“duck”) to its name for an extra dash of sweetness, and although the place has become popular through Japanese social media accounts, where people have been raving about the cheap prices and cool self-service stall-style games, the warehouse remains yet to be discovered by overseas tourists. When our reporter Natsuno Futon arrived to check out the scene, she found the place was so popular there was a queue of cars waiting to park, with many bearing license plates from outside the prefecture, proving how far word had spread about the store. As the car park was full, a member of staff came out and asked her to park at a nearby convenience store and then walk from there. ▼ So that’s what she did, with her three excited children in tow. It was hard to believe that a site as rural as this was attracting people from around the country, but after a five-minute walk from the convenience store parking lot, Natsuno found that the place was indeed bustling with people. Searching for the entrance, she found the kanji characters for it (入口) at the side of the warehouse, crudely written in paint like something you’d see in a horror movie rather than the doorway to the Cheap Candy Duck Shop. Stepping inside revealed there was no need to worry about monsters lurking about, because the place was filled with candy, and cute retro ways to display them. The cool vibe of the warehouse actually makes it feel like you’ve wandered into a secret hideout, where dagashi are lined up alongside expired and soon-to-be-expired products, all at bargain prices. ▼ There were even packs of Kewpie brand quick-cook vegetables, priced at just 50 yen (US$0.32) each. For Natsuno, the best display was the retired UFO Catcher, which had its front panel removed, making it a display case for soon-to-be-expired packs of Pocky. With no claw needed to obtain the products inside, you simply pluck out what you need with your hands, making this a dream claw machine. Moving on, Natsuno found some surprises, with packs of Curl corn puff snacks actually priced slightly more expensive than a supermarket, at 230 yen a bag. Lovers of Peyoung-brand instant yakisoba won’t mind picking up a pack or ten of these out-of-date varieties for 100 yen each. In addition to all the sweets and snacks, there were also a lot of baking-related ingredients. With Christmas fast approaching, the cake mixes seemed like they would be in high demand. ▼ Natsuno was tempted by this Sumikko Gurashi chocolate cake set, which lets you bake a cake in just two minutes in the microwave. After checking out the warehouse, her next move was to head on over to the candy area opposite. Here, she gave each of her children 300 yen so they could buy whatever they wanted. The store provides tubs, so children can literally feel like kids in a candy store. If Natsuno had been to a place like this as a child, she would’ve lost her mind, because the selection was vast, with colourful packs of sweets and snacks lining the store. With prices listed in rounded numbers like 100 yen and 50 yen, it’s easy for children to calculate what they can get with their pocket money. Dagashiya Ahiru Shop really is like paradise for kids, but it’s also a place where they can develop valuable skills, as indicated by the store’s request for parents pegged to the storefront. ▼ The note reads, “This is a place where children can develop ‘independent thinking skills’ so please watch over them kindly“. As Natsuno let her kids develop their skills in decision-making and restraint, she lined up the things that she herself had bought, which came to a grand total of 1,550 yen. The 12 items worked out to an average of roughly 129 yen each, which was a great deal, especially considering she got a couple of packs of biscuits and two cake mixes. With tables and chairs on site, you can easily eat any snacks you bought straight away if you so desire, but one thing to note is that payment is cash only. After about 30 minutes of waiting, Natsuno’s children returned with their candy hauls, and their squeals of excitement continued as they all made their way together to the self-service food stall zone. Here, you’ll find stalls stocked with cotton candy, sweet potatoes, and games like yo-yo fishing and candy scooping, giving it the vibe of a little summer festival. Natsunuo’s children immediately ran over to the cotton candy stall which, like the other stalls, was unstaffed. After popping 300 yen into the money box, Natsuno read the instructions on the table before adding the granulated sugar, and turning a stick inside the tub to create… ▼… cotton candy! ▼ Natsuno, working the machine like a professional food stall worker. As she made the cotton candy, Natsuno began to worry that anyone passing by might not realise this a was a self-service setup and mistake her for an actual staff member. Hurriedly making the creations, she didn’t do a bad job of it, and the smiles on her children’s faces was all the reward she needed for her efforts. Next up, they headed over to try their hand at “yo-yo fishing”, where you first obtain a fishing line from a capsule machine and then use it to try and catch one of the items floating in the pool. You can take home up to three items, and even if you don’t catch any, the purchase of the fishing line permits you to take one item home with you, so there are no losers here. Another popular stall was dedicated to target shooting, with 300 yen giving you three shots and 500 yen giving you six. Natsuno tried it out and was a little disappointed with her skills as she only managed to shoot a packet of pretzels, but it was still better than nothing. ▼ There are also unstaffed sales areas where you can tally up your items and pay for them using the honour system. With so much to see, do and eat, Dagashiya Ahiru Shop is a fun day out for children and adults alike. You won’t find sites like this in travel guides, or on social media accounts run by overseas influencers, so if you’re looking to explore off the beaten path and rub shoulders with the locals, you now know where to go. And if you’d like to check out another sweet wonderland, this hidden dagashiya nearby, where a Japanese grandma manually operates the vending machines with a hand puppet, is waiting to welcome you. Shop information Dagashiya Ahiru Shop / 駄菓子屋あひるショップ Address: Chiba-ken, Shiroi-shi, Tomitsuka 1127-6 千葉県白井市富塚1127－6 Open 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (weekends and public holidays only) Website Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Japanese prefecture that already has a Hello Kitty airport is getting ready for even more Sanrio cuteness. In April, Japan’s Oita Airport renamed itself to Oita Hello Kitty Airport. This wasn’t just a silly tongue-in-cheek gesture, like when Kagawa Prefecture named a Pokémon as its new governor. The facility now really is officially called Oita Hello Kitty Airport, and it’s decked out in all sorts of Sanrio character decorations. The original plan was for this arrangement to last for half a year, but that was obviously too short a time for an arrangement so awesomely adorable, and it’s now been extended until the end of 2025. There’s been no word yet as to whether or not another extension is going to happen, but it wouldn’t be a shock if one does since Harmonyland, the Sanrio theme park located not far from the airport, is going to be renovated and expanded into something developers are saying will be grand enough to be considered a resort. The announcement was made on Monday in a ceremony at the Oita prefectural capital building (pictured at the top of this article) attended by Hello Kitty, Oita Governor Kiichiro Sato, and other government and Sanrio representatives. Harmonyland, in the Oita town of Hayami, is one of two Sanrio theme parks in Japan, the other being Puroland, located in the Tama district of northern Tokyo. With Harmonyland sitting on a hillside, the renovation plan is to create the atmosphere of an amusement park in the sky. While concrete details are still being hashed out, a ropeway to ferry visitors around the vertically varied topography and an outdoor canopy to make the park more usable on days with rain or intensely strong sunshine have already been mentioned, as has a new amphitheater for stage shows and musical performances. ▼ Concept art/images for the reimagined Harmonyland Also part of the plan is a brand-new hotel, currently under construction on a plot of land adjacent to Harmonyland, providing guests with accommodations both classy and cute, in addition to views of the park, nearby mountains, and Beppu Bay. Speaking of Beppu, you might recall that the town of that name is one of Japan’s top onsen (hot spring) travel destinations, and Oita as a whole takes great pride in the quality of its hot springs. At the announcement ceremony for the resort, the developers said they want to create a destination where visitors can enjoy Oita’s beautiful natural scenery, food culture, hot springs, and hospitality along with Sanrio’s style of cute fun, suggesting that hot spring baths might be among the hotel’s amenities. No timetable for the completion of the project has been set, but the overall goal for the new Puroland, the developers say, is for it to be “the kindest place in the world,” where “all visitors, regardless of age, gender, or physical characteristics can enjoy themselves.” That’s definitely a lofty goal, but a sweet one too, and if there’s anyone who knows a thing or two about being able to make friends with just about anyone, it’s Hello Kitty. Source, images: PR Times ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

A chance discovery leads to a surprise at the end of the tunnel.   Sometimes the best discoveries are made when you stumble upon them unexpectedly. That’s what happened when our reporter Masanuki Sunakoma was driving along the Joshinetsu Expressway in Nagano Prefecture the other day and a huge escalator suddenly caught his eye. Wondering where it might lead, his curiosity grew as large as the escalator as he gradually approached it, prompting him to pull in and park at the Sakudaira Parking Area to check it out. Stepping out into the night air, Masanuki was awestruck by the tunnel of light stretching up towards the sky. Accessible from the parking area on both the northbound and southbound lanes, the huge escalator is impressive in both its length and slope, which makes it unclear exactly where it’s leading to. According to the sign on ground level, the operating hours are from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., or until 10:00 p.m. on weekends and public holidays. This made Masanuki wonder if it simply led to a lookout point, as he didn’t think anything would be open until that late at night here. Feeling a sense of adventure sweep over him, Masanuki reached out for the handrail and stepped onto the escalator, wondering where the moving stairway might take him. After a few seconds, he began to get a sense of just how long the escalator was. He was still nowhere near the top of it, and turning around, he saw he was now quite a way away from the bottom. Edging closer to the top, he felt more alone than ever, as there were no other living beings around him – just the slow hum and mechanical whir of the escalator. It seemed so long that Masanuki says he would’ve believed it if someone told him this was an escalator leading up to space. In fact, he felt as if he were an actor in a science fiction movie, off to discover new worlds. ▼ Finally, he reached the top of the escalator, only to discover… ▼ …there was another set of escalators in front of him.  Vowing to follow the escalators to the very end, Masanuki held on tight for another trip up towards the sky. This time, when he reached the top of the escalators he was welcomed by the soft, golden lights of some sort of complex. Turning to check out the view, Masanuki could see just how far he’d come from the ground level, and the night view was pretty spectacular. ▼ Heading towards the building of light, Masanuki was now curious to find out what was inside. ▼ To his delight, he’d arrived at a super bathhouse called Miharashi no Yu. Finding a hot spring directly connected to a highway parking area is a true gem for tired drivers, and according to the pamphlet Masanuki picked up, there are amazing views to be had from here, as you can see all the way to the Northern Alps during the day. Taking advantage of this surprise opportunity, Masanuki decided to pay the 800 yen (US$5.15) bathing fee for adults and enjoy a quick soak. Inside, he was able to enjoy a sauna, a carbonated hot spring bath, and an open-air bath with gorgeous night views. By the time he stepped back out again for the return trip down the escalators, Masanuki felt lighter and refreshed, as if all his fatigue had been washed away. Grabbing another pamphlet before leaving, he was surprised to discover that the hot spring facilities would be even better in winter, as the place turns into a ski resort called “Saku Ski Garden Parada” from 20 December. ▼ This is said to be the only ski resort in Japan that’s directly connected to an expressway. That was all the incentive Masanuki needed to make a mental note to return during ski season, but first he had to make it down the escalator. With his legs shaking, Masanuki says the return trip down the escalator might require some courage if you’re afraid of heights, but on the upside, the soak in the hot spring makes the journey worth it. So next time you spy something beside an expressway in Japan that piques your interest, you might want to pull in for a closer look. Chances are, you might just stumble upon something you never would’ve discovered otherwise, like a samurai-esque village or a giant Ferris Wheel. Site information Sakudaira PA / 佐久平PA Address: Nagano-ken, Saku-shi, Shimohirao 2329 長野県佐久市下平尾2329 Website Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

We head to the Japan Mobility Show Kansai to take a closer look at the real, ridable Legendary Pokémon. For old-school automotive fans, it can be a little depressing to see how many car shows have new rebranded themselves as “mobility shows.” But as the nature of transportation evolves, event organizers have to keep pace, and there is a silver lining in that not all “mobility” innovations are boring, appliance-like pods designed to shuttle us from Point A to Point B with as little excitement or emotional engagement as possible. For example, at the Japan Mobility Show Kansai, held last weekend in Osaka, there were a pair of Pokémon on display. These weren’t just statues, either, but functional motorcycles based on Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Koraidon and Miraidon. These two Legendary species have been brought into the real world by Honda and Toyota, and they’re both actual ridable vehicles. Attendees could even hop onto them at the show to snap pictures. The Koraidon was built by Honda, and made its first public run at the world-famous Suzuka Circuit this past summer. This was our first chance to see it with our own eyes, though, and we came away very impressed. Not only does Koraidon look just like it does in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, it has lifelike movements that make it seem like an organic creature, not just a machine. When sitting idle, Koraidon makes subtle motions to give the impression that it’s breathing. It blinks its eyes and moves its head and jaw, all with a natural, non-rigid timing that avoids falling into robotic-feeling set patterns. Aside from the awesome visuals, the Koraidon has some very cool tech, too. Thanks to Honda’s Honda Riding Assist system, it’s capable of self-balancing, and can self-drive at speeds up to 10 kilometers per hour (6.2 miles per hour). For when there’s a human rider, you might be wondering where the handlebars are, but there aren’t any. Instead, you steer the Koraidon simply by shifting your weight, which its sensors can detect and adjust Koraidon’s trajectory in accordance with. And though it’s a two-wheeled motorcycle, when the Koraidon is in motion its legs do move to make it appear like it’s running on all fours. Next it was time to turn our camera lens towards the Miraidon, built by Toyota. In contrast to the Koraidon, the Miraidon does stand on its four legs, or at least it does when it’s in “display mode,” as it was when we took these pictures, or in  “limited mode,” when it walks at a leisurely pace of 3 kilometers per hour. When more speed is needed, the Miraidon can be equipped with wheels to enter “Drive Mode,” in which it can move not only forward but laterally too. The movements can actually be controlled with a Nintendo Switch controller, as a clever throwback to Miraidon’s origins. ▼ The digital display eyes are a cool design point too. Sadly, there’s been no announcement about either the Koraidon or Miraidon being put into production and offered for sale to the general public. That said, if a store in Japan is going to be selling human washing machine pods in the near future, maybe a future in which we’ll be able to ride around on real-world Pokémon isn’t so far off. Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

These Spirited Away characters may not be able to talk, but they’ve still got seven ways to help you make a fashion statement. When Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away received the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003, you could say it marked a turning point for anime. While the medium had long been popular in Japan and enjoyed support from pockets of enthusiasts outside its home country, Spirited Away’s Oscar win made a tremendous difference in legitimizing Japanese animation as a cinematic art among mainstream critics and audiences, ushering a new age of global respect for, and interest in, anime. However, what we’re taking a look at today is Spirited Away and the similar capitalized New Age, as the American headwear maker has enough Spirited Away hats that you could wear a different one every day of the week. When looking for muses to draw inspiration from within the Spirited Away cast, you can’t leave out No Face, and even if you tried to, the guy would probably just let himself into the party anyway. Embroidered at the front of the 59Fifty structured cap, No Face also looks to be helping himself to the New Era logo, having seemingly tossed it towards his mouth like yet another morsel plucked from the dinner spread laid out by the attendants in the bathhouse of the gods. ▼ Spirited Away’s Japanese-language title, Sen to Chihiro to Kamikakushi, is written in Japanese on the side of the closed back cap. This is far from the last we’ll see of No Face in this collection, though. He takes on a bit of a sporty persona with this 9Twnety-style cap, with a patch making him look a little like a baseball team mascot. Once again, the design features Japanese text, with abura, the first kanji in the name of the of the Aburaya bathhouse where written at the back right of the cap and “Studio Ghibli” above its opening. If you prefer your Ghibli heroes to be a bit more dashing than an amorphous blob with a mouth in his stomach, this 9Thirty cap has Haku, in his dragon form. The asymmetrical artwork includes a flock of with Yubaba’s sentient shikigami paper talismans giving chase. A pair of 9Fifty caps, with structured crowns and flat brims, have No Face at the front and a collection of symbols that appear in the anime rendered in a neon sign-like motif. No Face is looking quite a bit less docile at the back, though, where he’s seen rampaging and giving Boh and Yu-Bird a fright. Rounding out the baseball cap collection is a 9Forty A-Frame with a structured crown, curved brim, and, most importantly, a whole bunch of Soot Sprites, or susuwatari, as the version of the creatures seen in Spirited Away are also called. ▼ The industrious little guys can be seen enjoying some konpeito candy after a hard day’s work. And last, the final piece of headwear mixes things up with a bucket hat design that makes it look like No Face it circling around your noggin. Prices start at 4,400 yen (US$29) for the Soot Sprite cap, with the round-emblem No Face and Haku designs 4,620 yen, the bucket hat 5,500, the black and white rampaging No Face versions 6,050, and the 59Fifty with No Face posing with his arms thrown out wide 6,600 yen. The entire lineup is available through Studio Ghibli specialty store Donguri Kyowakoku after a recent restock, and can be ordered through the chain’s online shop here. Source: Donguri Kyowakoku Top image: Donguri Kyowakoku Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Kids can learn about the construction and maintenance processes of multi-story residential buildings while earning their own currency. KidZania is a Mexican chain of “edutainment” amusement parks that combine educational experiences with entertainment by allowing kids to role play different professions within a constructed city. Furthermore, they earn kidZos currency for completing jobs, which they can then use to buy goods or services throughout the city. There are currently three locations in Japan: KidZania Tokyo, KidZania Koshien, and KidZania Fukuoka. KidZania Tokyo has previously made it onto a list of the top 20 places to go in Tokyo as chosen by travelers. A new work zone in partnership with construction giant Haseko Corporation opened at KidZania Tokyo on December 3, and we were invited to tag along with some kids trying out the new space to see what it was like. The official opening ceremony of the new zone was presided over by Haseko Corporation President Satoshi Kumano and KidZania Tokyo President Michinari Tsumuraya. In addition, special guest and former professional boxer Daisuke Naito was also in attendance. He was previously an employee of Haseko Corporation while pursuing his boxing career. The new Mansion Construction Site (“mansion” in Japanese refers to a multi-story apartment building) is a faithful representation of an actual construction site complete with full-scale scaffolding and equipment. It’s also three stories tall, making it unusually high for most buildings at KidZania. There are three activities for kids to try in this zone: constructing the entrance as a construction engineer (recommended for ages three and up), and inspecting the drainpipes and replacing the exterior wall panels as a maintenance engineer (recommended for ages six and up). As the latter two activities require kids to be hoisted on a harness to the second and third stories, there’s also a 120-centimeter (47.2-inch) minimum height requirement. Each task takes approximately 35 minutes to complete and pays 10 kidZos. Kids don actual uniforms and helmets from Haseko Corporation, which makes the experience feel even more authentic. The outfits vary slightly depending on which activity the child chooses to complete. Let’s take a peek at each of the three activities in more depth. In the construction engineer role, kids install floor panels at the entryway of the apartment building. It also involves construction of an exterior wall using “bricks” (made from a soft material for safety purposes) as well as gray parts designed to resemble mortar. The little workers have to carefully add the bricks and mortar in alternating layers. They even have to check their work using a level tool! Next, let’s take a look at the two activities kids can perform as maintenance engineers. Just as in the real world, these jobs begin with a safety inspection of their equipment. The outfit includes an authentic Fujii Denko safety harness designed specially for kids. As they begin to climb the stairs to the second-story scaffolding, they’re instructed to hold onto the handrails with both hands. In fact, special attention to safety has been built into the scaffolding itself, with shock absorbers lining the corners. The first task is to repair the exterior wall panels. When they reach the worksite, they must clip their harnesses onto a ceiling rod for safety purposes. Let the work commence! The kids use an electric screwdriver to begin removing parts of the outer wall. The wall is realistically constructed, consisting of several layers including insulation. It’s a great opportunity to learn about what makes up a building’s structure. The final test comes when they use a light to confirm whether there are any deficiencies before replacing the panels. The second task is to inspect the drainpipes. The little workers first receive an explanation from their supervisor about the different types of pipes. It’s then time to inspect the pipes from top to bottom to make sure that there are no blockages–and if there are, they must fix the issue. They also get to use cool technology by dropping a ball equipped with an RFID tag into the pipes to check for blockages. We watched as the kids tracked the balls on an electronic device and identified any clogs that needed to be fixed. This method is an example of Haseko Corporation’s “Drain Trace” pipe testing system. The process was complete when they confirmed that the ball had successfully reached the first floor with no obstructions. It was pretty cool stuff to watch on the sidelines! That’s a wrap on KidZania Tokyo’s new Mansion Construction Site. It was clear that the kids we watched all had a blast and learned the importance of teamwork in the field of construction. Plus, even the grown-ups learned a lot from the supervisors’ instructions about what goes into this kind of work. If you need an adult pick-me-up at the end of your KidZania Tokyo experience, you might want to end your outing at the Starbucks location just north of Tokyo that’s also kids-friendly with special menu items to boot. Attraction information KidZania Tokyo / キッザニア東京 Address: Tokyo-to, Koto-ku, Toyosu 2-4-9 Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu, North Port 3rd floor 東京都江東区豊洲 2−4−9 アーバンドック ららぽーと豊洲１ ノースポート３階 Website All images © SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!