There are at all times occasions while you would possibly take a look at a photograph of Japan and assume, “Surely it can’t be that beautiful,” however that is undoubtedly a type of occasions that proves simply how beautiful the nation could be. While many are touring across the nation chasing the fleeting cherry blossom season, there’s a vibrant pink carpet rolled out on the base of Mount Fuji that lasts so much longer than the transience of the sakura timber.

Starting April 11 and lasting till May 24, the Fuji Shibazakura Festival is well known at Fuji Motosuko Resort, and provides you a entrance row seat to all the splendor that Japanese springtime has to supply. Entrance to the resort is 1,000 yen, though it will increase to 1,300 yen between April 25 and May 10. If you buy an advance ticket on-line, you will get a 100-yen low cost.

▼ Entry to pets is allowed on a lead except between April 25 and May 10, when a cage, cart, or sling is required.

Despite shibazakura (“芝桜”) having the character for sakura (“桜”) within the title, the 2 vegetation have little or no relation to one another. While cherry blossoms flutter round above your head, moss phlox hugs the earth, making a shiny tapestry of pinks, purples, and whites.

At Fuji Motosuko Resort, a stunning 500,000-flower masterpiece of pure magnificence is framed by the equally spectacular snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji.

The resort has launched a number of artwork installations to make you part of the scene, bringing again a number of previous favorites, together with the Door to Happiness and Mount Fuji Object. The Sparkling Flower Drop Mirror captures the shimmer of the morning dew, and lets you catch your reflection amidst the petals and the mountain.

Like with any good pageant in Japan, the expertise isn’t just what you see, but in addition what you eat, and the snacks listed below are as gratifying because the flowers.

There are Sakura Churros, formed just like the Japanese character for “cherry blossom,” and supply a refined sweetness.

There are additionally the native classics, with stalls serving Fujinomiya Yakisoba and Yoshida Udon, in addition to the Fried Bread Soft Serve that contrasts the nice and cozy, crispy bread with the wealthy and chilly ice cream.

Perhaps to some he’s a fairly surprising visitor to surroundings seeming to overflow with Japanese-ness, however an enthralling a part of the resort is the Peter Rabbit English Garden, the place you’ll be able to stroll by means of a high-end British-style backyard juxtaposed with a view of Japan’s most sacred peak.

If you assume you have got skilled all that Fuji Motosuko Resort has to supply after a spring go to, you’ll wish to take a look at what it appears to be like like within the fall, with 15 varieties of colourful flowers, resembling zinnias, spreading out throughout the panorama.

The Fuji Excursion restricted specific practice from Shinjuku Station can get you to the realm in below two hours, from which you’ll take a bus to the venue, or you’ll be able to hop on a reservation-only direct bus from main practice stations like Shinjuku, Tokyo, Shibuya, Omiya, and Shin-Yokohama.

If you’re touring round Japan this spring, you’ll discover that the great thing about the season isn’t solely discovered within the cascading pink blossoms above your head, however stretching forth from round your toes, washing the panorama with breathtaking colours.

Event info

Fuji Motosuko Resort / 富士本栖湖リゾート

Address: Yamanashi-ken, Minamitsuru-gun, Fujikawaguchiko, Motosu 212

山梨県南都留郡富士河口湖町本栖212

Open: 8 a.m.–4 p.m. (extends to six a.m.–5 p.m. between April 29 and May 6)

Website

Related: Online Ticket Purchase, Fuji Excursion restricted specific practice, bus excursions

Source and pictures: PR Times 

Read extra tales from SoraNews24.

— 14 suggestions for visiting the Mt Fuji Shibazakura Festival, the place lovely “lawn sakura” blossom

— New Japanese KitKats are available in sakura flavour, with poetic symbolism for fulfillment

— Tokyo teahouse serves up a sakura matcha dessert you received’t discover anyplace else

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The bother began with a stupendous picture.

Social media was quickly awash with the stunning view of Japan’s snow-capped Mount Fuji looming over a pink pagoda and the short-lived cherry blossoms that herald the strategy of spring.

Tourists wanting the same shot quickly packed this peaceable city on the foot of the mountain. The complaints weren’t far behind: persistent site visitors jams; piles of litter; ill-mannered foreigners knocking on doorways of personal houses to borrow bathrooms; vacationers relieving themselves in entrance yards.

It bought so dangerous officers in Fujiyoshida in Yamanashi Prefecture introduced in February that they had been canceling this 12 months’s annual cherry blossom pageant, which began as a strategy to promote tourism a decade in the past.

What locals are calling “tourism pollution” has illuminated a broader drawback for Japan: As the nation’s financial malaise deepens, officers are anticipating the financial enhance of elevated tourism, at the same time as native communities discover themselves completely unprepared for what a small military of overseas guests means for his or her communities.

“This area is primarily an ordinary residential neighborhood, where balancing (tourism) with the safety of people’s living environment has become difficult,” Masatoshi Hada, supervisor of the Fujiyoshida Economics and Environment Department, informed The Associated Press. “We decided not to promote a festival that would invite more visitors.”

Even with out the pageant, overseas vacationers packed the world on a sunny day in early April when cherry blossoms reached their prime. The slender streets as much as the favored Arakurayama Sengen Park had been crammed because the guests lined up for an opportunity movie the world-famous panoramic views.

In latest years, overseas vacationers have exceeded 10,000 per day within the space, one thing that has “threatened residents’ daily lives,” the town mentioned in a press release in February.

Overtourism has additionally been seen in different widespread locations in Japan, like Kyoto and Kamakura. In Kyoto, locals complain of vacationers with massive suitcases clogging metropolis buses.

“Tourism pollution” comes as Japan confronts a quickly rising inhabitants of overseas employees introduced in because the nation’s inhabitants dwindles and ages. The mixture has led to xenophobia, and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ’s nationalistic authorities has proposed more durable guidelines on foreigners.

Even because it guarantees to handle overtourism issues, the federal government desires to spice up the present stage of 40 million inbound vacationers to 60 million guests by 2030.

Beginning April 1, at first of the area’s cherry blossom season, Fujiyoshida elevated its safety guards and restricted entry of tour buses and automobiles into the scenic neighborhood, requiring guests to succeed in the park on foot.

On a latest day, safety guard Hiroaki Nagayama gestured to passersby so they might keep out of busy areas. He requested vacationers to throw cigarette butts in designated locations and tried to assist the misplaced.

“I’m struggling. I cannot communicate with them in Japanese. Some people buy food at stalls and leave litter behind,” Nagayama says. “I think what’s happening here is a typical example of overtourism.”

Sitting on a bench outdoors his home simply a few blocks away, Hitoshi Mori, 93, says having many guests is “good but annoying.”

“It’s too crowded outside so I can only get groceries once a week and stock up on food,” he says.

Tourists, in the meantime, appear delighted by the spectacular view, regardless of many indicators popping up that get them organized to behave higher. There are additionally hours-long strains to get to cherished scenic spots.

“It’s pretty (well) organized. When they let you come in, you have like five minutes to take as many pictures as you can, and it was amazing,” mentioned Lisa Goerdert from Paris.

Vicky Tran, who got here from Melbourne, Australia, together with her household and associates, mentioned they might not go all the best way as much as see the pagoda with Mount Fuji and the cherry blossoms, as a result of it was too crowded. Still, she mentioned she loved the view and the neighborhood.

The overtourism has opened divisions between residents who need quiet and those that have began companies utilizing their yards to function toll parking or establishing new retailers or meals stalls.

In a close-by buying arcade that after had many closed mom-and-pop retailers, enterprise has picked up after one other viral social media shot confirmed Mount Fuji looming over the road.

Throngs of vacationers stand on the street to take pictures of Mount Fuji, typically blocking site visitors, with pissed off automobiles honking.

The sudden flood of holiday makers is a big change “for people like us who are used to a quiet suburban lifestyle,” says Masami Nakamura, who runs a decades-old college uniform store together with her husband. “I only hope the tourists respect our rules and manners.”

The crowds are an enormous change even for individuals who are seeing elevated enterprise.

“I once almost hit a tourist who jumped into the street without looking,” mentioned Kyoko Funakubo, a 60-year-old worker at a neighborhood lodge and a part-time vendor promoting Fuji-themed souvenirs. “This place used to be almost abandoned, with many shuttered shops. But now, with many stores reopened or new shops that have opened, I feel good seeing this area come alive again.”

© Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This materials will not be revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.

The new prepare, named “GRAN Tenku,” was revealed on the newly established Platform 0 at Namba Station, that includes a deep crimson exterior and providing a roughly 90-minute journey to Gokurakubashi, the gateway to Koyasan, as Buddhist monks from Koyasan carried out a prayer ceremony for its secure operation.

Nankai Electric Railway President Tomoshi Kajitani stated, “We aim to transform the journey to Koyasan from a mere means of transportation into an experience where the travel itself becomes the purpose, with heartfelt hospitality at its core.”

The four-car prepare will function with all reserved seating, with Car 1 that includes spacious rest seats, Car 2 providing wide-view seats dealing with the home windows, and Car 3 serving as a foyer lounge promoting drinks, whereas Car 4 gives a extra unique expertise.

Reporter Sasuke Yamaguchi stated, “The sofa seats, limited to just 16 passengers, are exceptionally comfortable, and remarkably, passengers can also enjoy meals.”

Passengers seated within the couch part shall be served breakfast, afternoon tea, and different choices relying on the time of day, that includes regionally sourced elements from southern Osaka to Wakayama, marking the primary time in practically a century that Nankai Electric Railway has supplied meals onboard.

Dining automobiles had been as soon as common throughout the Meiji and Taisho eras greater than 120 years in the past, however had been discontinued in 1929 as the necessity to enhance transport capability grew, with onboard eating seen as limiting each velocity and passenger numbers.

The revival of the eating automotive after practically 100 years displays a broader effort to place prepare journey itself as a vacation spot relatively than merely a mode of transport.

Kajitani stated, “We hope passengers will enjoy both the scenery along the route to Koyasan and the meals, allowing them to fully experience the appeal of railway travel.”

The 90-minute journey linking Osaka and Wakayama is being reimagined as a premium journey expertise, as personal railway operators throughout the Kansai area intensify competitors to develop new companies.

Source: YOMIURI

The plane, a “Shidenkai” fighter, had been resting on the ocean flooring because it made an emergency water touchdown within the closing part of the Pacific War. Despite many years underwater, key parts such because the engine, wings, and even its 20mm machine weapons stay largely intact, preserving a lot of the plane’s authentic construction.

The airplane was piloted by Lieutenant Yoshishige Hayashi, who had engaged a B-29 bomber throughout fight however was shot down and killed in motion.

Recovery operations started earlier within the day, and after roughly three hours of labor, the plane was efficiently lifted from the ocean, drawing consideration for its remarkably preserved situation.

Hidemoto Himoto, head of a bunch devoted to preserving struggle heritage within the Hokusatsu area, mentioned the plane nonetheless retains a lot of its authentic highly effective kind. He added that he want to convey to Hayashi that the restoration has created a possibility for many individuals to see his plane.

Only 5 Shidenkai plane are recognized to exist worldwide, and with this restoration, the variety of such plane situated in Japan has elevated to 2.

Source: FNN

One of the revised guidelines raises the minimal capital requirement to 30 million yen, a major enhance that has left many small-scale operators struggling to conform. A person who runs a curry restaurant warned that “curry shops may disappear from our streets,” expressing concern that the brand new threshold is past the attain of many unbiased companies.

The uncertainty surrounding visa renewals has additionally begun to have an effect on households, with some house owners already taking precautionary steps similar to transferring their kids to completely different faculties in anticipation of a doable return to their house international locations.

Others have moved extra decisively. A lady working a Hong Kong-style congee specialty store selected to shut her enterprise upon studying of the brand new guidelines, opting to not await her visa renewal interval.

After asserting the closure, she acquired an outpouring of messages from common clients expressing remorse, underscoring the emotional toll the modifications are having on each enterprise house owners and their communities.

Source: FNN

The three-day “TAKAMI TOKYO CLINIC TOUR,” held in Tokyo, is organized by skincare model TAKAMI, which emerged within the Nineties as a pioneer in beauty dermatology.

Built on the idea of “clinic-born, Tokyo-made,” TAKAMI has established a robust status by means of years of confirmed outcomes and belief.

However, Japan’s cosmetics exports have been on a declining pattern since 2022, amid the rising presence of manufacturers from South Korea and China.

David LeBrun, world president of TAKAMI, stated Japan represents each authority and innovation in skincare.

Around 20 prime influencers, primarily from Europe, had been invited to the tour, the place they underwent pores and skin diagnostics and took part in hands-on experiments to study concerning the improvement course of behind the merchandise.

The program prolonged past product promotion, incorporating cultural experiences equivalent to listening to a Buddhist monk whereas consuming tea and taking part in rest actions utilizing the sound of bells, aiming to convey Japan’s distinctive magnificence philosophy and tradition to world audiences by means of social media.

While Western markets have historically favored skincare that delivers fast, seen outcomes, latest tendencies present rising curiosity in approaches that prioritize long-term pores and skin well being and intrinsic magnificence.

This shift has drawn consideration to “J-Beauty,” a distinctly Japanese aesthetic that emphasizes constant, cautious each day care somewhat than instant results.

One taking part influencer famous that Japanese skincare locations sturdy emphasis on sustaining the pores and skin’s barrier operate, including that even when utilizing energetic components, the respect for the pores and skin’s pure steadiness is a defining distinction.

LeBrun stated the corporate’s goal is a world viewers, stressing a long-term perspective that values sustainability and excessive funding in pores and skin well being.

He added that Japan continues to steer the sphere, and the corporate goals to ship these values to the world whereas drawing inspiration from the nation’s strategy.

Source: FNN

According to the Imperial Household Agency, the emperor planted seeds of non-glutinous rice “Nihonmasari” and glutinous rice “Mangetsumochi” on the nursery situated beside the laboratory. The annual occasion is a part of efforts to encourage agricultural consciousness and appreciation.

The rice vegetation are anticipated to develop within the coming weeks, with transplanting scheduled for round May, adopted by harvesting anticipated in September.

Source: Kyodo

Among the varied applied sciences showcased to trade professionals, the “Store Labor Shortage Countermeasures Expo Spring” attracted specific consideration.

Fumiya Tanno, gross sales director at exhibition organizer RX Japan, defined: “While the EC market has expanded following the COVID-19 pandemic, physical stores offering real-world experiences are also growing, and addressing labor shortages—one of their biggest challenges—cannot be overlooked, which is why we organized this event.”

According to a survey launched by Tokyo Shoko Research on April eighth, 442 firms went bankrupt in fiscal 2025 as a consequence of labor shortages, marking a document excessive.

At the exhibition, firms introduced visions of “future customer service” aimed toward addressing workforce shortages.

At a sales space collectively exhibited by TANAX and AVITA, an AI humanoid named “Hinata” demonstrated its means to interact clients by means of eye contact and pure dialog, creating a way of familiarity.

Meanwhile, avatar-based programs designed to offer hospitality rather than human employees had been additionally launched.

One such expertise mixed avatars with digital becoming experiences, permitting customers to pick out clothes and take a photograph, after which a picture of themselves sporting the chosen outfit appeared on display screen.

When requested for styling recommendation, reminiscent of whether or not a skirt or pants can be higher, the avatar responded with ideas like preferring a pants type.

Additionally, avatars operated remotely by employees had been in a position to answer extra detailed inquiries in actual time.

Other applied sciences on show included AI cameras able to explaining merchandise when clients picked them up.

Participating firms plan to proceed selling these options at exhibitions, aiming to create a society the place the presence of avatars turns into the norm.

Kei Shimada, government officer at AVITA, mentioned: “Expectations are rising for a world where robots and similar technologies become more familiar, and we believe there will be strong interest. We want to create a society in Japan where customer service through AI and avatars is the standard.”

Source: FNN