What’s trending in Japan · 2026 edition

Know what Japan is into before you arrive.

Explore the food, places and culture drawing attention to Japan—from matcha and anime pilgrimages to rural stays and ryokan. Each guide explains the background and helps you plan the experience, with sources you can check before you travel.

12 individual guidesFeatures updated · October 28, 2026Sources and review dates on each guide
Food · Places · Culture
  1. 07Matcha & Japanese Tea Culture
  2. 08Onigiri & Everyday Japanese Food
  3. 09Anime & Manga Pilgrimages
  4. 10Rural Japan & Slow Travel
  5. 11Onsen & Forest Bathing
  6. 12Ryokan & Japanese Hospitality

New features + fan-culture guides

Start with the thing you keep noticing.

Find the cultural context, choose an experience that fits your trip, and check the practical details. Each guide makes clear which sources explain the trend and which establish the travel facts.

07Japan beyond the headlines

Global product interest meets Japanese tea culture

Matcha & Japanese Tea Culture

Explore matcha in Japan through Uji tea shops and tea ceremony experiences. Learn how matcha differs from other Japanese teas and what to check before booking.Read the trend guide
08Japan beyond the headlines

An industry outlook on onigiri's international future

Onigiri & Everyday Japanese Food

Get to know onigiri through convenience stores and specialist shops. Explore classic fillings, the 2026 industry outlook and simple ways to enjoy Japan's everyday food.Read the trend guide
09Japan beyond the headlines

Anime and manga travel in JNTO's February 2026 spotlight

Anime & Manga Pilgrimages

Plan an anime-inspired Japan trip through official examples in Sendai and Kumamoto. Understand the difference between story locations, monuments and regional projects.Read the trend guide
10Japan beyond the headlines

Rural journeys among repeat visitors featured by CNA

Rural Japan & Slow Travel

Explore a slower Japan trip through rural towns and the Kiso Valley. Learn what recent overseas coverage shows and how to plan transport, meals and time to walk.Read the trend guide
11Japan beyond the headlines

Nature, onsen and wellness in JNTO's overseas travel coverage

Onsen & Forest Bathing

Discover Japan's onsen and forest-bathing experiences. Understand shinrin-yoku, choose a comfortable pace and check bath etiquette, private-bath options and venue rules.Read the trend guide
12Japan beyond the headlines

Japanese inns and hospitality in overseas travel coverage

Ryokan & Japanese Hospitality

Explore a ryokan stay through rooms, seasonal meals and bathing. Learn what to compare in a booking plan and why arrival time matters when dinner is included.Read the trend guide
01Iconic now

Official stores + reservation-only café

Pokémon in Japan

A practical 2026 guide to official Pokémon Centers, the Tokyo and Osaka Pokémon Cafés, and how to avoid building a day around the wrong type of store.Read the trend guide
022026 spotlight

New film momentum + dedicated park

Chiikawa in Japan

Meet Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi through official shops, Chiikawa Park in Ikebukuro and the practical rules that change a casual visit into a timed plan.Read the trend guide
03Fan pulse

2026 official ranking results

Sanrio in 2026

Use the official 2026 character ranking as a cultural snapshot, then choose between Sanrio stores, cafés, Puroland and Harmonyland without confusing shopping with park admission.Read the trend guide
04Everyday discovery

Small spend · huge variety

Gachapon & Capsule Toys

Understand the difference between a few machines and a specialist store, how to check official stock, and the etiquette for capsules, change and sold-out items.Read the trend guide
05Culture decoder

How Japanese fandom becomes an activity

Oshi-katsu

A visitor-friendly explanation of oshi, fan-support goods, ita-bags, themed photos and the store etiquette that keeps collecting respectful and affordable.Read the trend guide
06Plan-ahead experience

The reservation is part of the trip

Japanese Character Cafés

Compare permanent character cafés with collaboration pop-ups, understand official booking rules and build a fallback that does not waste a Tokyo or Osaka afternoon.Read the trend guide

How this series works

Current does not mean careless.

  1. 01
    Explain the signal

    Each article identifies its basis: an official announcement, industry outlook or a named report. An outlook is kept separate from measured popularity.

  2. 02
    Check the responsible source

    Government and operator sources establish travel facts. Media coverage provides context; current booking and entry conditions belong to the operator.

  3. 03
    Give the traveler a decision

    Every guide answers whether to book, where to fit the stop and what fallback protects the rest of the day.