Local news and updates from different regions of Japan.
Sea sparkle (noctiluca / 夜光虫) bloomed along Japan's Pacific coast in late May 2026. Largest Kamakura event since 2017 (Yuigahama peaked ~22:00). Plus Suruga Bay, Mikawa Bay, Shōnan, Miura. Verified beach list, conditions, photography notes.
What Happened Japanese experts are reminding the public that Mount Fuji, which has not had a major eruption in over 300 years, remains an active volcano. While there is no immediate sign of an eruption, volcanologists state that one is…
Field notes, weekly
One email a week. The Japan worth planning around.
Nearly every image on Hidden Japan Gems was photographed by me on a Sony α7 across five years of walking Japan; a few licensed photos fill the gaps. Please don't re-use my photos without permission — reach out if you'd like to.
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