McDonald’s Japan Pokémon Burgers 2026: Menu, Prices & an Honest Taste Test
Japan's McDonald's Pokémon 30th burgers (July 22–Sept 1, 2026): the three new items, prices from ¥580, collectible starter-Pokémon wrappers, and my honest taste test.
Hidden Japan GemsFIELD NOTES — JAPAN
japan travel
Hakuba Village: A Year-Round Guide (Cherry, Alps, Foliage & Powder)
Hakuba is the only place in Japan where you can ski an Olympic course in February, swim in a glacial alpine pond in August, photograph cherry against snow peaks in April, and watch foliage burn against green forest in October. A year-round guide with all four seasons.
Hakuba Station 2026: How to Get There from Tokyo, Osaka & Nagoya (Trains, Buses, Drive Times)
Hakuba Station is a single-platform JR Oito Line stop 2h 50m from Tokyo. Four routes compared (Hokuriku Shinkansen, Azusa, highway bus, drive), 10 destinations, station amenities, JR Pass math, and the difference between Hakuba Station and Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal.
Ine no Funaya 2026: How to Visit Kyoto Boat-House Village (Without Tripping the Locals)
Field report from Ine no Funaya in northern Kyoto: cruise vs sea taxi, access from Kyoto Station, walking-village etiquette, and where to actually stay nearby.
Kombu & Men Kiichi: A 45-Minute Kombu Ramen Experience Above a 1902 Kelp Shop in Kyoto Nishijin
Reservation-only kombu ramen experience above the 1902 Itutuji no Kombu kelp shop in Kyoto Nishijin. Three seatings a day, ¥1,520 plus the one-kombu rule. Field report by Nobu.
Kai no Katsuyama Yabusame: I Stood at the Rope Line Today and Watched a 900-Year-Old Bow Find Its Target
Field report from the 900-year-old Takeda-style yabusame at Fuji Omuro Sengen Shrine, Lake Kawaguchiko. 12-photo slideshow, day timeline, photography tips, and the date for 2027.
Japan in June 2026: A Day-by-Day Calendar of Hydrangeas, Fireflies, and the Cheapest Week of the Year
Japan in June 2026: rain probability heatmap, full event calendar, Sanno Matsuri (Hon-Matsuri year), hydrangea peak by region, and the cheapest week to fly in.
Japan Tsuyu (Rainy Season) 2026: Regional Calendar, Hydrangea Spots & Indoor Backups
Japan tsuyu 2026: regional onset/withdrawal calendar from JMA 1991-2020 normals, four hydrangea spots tested, and indoor backup plans for when it rains.
Visit Japan Web 2027: Joint Kiosk + Single QR Code Guide
How Visit Japan Web works: one QR code for immigration and customs since January 2024, the airports with a Joint Kiosk, and the tax-free changes from 1 November 2026.
Japan Typhoon Season 2026: Climatology, Live Trackers, and What Actually Cancels
Japan typhoon season 2026 explained — JMA climatology, regional risk, what cancels and when, plus the four data sources Japanese forecasters watch.