Japan Travel News for 2026

On January 2, 2026, “LPC JAPAN STUDIO Ginza Main Store” opens in Ginza, Tokyo.
This experiential complex lets you enjoy Japanese cultural activities, a cafe and Japanese food, and shopping all in one place.
It offers a wide range of programs, including tea ceremony, wagashi-making, manga creation, and ukiyo-e coloring.
With attentive staff support, even first-timers can feel at ease.
At the on-site cafe, you can enjoy matcha lattes and pancakes, plus Japan-style dishes like tamago kake gohan and onigiri made with Nita-mai Koshihikari rice.
The retail area is stocked with Japan-only finds, including ukiyo-e prints, traditional crafts, and character goods.
Through experiences, food, and shopping, it’s a space where you can feel Japanese culture from many angles.

On February 5, 2026, “PokePark KANTO” will grand open inside Yomiuriland in Inagi City, Tokyo.
It’s Pokemon’s first permanent outdoor facility, a new area spanning a vast Approx. 2.6 hectares.
Located in the Tama Hills of the Kanto region, you can meet Approx. 600 Pokemon in “Pokemon Forest,” join a show at the gym, try attractions, and more—there are many ways to enjoy it.
Original goods will also be sold at the “Pokemon Trainers Market.”
It offers a new entertainment experience that blends play with technology.
For Pokemon fans, it’s sure to feel like a dream come true.

In March 2026, “Karuizawa T-SITE” is scheduled to open in Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture.
This shopping complex is directly connected to Karuizawa Station’s north exit and is being developed by Mitsubishi Estate, Aqua Ignis, and Culture Convenience Club.
The concept is “A gateway that shares and lets you experience Shinshu’s unique character—sparking curiosity.”
On a site of Approx. 13,000 square meters, six buildings (single-story and two-story) will line up, with Approx. 16 shops planned.
Along with well-known restaurants making their Karuizawa debut—like Sanpi Ryoron, Torimachi, and Sushi-ya Ono—it will also include the bathing facility “AQUAIGNIS GARDEN SPA” and the 9-room hotel “HACIENDA KARUIZAWA.”
From gourmet offerings featuring Shinshu ingredients to cozy cafes and distinctive shops, it’s shaping up to be an experience-focused destination that stimulates all five senses.

On March 28, 2026, “MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives” opens at Takanawa Gateway Station in Tokyo.
It’s a new experimental cultural museum that explores themes ranging from tradition to manga, music, and even space.
Spanning from three basement floors to six floors above ground—and up to the rooftop—the space will host a wide variety of programs.
The opening theme is “Life as Culture - Living is Culture.”
Opening programs include the exhibition “Spiral, Spiral - Can’t Help but Spin,” plus a large-scale video screening of Osamu Tezuka’s classic “Phoenix: Future.”
A new kind of manga experience called “MANGALOGUE,” experienced through live production using sound and light, is also planned.

On April 27, 2026, the “Nara Prison Museum” opens in Nara City, Nara Prefecture.
This museum makes use of the Important Cultural Property “Former Nara Prison,” the only surviving site among the “Five Great Meiji-era Prisons.” The concept is “A question posed from a beautiful prison.”
Through the “questions” raised within a prison space built on discipline, the museum is driven by a desire to offer an experience that makes visitors think about what freedom means.
It includes participation from globally recognized creators, including art director Taku Satoh and Museography Supervisor Adrien Gardère.
The museum consists of three areas: Building A introduces architectural features and Japan’s penal system, Building B explores prison life and discipline, and Building C expresses “prison” through diverse values and perspectives.
It aims to be a new kind of museum that encourages visitors to dialogue with themselves and reconsider how they live.

On May 23, 2026, “South Gate Hotel Okinawa” opens in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture.
This 216-room lifestyle hotel is directly connected to the Tomari Wharf Passenger Terminal Building “Tomarin.”
Located at Tomari Port—where ferries depart for eight remote islands—it’s Approx. 11 minutes by car from Naha Airport and makes a convenient base for exploring both Okinawa’s main island and its outlying islands.
Rooms come in two types: harbor-view rooms overlooking the blue sea, and city-view rooms with panoramic views of Naha’s cityscape.
Facilities include a large public bath and sauna for guests only, plus a rooftop terrace where you can feel the sea breeze.
Another highlight is the mix of urban convenience with the open, escape-from-the-everyday feel of a resort.
For breakfast, you can enjoy local Okinawan specialties, including the regional dish “kachu-yu,” and other items filled with Okinawa’s local flavors.

“KAI Kusatsu” is scheduled to open on June 7, 2026, in Kusatsu Town, Gunma Prefecture.
A new property in Hoshino Resorts’ hot spring ryokan brand “KAI,” it will be a stay where you can fully savor the appeal of Kusatsu Onsen, counted among Japan’s three most famous hot springs.
The guest room “Silk Art Room” features silk-art walls with striking glossy silk-thread dots, creating a refined setting where craftsmanship comes alive.
The hot springs draw from two sources—Bandai-ko and Sainokawara—and you can enjoy them through features like free-flowing baths and differences in water temperature.
Another major draw is the ability to travel between the inn and the hot spring town through a tunnel.
You can enjoy a new way of spending time by moving between two sides of Kusatsu: a serene stay at the inn and a stroll through the lively onsen town.

In July 2026, the “Former Hakone Ashinoyu Flower Center” in Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, is scheduled to open as the flagship store of a new sweets brand.
The planned signature item is a nut-filled tart inspired by the deep forests of Hakone.
Inside, three areas are planned—retail, takeout, and cafe—creating a relaxing time to enjoy sweets with house-roasted coffee.
Carrying on memories of the site as a botanical garden, another feature will be a space surrounded by lush greenery.
As a new spot in Hakone, it’s likely to be a comfortable place for a wide range of visitors, from dessert lovers to all ages.

For four consecutive days from August 8 to 11, 2026, “LuckyFes’26” will be held at Hitachi Seaside Park in Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
Aiming to be Asia’s largest theme park-style music festival, it offers not only live music but also a wide range of content such as gourmet food, workshops, and art experiences.
With the theme “A festival of music, food, and art,” it creates an all-in-one entertainment space visitors can enjoy all day long.
A wide range of popular artists will gather, including POPS, ROCK, HIPHOP, anime songs, and idols.
It’s set to be a festival enjoyed by everyone from families to dedicated music fans.
It’s drawing attention as a perfect event for making summer memories.

Starting September 19, 2026, the 20th Asian Games will open in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya.
It will be the first time Japan hosts the Summer Asian Games in 32 years, since the Hiroshima Games in 1994.
Delegations of up to Approx. 15,000 athletes are expected from 45 countries and regions across Asia.
A total of 41 sports will be held, over 16 days from September 19 to October 4.
The event slogan is “IMAGINE ONE ASIA Here, as one.”
The main venue is Paloma Mizuho Stadium (Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium), and in addition to Olympic sports, events popular in Asia—such as jiu-jitsu, wushu taijiquan, and kabaddi—will also be held.
With world-class athletes gathering, it looks to be a rare chance to experience powerful performances up close.

On October 18, 2026, the 5th Asian Para Games will open in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City.
Following the September “20th Asian Games,” this is a para sports festival that brings together para athletes from across Asia.
The event slogan is “IMAGINE ONE HEART Hearts as one.”
Through many different events, spectators can connect with the athletes’ passion—creating moments of intense competition and inspiration.
Beyond showcasing the appeal of each sport, it can also be a chance to deepen understanding of diversity and an inclusive society.
Together with the “20th Asian Games,” Aichi and Nagoya in fall 2026 will be a major stage in the spotlight, hosting international sports events.

From November 1, 2026, Japan’s consumption tax exemption system will switch to a “refund” model.
Until now, you could purchase at tax-free shops at a price excluding tax, but under the new system you’ll pay the tax-included price at the time of purchase.
Then, after receiving approval at customs at the airport (or similar) when departing Japan, the consumption tax equivalent will be refunded at a later date.
Customs approval can be completed via an unattended system, and you’ll qualify for tax exemption if you depart within 90 days of the purchase date.
This means you’ll no longer need to separate general goods and consumables, the purchase limit (500,000 yen) will be removed, and special packaging will no longer be required—making shopping freer and more convenient.
The tax refund is expected to be issued to a designated bank account, credit card, e-money, and more.

Around December 2026, the super sento “(Tentative name) RAKU SPA Adachi Kohoku” is scheduled to open in Kohoku, Adachi City, Tokyo.
Operated by Gokurakuyu, which runs bathing facilities nationwide, it will be the company’s fifth directly operated location in Tokyo.
Along with convenient access near Kan-nana Dori Avenue and the Nippori-Toneri Liner, the site area is a spacious Approx. 2,485 tsubo.
Along with open-air baths and saunas, it’s also expected to include a restaurant and relaxation spaces for unwinding after a bath.
Easy to stop by between sightseeing, it looks set to be a place where families, friends, or solo travelers can soothe everyday fatigue.

In spring 2026, “Wonderia Yokohama” is scheduled to open inside “BASEGATE Yokohama Kannai,” a large-scale mixed-use complex being created in front of JR Kannai Station in Yokohama.
It will be an immersive experience facility developed by major internet company DeNA.
Incorporating the idea of edutainment that combines education and entertainment, it offers surprising, mysterious experiences you’ll want to tell others about.
Inside, it’s made up of six zones with different worlds—such as forests and the deep sea—letting you enjoy extraordinary spaces created through digital technology.
One of the draws is the chance to encounter creatures and nature you wouldn’t normally meet in everyday life.
Using the facility’s dedicated “Wonderia App,” you can hold your smartphone up to creatures to learn information, take on missions, and enjoy plenty of interactive features that let you learn while you play.

In summer 2026, the commercial facility “HAERA” is scheduled to open from B2 to the 4th floor of “The Landmark Nagoya Sakae,” a supertall mixed-use building being developed in the Sakae area of Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture.
The concept is “PUBLIC MUSEUM.”
As a place where sensibilities cross paths, it aims to offer museum-like experiential value that is completed through each visitor’s unique perspective.
Inside, Approx. 65 shops are expected, ranging from global luxury brands to fashion and lifestyle stores, as well as everything from high-end restaurants to casual dining spots.
Making the most of its location facing Hisaya-odori and Otsu-dori, it looks set to bring new culture and energy to the Nagoya/Sakae area.

In the second half of FY2026, “YURAKUCHO PARK” is scheduled to be created on a Approx. 1-hectare site in front of Yurakucho Station in Tokyo.
Developed by Mitsubishi Estate, it’s envisioned as a new hub for sharing Japanese culture with the world.
Within the site, an area called “JAPA VALLEY TOKYO,” produced by global creator Pharrell Williams and leading Japanese fashion figure NIGO®, is planned to appear.
Plans also include installing collaboration works with contemporary artist KAWS, as well as pop-up stores and event spaces themed around art, food, and fashion.
As a place where you can experience everything from Japanese tradition to contemporary culture, it looks set to become a space where people from Japan and abroad naturally gather and connect.