If you spend some time walking around the Shibuya, Shinjuku, or Ikebukuro districts of Tokyo, at some point you’re bound to spot a lavishly decorated truck blasting music from its speakers. These “ad trucks” as they’re known in Japanese are just what they sound like – gigantic, mobile billboards with no purpose other than to drive around promoting the latest music and products. While these trucks do raise some legitimate environmental concerns, there’s no denying that this eye-catching (and deafening) marketing strategy is an effective way to grab everyone’s attention. Keep reading after the jump to view some photographic examples of ad trucks in action. You might be surprised by some of the wacky and suggestive things they can get away with!
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
Studio Ghibli glasses cases let anime characters keep an eye on your spectacles
Starbucks reopens at Shibuya Scramble Crossing with new look and design concept
Hamster abandoned at Tokyo ramen restaurant gets new home
Beautiful Sailor Moon manhole cover coasters being given out for free by Tokyo tourist center
Mister Donut ready to make hojicha dreams come true in latest collab with Kyoto tea merchant
Kyoto’s 100 Demons yokai monster parade returns!
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to your favorite restaurant in Tsuruga City!
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】
Japanese convenience store packs a whole bento into an onigiri rice ball
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
Studio Ghibli releases Kiki’s Delivery Service chocolate cake pouches in Japan
Japan’s bone-breaking and record-breaking roller coaster is permanently shutting down
New definition of “Japanese whiskey” goes into effect to prevent fakes from fooling overseas buyers
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Studio Ghibli unveils Mother’s Day gift set that captures the love in My Neighbour Totoro
Foreign passenger shoves conductor on one of the last full runs for Japan’s Thunderbird train
Domino’s Japan now sells…pizza ears?
New Japanese KitKat flavour stars Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty
Kyoto creates new for-tourist buses to address overtourism with higher prices, faster rides
Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards suspended indefinitely
Sold-out Studio Ghibli desktop humidifiers are back so Totoro can help you through the dry season
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Tokyo’s most famous Starbucks is closed
One Piece characters’ nationalities revealed, but fans have mixed opinions
We asked a Uniqlo employee what four things we should buy and their suggestions didn’t disappoint
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Beautiful Sailor Moon manhole cover coasters being given out for free by Tokyo tourist center
Mister Donut ready to make hojicha dreams come true in latest collab with Kyoto tea merchant
Kyoto’s 100 Demons yokai monster parade returns!
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to your favorite restaurant in Tsuruga City!
Hamburg and Hamburg Shibuya: A Japanese restaurant you need to put on your Tokyo itinerary
The oldest tunnel in Japan is believed to be haunted, and strange things happen when we go there
Where are all the beautiful women in Japan? Survey investigates
Korean tattoo artist’s small, simple, stylish “line tattoos” change our impression of getting inked
Real life yandere? Japanese man’s ex-girlfriend sneaks into his home, cooks up something crazy
Haku is…Chihiro’s dead brother? Studio Ghibli fans blown away by Spirited Away theory
Japanese Twitter reveals the secret to making the perfect “ahoge” for your cosplay wig 【Video】
Gacha gourmet — can we survive only eating meals that we pull a capsule toy replica version of?
New Japanese KitKat flavour, Sugar Butter Tree, is like cracking a chocolate tree branch