Well, it looks like train fans in Japan have something to be excited about — the real-life Thomas the Tank Engine, which has already attracted considerable attention on the Internet and media, is now in service! The Thomas steam locomotive, designed with a large face in the front to quite accurately recreate the well-known children’s character, started on its very first journey on July 12 with about 560 passengers on board. And since we knew this was a ride that would be sure to delight kids as well as adult train fans, one of the reporters from our Japanese site traveled to Shizuoka Prefecture in the center of Honshu, the main island, to see the “real Thomas” on his very first day in operation!
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
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
Starbucks reopens at Shibuya Scramble Crossing with new look and design concept
Beautiful Sailor Moon manhole cover coasters being given out for free by Tokyo tourist center
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to your favorite restaurant in Tsuruga City!
All-you-can-eat sashimi from Tokyo’s fish market, convenient location make this budget hotel great
Randomly running into a great sushi lunch like this is one of the best things about eating in Tokyo
Beautiful, intricate drawings of snowflakes from Edo-era Japan
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
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to your favorite restaurant in Tsuruga City!
All-you-can-eat sashimi from Tokyo’s fish market, convenient location make this budget hotel great
Randomly running into a great sushi lunch like this is one of the best things about eating in Tokyo
Beautiful, intricate drawings of snowflakes from Edo-era Japan
Steam Garden: Tokyo’s steampunk festival might be better than a Victorian time machine
Virtual YouTuber anime girl offers breast milk feeding session as part of crowdfunding campaign
Haku is…Chihiro’s dead brother? Studio Ghibli fans blown away by Spirited Away theory
It’s like the samurai era never ended at this beautiful Japanese mountain town
Father and son dissect a gachapon capsule toy machine to show us its magical insides【Video】
New Japanese KitKat flavour, Sugar Butter Tree, is like cracking a chocolate tree branch
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
New Japanese KitKat flavour stars Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty