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The Pokémon Company has been pulling out all the stops for its 30th anniversary this year, including introducing a new Pikachu variant and a new line of Eeveelution merch, but that’s not all. As of February 5, the long-anticipated PokéPark Kanto, located about half an hour from the city centre inside amusement park Yomiuriland, is finally open.The sizable 26,000sqm PokéPark Kanto is split into two main sections – Sedge Town and the Pokémon Forest – and features themed food and drinks, rides and attractions, exclusive merch and hundreds of life-sized Pokémon. Read on for a more detailed rundown on what to expect once you’re inside, plus how to get tickets and our thoughts on the whole shebang. Photo by 前川貴行（ポケパークカントー提供） PokéPark Entrance Plaza After passing by the main entrance, you’ll come to the Pokémon Research Lab, a building with passageways on either side. The entrance on the right leads to Sedge Town, full of shops and attractions, while the left side leads to the Pokémon Forest, home to life-sized Pokémon statues interacting with their native habitat.But before even entering the venue proper, you’ll find something waiting for you: merch. Photo: Kisa Toyoshima Right across from the lab lies the cosy Daisuki Shop. Here you’ll find a staggeringly wide selection of Poké-merch ranging from plushies and raincoats to themed biscuits and soup mix. The shop features a heavy leaning towards OG Mons and not much representation for the other 800-plus pocket pals, but with...

In a city packed with global luxury brands, Intersect by Lexus - Tokyo stands out with its tasteful mix of style, comfort, music, art and food. The venue offers guests a sense of Lexus and the lifestyle it embodies, but it’s much more than a mere branding exercise. Here are just five of the many reasons to visit the space.

Planning a trip to Japan comes with no shortage of options. From brand-new facilities to seasonal attractions, the list can be tough to narrow down – especially for travellers seeking experiences that champion diversity, inclusion and sustainability alongside great design, culture and hospitality. Enter the Japan Travel Awards.  Now in their fifth year, the awards spotlight standout destinations and operators across the country, and in 2026 they’ve recognised 11 exceptional places and organisations that are setting new benchmarks for inclusive, responsible and welcoming tourism in Japan. The winners were selected by a panel of industry experts from 15 finalists, which were in turn chosen from a total of 206 entries. For a hefty serving of travel inspo, take a look at this year’s award-winning destinations and experiences below. Photo: Shiitake Creative Grand Prix Winner: Ryokan Ohana (Yanagawa, Fukuoka) Taking home the grand prize this year is Ryokan Ohana in Fukuoka. This incredible inn takes over a 400-year-old historic residence that's still run and maintained by the founding family. Its most distinctive feature is that it’s Japan’s only Nationally Designated Place of Scenic Beauty where guests can stay overnight – a rare chance to experience a cultural institution shaped by centuries of history and care. Beyond being a truly unique place to stay, the ryokan also stands out for its commitment to inclusivity and exceptional hospitality, offering an accessible heritage...

Tokyo deserves to be called the culinary capital of the world. It consistently beats all other cities in terms of Michelin stars, as well as by number and concentration of restaurants. In addition to its obvious role as the beating heart of Japanese cuisine both traditional and contemporary, the capital is a place where global food traditions come to be refined and reimagined, whether we’re talking classic French cooking, Neapolitan-style pizza or Chinese street food. In Tokyo, a centuries-old culinary legacy and a deep-seated respect for the seasons combine with impeccable service and obsessive attention to detail. Now, the glorious abundance of the capital’s food scene is being celebrated on a new platform. Launched on December 18 2025, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Go Tokyo Gourmet website is a one-stop hub for insight into eating in Tokyo. Set to feature a wealth of in-depth articles about the history of food in Tokyo, interviews with leading chefs, other food professionals and Tokyo Tourism Ambassadors, explainers on new developments in the local culinary scene and much more, the site is a delicious resource for anyone interested in eating, Tokyo or both. Here’s a quick preview of what you can expect to find on Go Tokyo Gourmet.

It might still be winter, but the arrival of the first sakura forecast gives those dreaming of cherry blossoms and warmer days something to look forward to. On February 5, the Japan Meteorological Corporation released its fourth cherry blossom forecast of 2026, giving us a good idea of when sakura season is expected to begin. The JMC forecast predicts the first flowering and full bloom dates of the popular somei yoshino variety of cherry blossoms for around 1,000 destinations across Japan. This highly anticipated forecast is based on temperature patterns from this past autumn and has been released slightly earlier than usual. The agency is also incorporating artificial intelligence to provide earlier dates, helping people plan their sakura trips more effectively. In Tokyo, the forecast has shifted by a couple days earlier with cherry blossoms now predicted to start flowering on March 20, with full bloom expected around March 28.   Photo: Japan Meteorological Corporation As for other popular destinations, Kyoto is expected to see initial bloom by March 24, reaching full bloom by April 1. Sapporo is predicted to start flowering from April 26, with full bloom by April 29, while Fukuoka is expected to see flowers by March 21, reaching full bloom by March 30. We'll continue to keep you posted as the forecast changes. The next update from the JMC is scheduled for February 19. In the meantime, you can enjoy the early blooming plum and winter cherry blossoms around Tokyo.  For a...

Izumi Tenku no Yu is a 24-hour spa directly connected to Haneda Airport Terminal 3, featuring around a dozen hot springs and baths. Relax in the outdoor bath while watching planes come and go, and even catch a glimpse of Mt Fuji on clear days. There are also plenty of couches and reclining chairs, plus dry, steam and stone saunas.  It costs ¥4,800 for adults (¥4,000 between 1am to 5am) and ¥2,000 for primary school students and under. The admission fee includes a face towel, bath towel and access to the entire facility. Those staying at Hotel Villa Fontine receive a ¥2,000 discount (¥1,000 for children). Note that baths are not available between 10am to 1pm daily, and that hotel guests have priority entering Izumi Tenku no Yu if the facility reaches capacity.

Time to whip out your favourite vitamin drinks to boost your immunity, folks. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government just announced a new influenza warning as of January 29. A previous warning had been issued in November, but was subsequently lifted as cases dropped. Now the warning is back again, making this the first time in 17 years that cases have risen past warning levels twice in a single season.Between January 19 and 25, cases reached 13.83 per medical facility, or a little above the recommended 10, prompting this week's warning. The government speculates the high number of cases – over 6,000 among schools and other facilities from September to now – is due to schools reopening, plus increased movement during the New Year holiday.It's hard to say when cases will drop again, so until then, you know the drill: wash your hands frequently with soap and water, disinfect surfaces, stay in well-ventilated areas, and if you're headed to one of next week's many Setsubun festival celebrations, you're likely gonna want to mask up.More from Time Out TokyoThese are Japan's 11 award-winning travel experiences for 2026Aoyama's beloved Apéro wine bar is backHere's the official Japan cherry blossom forecast for 2026 – updated Jan 22Japan's favourite puffed corn snack was just sold at auction for ¥1.15 millionIkea is closing its Harajuku and Shinjuku locations in February Want to be the first to know what’s cool in Tokyo? Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates from Tokyo and Japan.

With its 300 to 500 vendors, this is by far Tokyo’s biggest flea market and it takes place nearly every weekend in the parking lot of Oi Racecourse, also known as Tokyo City Keiba. With an extensive selection of goods, it’s not difficult to spend half a day here – and given the tempting prices, you definitely won’t leave empty-handed. Expect to find daily necessities, rare collector’s items, clothing, accessories, handmade goods, home decor, toys and even a small selection of antiques. And since shopping can be quite tiring, hungry bargain hunters can restore their energy levels by munching on light meals and snacks from food trucks onsite. Do note that the market will be cancelled in the case of rain. Check the event Instagram for the latest updates.

In a near future where the boundary between human and machine has become blurred beyond recognition, Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg operative, leads an elite public security unit tasked with combating cybercrime and terrorism in the fictional Kansai metropolis of New Port City. That, in a nutshell, is the premise of Masamune Shirow’s Ghost in the Shell, a franchise that since 1989 has gone from an obscure manga serialised in Young Magazine Pirate Edition to a global cultural reference point influencing cinema, contemporary art and digital culture as a whole. Revered for its dense visual detail, speculative technological realism and philosophical depth, Shirow’s creation hit the big time by way of multiple animated adaptations – from Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 original to Innocence and later series such as Stand Alone Complex – that would redefine the aesthetics and intellectual ambitions of anime worldwide. The entire anime history of one of Japan’s most influential sci-fi franchises can now be explored at Tokyo Node. Until April 5 2026, the Toranomon Hills venue hosts ‘Ghost in the Shell: The Exhibition’, the first major showcase to offer a comprehensive review of Ghost in the Shell as a cultural phenomenon. Reframing the question of humanity Conceived as a cross-sectional exploration, the exhibition brings together manga, animation, installation art, architecture and cutting-edge technology to reexamine a question that has defined Ghost in the Shell for more than three...

Visionary Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) transformed the landscape of modern architecture through his organic forms, bold innovations and deep reverence for nature. His iconic works, including Park Güell, Casa Batlló, Casa Milà and, above all, the Sagrada Família, remain enduring testaments to his genius, blending mathematics and faith into living architecture. Today, seven of his masterpieces are recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s passing and the completion of the Sagrada Família’s main tower, ‘Naked meets Gaudí’ at Warehouse Terrada offers a groundbreaking fusion of art, technology and scholarship. In official collaboration with the Gaudí Foundation, the immersive exhibition unveils Gaudí’s personal notebooks, letters, architectural tools and original blueprints, many on display for the first time worldwide. Through cutting-edge projection, participatory installations and interactive experiences, visitors are invited to step inside Gaudí’s creative universe; to touch, feel and co-create the harmony of nature and architecture that defined his vision. Bridging a century of imagination, the exhibition celebrates Gaudí as an architect of stone, but also as a designer of dreams, whose spirit continues to shape the future of art and design.