Politeness is not necessarily a good thing, and Japanese politeness, as famous as it is, can cause headaches for non-Japanese who don’t truly understand it.

Nestled somewhere in remote Shimokita Peninsula, the northernmost part of the main island of Japan, lies a place said to the gateway to hell – Osorezan, or “Fear Mountain”.

Most countries in the world sell souvenirs, mainly to tourists - domestic or otherwise. But perhaps none can compare to Japan in terms of variety and volume when it comes to souvenirs. In addition, the Japanese are masters of souvenir marketing strategy.

Find out about some eye-opening facts about “omijuki”, or fortune telling paper, in this week's article. What country are omikuji produced in? Hint: The answer is not Japan... Even most Japanese are not aware of this, so be one of the first few in the world to find out!

Japan is full of delicious and visually appealing food, and you can usually find a tasty meal in any part of the country. But one particular dish in a certain area in Kyushu has perhaps the most fun way to eat it…

In this article, find out some bite-sized information on a very famous old Japanese fable. But that's not all – learn about the actual places in Japan where this legend was based on. Yup, they are tourist attractions...

Alrighty, this week's article is a double issue of sorts - you get information on not one, but two places of interests with very contrasting atmospheres – located in Matsumoto City and Matsushiro Town in Nagano Prefecture, Central Japan. Check it out!

On the streets of Akihabara, the otaku heaven, several girls can be seen handing out flyers to passers-by, trying to attract customers to the cafes they work at. Sounds pretty normal, except that they’re dressed in maid costumes, and they work at what are called maid cafes.

How well can you communicate with Japanese people? If you’re not familiar with the language spoken by young Japanese, then the answer is - you’re not quite there yet.

Vending machines are not unique to Japan. There are so many vending machines around the world. So what makes Japanese vending machines special?