What’s New in Japan for 2019

In Shiga Prefecture you can experience a life-sized imagining of the world from the stop-motion series Shaun the Sheep. Opened in March 2019 at Rose & Berry Tawada, this theme park has charming buildings from the series, like the Farmer’s House and the Sheep Barn.

You can also dine in a cafe full of English atmosphere along the hillside and find adorable statues of the main characters around the farm grounds. There are plenty of photo ops, as well as special areas that offer things like puppet shows and exhibits on Aardman Animations, which brought Shaun to life. Fans of the animated series should definitely check it out!


URL:http://www.rb-tawada.com/en/farm-map/shaun.html

Shaun the Sheep Farm Garden

Shaun the Sheep Farm Garden

Shaun the Sheep Farm Garden

Shaun the Sheep Farm Garden

ひつじのショーン ファームガーデン

5.0

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滋賀県米原市多和田605-10

0749542323

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On July 26th, 2019, Fuji-Q Highland amusement park opens a section of the park based on the world from Naruto and Boruto. Inside the area you’ll find a 3D Shooting Ride, plus a restaurant designed on the ramen shop Ichiraku—Naruto’s favorite place to grab a bowl. The Naruto fandom continues with other attractions like a photo studio and arcade corner that feature all your favorite characters from the intensely popular animated series.

Be sure to pick up the original Naruto and Boruto items sold at the shop for a great present to commemorate your time in the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

URL:https://www.fujiq.jp/en/special/201812_narutoboruto/

NARUTO × BORUTO FUJI Hidden Leaf Village

NARUTO × BORUTO FUJI Hidden Leaf Village

Fuji-Q Highland

Yamanashi Pref. Fujiyoshidashi Shinnishihara 5-6-1

0555-23-2111

9:00-17:00*Changes depending…

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Fuji-Q Highland E-Tickets

¥6,900

Update date：2023/10/04

A new attraction in the Mediterranean Harbor is waiting for you at Tokyo DisneySea starting July 23rd, 2019. Look for the historical Italian buildings perched on top of a small hill to get to the attraction. The experience is meant to simulate flight, and you’ll witness real videos of faraway places, along with the wind and scents that accompany them.

Soaring: Fantastic Flight is DisneySea’s version of a popular attraction at other parks in America, but there are plans to add Tokyo DisneySea-specific scenes to the ride.

URL:https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/treasure/soaring/

Soaring: Fantastic Flight at Tokyo DisneySea

Tokyo Disney Sea

Chiba Pref. Urayasushi Maihama 1-1

0570008632

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Tokyo Disneyland Direct-Entry Tickets (1-Day Pass)

¥11,235

Update date：2023/10/04

Yokohama Hammerhead is a commercial complex consisting of a shopping mall, a luxury hotel, and a cruise terminal all located on a pier. The shopping complex is based on the theme of food, and the factory-like atmosphere is meant to be reminiscent of a remodeled harbor warehouse. The InterContinental Yokohama Pier8 hotel will occupy the upper 3 floors, but there are cafes and restaurants that’ll allow you to enjoy a meal or tea time overlooking the pier.

The complex is expected to begin opening in October 2019.

Yokohama Hammerhead

Yokohama Hammerhead

Yokohama Hammerhead

4.0

32 Reviews

Kanagawa Yokohama-shi Naka-ku Shinko 2-14-1

0452118080

Varies by store

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Parco will be opening its newest location in Shibuya late November 2019. And it’s a department store like you’ve never seen before. Designed around the concept of a next-generation shopping complex, the architecture is whimsical, sophisticated, and modern. The angled planes, green spaces, and sheer windows give an inspired impression, and the individual floors are the creations of famous Japanese designers.

Around 180 shops will fill the new complex, and it’s all built around 5 themes: Fashion, Art & Culture, Entertainment, Food, and Technology. Expect a cinema, a theater, and even a terrace to occupy the same building as the biggest names in retail. Parco Shibuya is built for the future.

URL:https://shibuya.parco.jp/teaser/

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What’s New in Tokyo for 2019 : 21 Must-Visit Destinations
Tokyo is one of the world’s greatest cities and never fails to attract visitors to its ex-plore its high-energy streets, world-class museums and unique culture. ” …

Shibuya Parco

Shibuya Parco

Parco Shibuya Parco Part I 6F Parco Factory

Tokyo Shibuya-ku Shinsencho 15-1

0334775873

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Shiroi Koibito Park

Boasting over 750,000 visitors a year, Shiroi Koibito Park in Sapporo, Hokkaido reopened on July 12, 2019, after renovations were completed. This popular theme park is based on the idea of “chocolate entertainment,” and you can view the factory for the Shiroi Koibito white chocolate wafer treats—often bought as a souvenir from Hokkaido. The park now features a projection mapping show displaying the history of chocolate, plus an updated cafe with original dessert creations.

Other experiences include making your own Shiroi Koibito and photo spots in colorful gardens decorated with statues of sweets. Don’t forget to pick up your limited edition souvenirs at the shop!

URL:https://www.shiroikoibitopark.jp/

Shiroi Koibito Park

Shiroi Koibito Park

Shiroi Koibito Park

Hokkaido Sapporoshi Nishi-ku Miyanosawanijou 2-11-36

0116661481

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Those familiar with Baby Star Ramen, the dried ramen snack food found all over Japan, will want to check out Oyatsu Town. Opened on July 20, 2019, this combined theme park and Baby Star Ramen factory has a 3-story play area for all ages, making it one of the largest play spaces in Japan. In addition to the play area, there’s a space to make your own flavor of Baby Star and a shop where you can get Baby Star items only available in the park.

There’s also an athletic space where the kids can try reenacting 6 different Olympic sports, like bouldering, golf, and ping pong.

URL:https://oyatsu.town/

Oyatsu Town

Oyatsu Town

Oyatsu Town

O Yatsu Town

Mie Tsu-shi Moricho 1945-11

0592551082

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Universal Studios Japan, or USJ, has recently upped its game with new-age attractions.Sing On Tour is a high energy performance with cutting-edge animatronics singing your favorite songs and inviting you to join along, creating a surreal concert vibe meant to have you on your feet.

Sing On Tour

Sing On Tour

The theme park’s first dining theater, Peacock Theater, opens in September 2019, and will feature exclusive performances and entertainment for groups and events. Lastly, the World Street Festival is a park-wide series of live performances featuring songs and dances from around the world. Guests are invited to join in on the fun whenever they see a performance happening.

URL:https://www.usj.co.jp/e/

Peacock Theater

Peacock Theater

Universal Studios Japan

4.0

10821 Reviews

Osaka Osakashi Konohana-ku Sakurajima 2-1-33

0570200606

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Anpanman is a popular Japanese children’s character based on anpan, or a red bean paste bun. The location in Yokohama moved on July 7th, 2019, and the new space allows for even more Anpanman action.

There’s a main stage where they hold daily events such as Anpanman’s face off with Baikinman. Here you’ll get to see the whole Anpanman crew! Don’t forget about the dynamic balloon show, which is a real treat. In addition to the faithfully recreated world of Anpan on the second and third floors, the first floor has a free area that houses a restaurant and a shop with a selection of Anpanman products.

URL:http://museum.anpanman-acm.co.jp/en/

Yokohama Anpanman Children’s Museum

Yokohama Anpanman Children’s Museum

Biwako Hakodateyama Yurien

Opened in June 2019, Biwako Hakodateyama Yurien (or Biwako Hakodateyama Lily Garden) is an impressive park that offers breathtaking natural views. The Sky Lily Train is a slow-moving locomotive that lets you see fields of lilies and Biwa Lake. Then there’s Lamp, a parfait specialty shop in an intimate space illuminated by hanging lights; the sweets are served in lamp-like holders.

Takashima chijimi is a type of traditional cloth dating back to the Edo period, and streams of it are fashioned into an outdoor rainbow curtain dangling in the wind.

If you take the gondola up to 627 meters above sea level, then you can see 2,500,000 lilies in bloom. From the mountain peak at 680 meters you can see Biwa Lake and Mount Ibuki along with the vibrant assortment of lilies, all in one amazing panorama.

URL:https://www.hakodateyama.com/green/

Biwako Hakodateyama Yurien

Biwako Hakodateyama Yurien

Hakodateyama Ski Resort

Shiga Takashima-shi Imazucho Hiokimae 4201-4

0740222486

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Sitting at an altitude of 1,400 meters, Hakuba Mountain Beach is a beach-style resort high in the mountains. The facilities available include saunas in gondola cars and a spacious terrace that overlooks the Yatsugatake Mountains and Mount Asama 100 km away. There are also dining areas and a bar where you can try locally sourced dishes and drinks before relaxing in a hammock. The main attraction is the view though; it’s an amazing mountain panorama that you won’t forget.
It’s scheduled to open from July 26th to October 27th, but there are also plans to open during the winter, too.

URL:https://www.nsd-hakuba.jp/hakuba-mountain-beach/hmb/index.html

Hakuba Mountain Beach

Hakuba Mountain Beach

Hakuba Mountain Beach

Hakuba Mountain Beach

長野県北安曇郡白馬村北城4487-12 うさぎ平テラス屋上

0261723280

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San-A Parco City is an expansive shopping complex that boasts 250 stores within its premises, making it Okinawa’s largest mall. Recently opened on July 1st 2019, Parco City is a quick 15-minute drive from Naha Airport, so it’s an easy stopover for those coming or going to the prefecture.

Inside you can find almost anything, from food to fashion to electronics, and 50 of the shops are local to Okinawa. It’s a place where you can find all the standard brands plus lots of Okinawa flavor under one roof. Happy shopping!

URL:https://www.parcocity.jp.e.ahn.hp.transer.com/

San-A Urasoe Nishikaigan Parco

San-A Urasoe Nishikaigan Parco

San-A Urasoe Nishi-kaigan PARCO CITY (Parco City)

Okinawa Urasoe-shi Irijima 3-1-1

098-871-1120

10:00-22:00 *Some stores/fac…

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BEB5 Karuizawa is a hotel designed on the idea of kicking back with your friends. Aimed at those in their 20s and 30s, the hotel’s open-air lounge, Tamariba, is proof of concept, offering a low-key place to relax at all hours. Then there are fun activities like Ice Table Hockey and making hot wine over a Swedish torch (a round log that burns from the center). Dining options are also available, including baked apples and French toast, so you can spend time with friends and not worry about where to eat. BEB5 Karuizawa has been welcoming happy travelers since February 2019.

URL:https://www.hoshinoresorts.com/resortsandhotels/uniquehotels/bebkaruizawa.html

Hoshino Resorts BEB5

Hoshino Resorts BEB5

Hoshino Resorts BEB5

星野リゾート BEB5 軽井沢(2019年2月5日グランドオープン)

長野県北佐久郡軽井沢町大字長倉3364-15

0570073022

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Q Plaza is Ikebukuro’s newest landmark. Housed in the entertainment complex’s 16 floors is the Grand Cinema Sunshine, which has 4DX with ScreenX technology. That means there are 3 projection screens for 270 degrees of movie madness, in addition to the motion-enhanced seats combined with wind, water, and scents offered by regular 4DX experiences. It’s the first of its kind in Japan.

You’ll also find the latest games and VR technologies at Plaza Capcom, an arcade and amusement center.

The Awesome Store & Café, with New York decor and an open atmosphere, offers a variety of retail and dining options for affordable prices.

Plus, the rooftop has a Batting Center, for all the baseball fans out there.

URL:https://www.q-plaza.jp/ikebukuro/

Grand Cinema Sunshine

Grand Cinema Sunshine

Grand Cinema Sunshine

Q Plaza Ikebukuro

Q plaza Ikebukuro

Tokyo Toshima-ku Higashi-ikebukuro 1-30-3

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Celebrating the world of the Moomins created by Finnish writer, Tove Jansson, MoominValley is set to open in March 2019 in Hanno, Saitama. It complements the Metsä Village, which opened in November 2018 to showcase the Nordic lifestyle and atmosphere of Scandinavia. MoominValley will feature a range of exciting attractions, such as replicas of the bathing house and lighthouse from the books, as well as exhi-bitions where you can delve into the creative mind of Tove Jansson.

Article: Metsa Village in Saitama

URL：https://metsa-hanno.com/en/　(metsä Official)

Opening of MoominValley

Opening of MoominValley

Opening of MoominValley

Moomin Valley Park

3.0

149 Reviews

Saitama Hanno-shi Miyazawa 327-6 Metsa

0570031066

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Moominvalley Park 1-Day Pass Advance E-Ticket 200 JPY OFF vs Same-Day Tickets Sold Onsite!

¥3,000

Update date：2023/10/04

Opened at the end of February in the Osaka Bay Tower Complex, the Solaniwa Onsen is a gorgeous new hot spring facility where visitors are invited to relax and rejuvenate. It’s designed like an old-fashioned town from the Azuchi-Momoyama era while drawing on Japanese modernity in its various baths and wellness facilities. Aside from soaking in the therapeutic spring waters, you can indulge with a body scrub, massage or beauty treatment.

URL：https://www.solaniwa.com/

Solaniwa Onsen

Solaniwa Onsen

Solaniwa Onsen

Soraniwa Onsen OSAKA BAY TOWER

4.0

3 Reviews

Osaka Osaka-shi Minato-ku Benten1-2-3

0676705126

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Bringing together escape games, recreational courts and children’s play areas, Asobuild is an exciting new entertainment facility in Yokohama. It’s been developed with the latest technology and drawing on a range of innovative ideas and experience-based content to create a destination like no other. It combines culture, creativity and technology, not to mention a gourmet street boasting some of the city’s best eateries.

URL：https://www.navitime.co.jp/poi?spt=02022.1296090

Asobuild

Asobuild

Asobuild

Asobuild

ASOBUILD

Kanagawa Yokohama-shi Nishi-ku Takashima 2-14-9

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Scheduled to open in March 2019, the new Shimojishima Airport Passenger Terminal in Miyakojima City will bring an influx of tourists to Okinawa. New low-cost flights are planned from Narita with Jetstar while Vanilla Air and Peach will also offer addi-tional routes to Ishigaki Island. The airport has been designed as a zero energy build-ing and with advanced environmentally-friendly features, as well as being the first airport in Japan to be built with cross-laminated timber.

Shimochi Airport

Shimochi Airport

Jetstar

Shimojishima Airport

Okinawa Pref

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With Crown Prince Naruhito succeeding to the throne on May 1, there’s been talk of designating a special 10-day holiday to mark the occasion. April 29 and May 3-6 are already planned national holidays. But if May 1 is designated as a national holiday, then April 30 and May 2 would become public holidays by default and the weekend of April 27-28 would result in an extended period of leave for the nation’s workers.

Article: Japanese Holidays and Events for 2019

Imperial Palace

Calendar Of Japan Holidays Year 2019

Held every three years, the Setouchi Triennale is set to ignite the islands of the Seto Inland Sea again in 2019, making it an ideal time to visit. This contemporary arts fes-tival showcases a variety of works by both Japanese and international artists that uti-lize abandoned homes around the islands. The Triennale lasts for eight months from spring to fall, with a spring session, a summer session and a fall session.

Article: Art Island Hopping Through Megijima, Ogijima, and Shodoshima

URL：https://setouchi-artfest.jp/en/　(Setouchi Triennale 2019 Official)

Setouchi Triennale 2019

Teshima

Kagawa Shozu-gun Tonoshocho

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The vermillion O-torii Gate is one of the most recognizable structures in Hiroshima and forms part of the famous Itsukushima Shrine. But from June 2019, it will be covered in scaffolding as renovations works begin, which are expected to continue until August 2020. Aside from repainting the torii, structural repair work will also be carried out and visitors planning on traveling to Miyajima should keep this in mind.

Itsukushima Shrine

Kyaku Jinja

Hiroshima Hatsukaichi-shi Miyajimacho 1-1

0829442020

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In July of this year, a new accommodation facility will open at the gate of Eiheiji Temple in Fukui, one of two main temples of the Sōtō school of Zen Buddhism in Japan. It’s being created for guests to experience the world of Zen and the practice of Zen ascetics. Aside from Western and Japanese-style rooms, the accommodation will also include large public baths and a restaurant serving Seishin cuisine.

URL：https://daihonzan-eiheiji.com/

Hakujukan　Image

Hakujukan　Image

Hakujukan　Image

Eihei-ji Temple

Fukui Pref. Yoshidaguneiheijichou Shihi 10-5

0776633102

8:30-16:30

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Held in Aichi Prefecture every three years, the Aichi Triennale is one of the largest international art festivals in Japan. It’s scheduled to take place again between August and October this year, featuring both traditional and more contemporary forms of art. The Aichi Triennale brings together artists from not only Japan but also abroad and centers around the three cities of Nagoya, Okazaki and Toyohashi.

URL：https://www.legoland.jp/

Lego® Ninjago® World

Lego® Ninjago® World

Lego® Ninjago® World

LEGOLAND Japan Resort

3.5

651 Reviews

Aichi Nagoya-shi Minato-ku Kinjofuto 2-2-1

0570058605

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LEGOLAND® Japan Nagoya E-Tickets

¥472,500

Update date：2023/10/04

Held in Aichi Prefecture every three years, the Aichi Triennale is one of the largest international art festivals in Japan. It’s scheduled to take place again between August and October this year, featuring both traditional and more contemporary forms of art. The Aichi Triennale brings together artists from not only Japan but also abroad and centers around the three cities of Nagoya, Okazaki and Toyohashi.

URL：https://aichitriennale.jp/

Aichi Triennale

Aichi Triennale

Aichi Triennale

The Rugby World Cup 2019 will be taking place in Japan from 20 September to 2 November 2019, with the world’s best congregating to battle it out on this interna-tional stage. As rugby fever sweeps the country, Japan will also be hosting two Pacif-ic Nations Cup 2019 matches in preparation for the Rugby World Cup, with the Brave Blossoms playing Tonga in Hanazono and the current world champions, Fiji, in Kamaishi.

URL：https://setouchi-artfest.jp/en/　(Rugby World Cup 2019 Official)

Shibuya Center Street

The Rugby World Cup 2019 Official Goods

The Rugby World Cup 2019 Official Goods

Registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018, the Goto Islands in the East China Sea are set to lure visitors from both Japan and abroad to discover their spec-tacular coastal scenery, fascinating history and Christian landmarks. As Christianity was banned by the Tokugawa Shogunate from the 17th to 19th centuries, persecuted Christians moved from Nagasaki to these remote islands where they continued to practice their religion in secret.

Article: Churches of the Goto Islands

Goto Island UNESCO World Heritage Site

Goto Island UNESCO World Heritage Site

Gotofukue Airport

Nagasaki Pref

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As Tokyo readies itself for hosting the Summer Olympics in 2020, the city is trans-forming with a number of new developments and upgrades. The purpose-built Toyo-su Fish Market has recently opened to replace the long-standing Tsukuji Market while the Shibuya Scramble is being enhanced with a skyscraper observation deck. The Toranomon area is also seeing a facelift with a new station and several high-rise con-structions taking place.

Continue to change Shibuya

Continue to change Shibuya

Since opening its doors in Tokyo, the Henna-na Hotel (the first hotel in the world to be staffed by robots) is expanding, with new locations planned in Fukuoka, Osaka, Kyoto and Kanazawa. Be greeted by multi-lingual robots who’ll help you check in before registering with a face recognition system that acts as your room key. So if you’re looking for a completely unique and quirky way to stay, make your reserva-tion now.

URL：http://www.h-n-h.jp/en/　(Henn na Hotel Official)

Henna-na Hotel Hamamatsucho

Henna-na Hotel Hamamatsucho