Happy New Year from SoraNews24!

Wishing a warm start to 2026 to our community of readers from around the world.  

Happy New Year, SoraNews24 readers around the globe!

After 12 months of wild adventures that took us from the top of a Japanese volcano right through to the Osaka Expo, all while catching Pokémon doughnuts and breathtaking illuminations along the way, we’re buzzing with excitement to flip the calendar over with you to 2026.

With 2026 being the Year of the Horse, we’ll be galloping into the next 12 months with even more discoveries you won’t find anywhere else, like tips on where to find the most unusual sushi meals, and of course, the best matcha finds, that may or may not include 7-Eleven burritos. ​

A massive thank you for diving into our stories – whether you’re chasing Mt Fuji views without the climb, pondering thug wear purchases, looking for under-the-radar hotels and little-known foods, or following up on all the latest Sanrio collaborations, your clicks, shares, and comments fuel our daily grind to bring Japan’s coolest news straight to you.

Wishing you all a fantastic year ahead filled with fun times, tasty treats, and unexpected joys – no matter where you are in the world. We’ll be back tomorrow, with the latest scoop on all things Japan. Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!​

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Nagoya’s dark-red miso has continued to capture tastebuds for generations

 

One taste and lighter varieties may never be enough for you again.

If your idea of miso is a light-colored soup, gentle and mild in flavor, then Nagoya would very much like to have a word with you. Miso in Japan’s central Tokai region, consisting of Aichi, Gifu, and Mie Prefectures, is much bolder and far more intense than its more frequently seen counterparts in the rest of the country. Red miso, or “akamiso”, as it’s called in Japanese, can certainly be found nationwide, but it’s a specific type of soybean akamiso that is beloved by so many in Nagoya, Aichi, and the wider Tokai area.

▼ For many Nagoyans, this miso soup is too pale.

“Red miso” is a broad label for miso that is darker in color as a result of a longer fermentation process and a moderate-to-high salt content, when compared to the lower-salt and short-fermented rice misos. Most miso in Japan is made by mixing soybeans and salt with malted rice, or malted barley if you’re on the islands of Shikoku and Kyushu, and both types can come in white and red colorations. Red rice miso has made quite the name for itself in places like Sendai and Hokkaido, and is delicious in its own right, but the umami of the pure soybean miso, called mamemiso, is on another level.

▼ But it’s this dark soybean miso, made from just soybeans and salt, that’s at the heart of Nagoyan cuisine.

The most famous example of soybean miso is Hatcho miso, which has been produced since the early 1600s in what is now Okazaki City, just a short train ride from Nagoya.

▼ Like this Hatcho Miso made by Ichibiki, a company based in Aichi

Despite having a simple recipe of just soybeans and salt, the production process for Hatcho miso can take one-to-three years, and sometimes more. Soybeans are packed tight into giant wooden vats, weighed down by heavy stones, and are left to ferment. The result is the dense, dark paste that is so beloved by Nagoya, low in sweetness, high in umami, and slightly bitter.

So, how is it that Nagoya steered clear of the rice miso that is prevalent elsewhere in Japan? Well, part of it is due to geography. Even compared to the rest of Japan, Nagoya has especially hot, humid summers and dry winters, a climate that is well-suited to long fermentation, which normally poses quite a challenge for food preservation, including rice miso. Back when preserving food was more difficult, rice miso was quick to spoil in the region, which meant soybean miso, due to its longer fermentation process that makes it less likely to spoil, was more heavily favored.

Another part is the area’s history, with local samurai warlord and eventual unifier of Japan Tokugawa Ieyasu valuing miso as a long-lasting, protein-rich food, which was perfect for feeding armies. As the years passed, this soybean miso became a staple of the region, shaping local tastes and dishes to become the Nagoya of today.

Unlike other regional dishes, which may be famous but eaten only on special occasions, this soybean miso has ingrained itself into daily life, often finding its place on the daily dinner table in the form of miso soup, the slow-cooked dote-ni, consisting of beef tendon or offal slowly simmered in miso, or countless other variations of household cooking.

▼ Dote-ni

▼ Miso dengaku: cooked vegetables and tofu topped with a sweet and salty miso glaze

For tourists to the area, by far the easiest way to encounter it is by ordering miso katsu, a dish of crispy tonkatsu (pork cutlet) topped with a rich, soybean miso-based sauce, at a local restaurant, like the famous chain Yabaton.

▼ Waraji Tonkatsu Teishoku is a taster dish at Yabaton, consisting of two different types of miso katsu: one in the style of miso-ni where the miso is mixed with a broth for a delicious seasoning of the entire katsu, and the other closer to a miso sauce spread on top for a more impactful flavor, like in miso dengaku.

Or perhaps in miso nikomi udon, where firm udon noodles are simmered until piping hot in a Hatcho miso-based broth.

Japan has many misos to love, but the soybean-based akamiso is something special. For many people in Nagoya and central Tokai, it’s long been a mainstay in their diet. To them, miso is not a light and sweet flavor, but instead a bold and rich food that captures both the stomach and the heart.

Related: Yabaton
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We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district

It’s truly an oasis of calm away from the hustle and bustle of Shinjuku…in Shinjuku.

We never knew that Keiunso, whose name translates to “auspicious cloud manor,” was practically right under our noses this whole time. A four-minute walk from Shinjuku Station‘s South Exit, the hotel’s main selling point is its almost unbelievable quietness despite being right next to the world’s busiest rail station in terms of daily passengers. That, plus its traditional Japanese-style accommodations for 8,000 yen (US$51.15) for a single room or 14,000 yen for a twin room, made us curious enough to book a room on a recent night when we knew we would be out late in the area after our annual SoraNews24 end-of-the-year party.

First off, it was a treat not needing to catch the train after a long night of celebrating. We started walking from Shinjuku Station’s South Exit, and within moments the atmosphere of the neighborhood had changed from the loud sounds of a station to relative stillness. We easily found Keiunso just a bit off of a main street.

Standing outside, the entryway gave off a warm and welcoming vibe right from the start.

We checked in and made our way to our room.

What would be waiting for us inside…?

It was a Japanese-style tatami mat room with a traditional futon bed. Yes, it was small, but it was very calming. We would take this over a capsule hotel any day.

There was also a small TV in a little nook.

The bathroom was also small but had all of the amenities we would need, including a private shower.

A lovely gesture was the presence of hojicha tea waiting for us, just like you might find at a high-end traditional Japanese-style inn.

The amenities may have been as a basic as they come, but all of the little touches really added up.

There was even a room yukata for lounging in.

Keiunso actually has a curfew of midnight out of respect for its guests, so the interior was very quiet late at night. It also felt like a place where solo women or travelers new to Tokyo would feel safe and secure. In fact, we even saw that there’s a dedicated reservation plan for students preparing for entrance exams who need to cut out all other distractions.

Checkout was at 10 a.m. the following morning. From the hotel, it was only a 15-minute walk to the SoraNews24 offices, so we enjoyed an easy morning commute for once.

All in all, the privacy and restfulness at Keiunso was way better than staying at a capsule hotel where you have shared bathroom facilities and can often hear your neighbors coming and going. We were really able to unwind in peace. While not ideal for those who don’t know when they’ll be getting in late at night, it makes for a perfect stay for those who want a quiet spot to turn in early and feel fully recharged the next morning for whatever crazy antics your boss has planned for you the next day.

Hotel information
Keiunso / 景雲荘
Address: Tokyo-to, Shibuya-ku, Yoyogi 2-4-2
東京都渋谷区代々木 2-4-2
Website

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Japanese thug wear from Birth Japan perfect for those breaking bad next year

Becoming a Japanese street tough might just be the change of pace you need.

They say the new year is a time for new beginnings. For some of us, that might mean graduations, weddings, or new jobs, but for others it might mean a descent into the seedy underworld of crime and violence. That’s not the kind of thing you just jump into with both feet, though. First, you have to look the part.

For a long time, our writer Masanuki Sunakoma has always longed to shed off the conventions of society and rebel against it by making his own rules and asserting his dominance over others through might and cunning. He can never quite work up the nerve, however, and even after purchasing authentic clothing used by Japanese delinquents, he always hesitates to cross that thin line between law-abiding citizen and sword-toting yakuza enforcer.

Then again, 2025 has been quite the year that could drive anyone to the dark side, so he decided to try once more by getting a Hey Punk! Ensemble Lucky Bag for 5,478 yen (US$35) from Birth Japan, the nation’s leading wholesaler of clothing tailored exclusively to ne’er-do-wells.

This was a Japanese lucky bag, which usually consists of a variety of goods beyond just clothing. This one contained two copies of the Kachikomi catalog, where you can buy more underworld outfits. “Kachikomi” is a Japanese slang term that means something like a “bumrush” or to “run up on” someone in the sense of one gang rushing into another’s office or turf to start trouble.

It is assumed that once you try on these forbidden clothes and get a taste for the criminal life, you’ll naturally want to fill your entire closet with them. Also, it’s hard for these kinds of fashion houses to operate through brick-and-mortar stores, because the man is always keeping them down.

▼ Hope you like black and gold!

It also came with three packets of tissues, presumably to wipe other people’s blood off your knuckles. They each had a different homicidal maniac on the package saying things such as “I’m exercisin’ my right to remain silent,” and “I ain’t know nuttin’ about that.”

But the centerpiece to any Birth Japan lucky bag is always the clothes. This year, Masanuki’s outfit came courtesy of Diamond, which is currently having a sale to celebrate the 21st anniversary of their president’s arrest.

It was covered in cherry blossom petals, crackles of lightning, and dragons. These are all very common themes in this kind of clothing, but what really made Masanuki’s outfit stand out and truly live up to the name of an “Ensemble” was that the dragons extended all the way from the top to the bottoms.

After putting it on, our writer immediately felt the fiery eyes of his friends and foes alike, all plotting his demise in order to either secure their own seat at the table or get revenge for the many terrible things he’s done. So, he stepped out into the hallway.

Despite the ever-present threat to his life, he also felt at one with the moment. He was a free spirit and unrestrained by the arbitrary rules he never agreed to abide by in the first place.

▼ He’s blocking the elevator door, and he don’t care!

Even though there were no women in the hallway at that moment, Masanuki would be certain that their eyes would all be fixated on him. He was the type of man who would break a dizzy dame’s heart, only to have her coming back for more.

Yes, he felt on the verge of finally entering into the underworld of Tokyo and begin his ascent to the highest ranks of a criminal organization. If only he’d have the guts to step outside wearing those clothes…

▼ No one had the heart to tell him he isn’t even squatting right.

Perhaps if he had gotten the long-sleeved version of this same ensemble, he would have had that extra shot of courage. Unfortunately, it was sold out, which really surprised our writer since he’d never seen anyone wear anything remotely like this out in public in his life.

Still, there is a vast black-and-gold ocean of villainous clothing that can be had from Birth Japan. So, if you really want to switch gears in 2026, dressing like a goon from the land of the rising sun is a pretty good way to go about it.

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Japan’s oldest largetooth sawfish in captivity back on display in Mie Prefecture

You say you saw fish, but have you seen a sawfish?

Nature sometimes has the same sensibilities as I did as a seven-year-old drawing pictures. It seems at some point both of us had the idea that sharks are cool and all, but what if you took a shark and put a big chainsaw-like thing on its face?

The answer is a sawfish, and while it’s not really a chainsaw nor is it really a shark, these rays are still pretty cool. Unfortunately, they’re also critically endangered species and desperately in need of preservation efforts. In fact, the two species that were known to inhabit the waters of Japan are believed to have gone extinct.

And because they’re no longer in Japan and are a highly protected species, it is very rare for an aquarium in Japan to be able to care for one. One such facility is Zero Distance Ise Sea Paradise in the city of Ise, Mie Prefecture. Not only are they special for having a sawfish, but they currently have the longest-lived largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis) in captivity in Japan and possibly the world.

▼ A news report from five years ago celebrating the fish’s 33rd anniversary at the aquarium.

This female was brought to the aquarium in 1987, making her at least 38 years old, but when she first arrived, the longest a Japanese aquarium had been able to keep a largetooth sawfish alive for was still under 100 days. Her longevity is thanks to a better understanding of these fish’s needs and habits.

She is currently a healthy 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) long, weighs 75 kilograms (165 pounds), and still eats regularly while maintaining an active lifestyle. Sea Paradise has also recently finished a new enclosure that’s better suited for the sawfish to help ensure she continues to live a long time. During construction, the fish was kept in the back and away from the public eye, but from 13 December, she made her triumphant return to the spotlight.

To celebrate the occasion, the aquarium will also be holding feeding explanation sessions, where they use an actual sawfish’s saw to demonstrate how it’s used to swat down prey or dig through the sand on the ocean floor.

As its name implies, Zero Distance Ise Sea Paradise specializes in up-close and hands-on exhibits, so visitors will also get a chance to touch the sample sawfish nose. And, of course, their other animals like walruses, penguins, otters, and spotted seals can be seen up close too.

Hopefully, their ability to preserve these fish will continue to improve, and they can be pulled back from the brink of extinction. I’d hate to see them get wiped off the face of the Earth like the rocket sharks were. I mean, I have to assume nature came up with that one too.

Aquarium information
Zero Distance Aquarium Ise Sea Paradise / ゼロ距離水族館 伊勢シーパラダイス
Address: Mie-ken, Ise-shi, Futamichoe 580
三重県伊勢市二見町江580
Open 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (5 p.m. weekends & holidays)
Admission: 600 to 2,800 yen depending on age
Website

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Beautiful sightseeing boat is a floating tea ceremony venue in east Japan’s best hot spring town

Daichakai sets sail in Hakone.

Nestled in the mountains of Kanagawa Prefecture, the town of Hakone makes for a great weekend or overnight trip from the Tokyo area. In addition to some of east Japan’s best hot springs, Hakone boats beautiful scenery, and a trip across Lake Ashinoko is a must-do for the views of the surrounding forests and, on clear days, Mt. Fuji.

On our most recent trip to Hakone, though, it wasn’t just the views from our boat that were beautiful, but the views of the boat itself too.

The Daichakai went into service on December 20. While not a completely newly constructed vessel, this remodeling of an existing Lake Ashinoko sightseeing boat was so extensive that it’s been given a new name. Written with the kanji characters 大茶会, Daichakai means “Grand Tea Ceremony,” and yes, the theme is tea.

Green tea-like hues are a recurring design motif, and the ship’s first-floor passenger area even has verdant strands stretching down from the ceiling to give the impression of hanging lanterns. Terraced tea fields serve as the inspiration for a unique open-air seating area on the ship’s top deck.

Along with tea-green, the other big player in the interior design’s color palette is gold, which you’ll find on the walls of the stairwell.

The most breathtaking spot, though, is the second-floor passenger area.

Stringed curtains provide a sense of relaxing seclusion while still maintaining a spacious atmosphere, and at the end of the central walkway is a bonsai pine tree crafted out of washi paper. If you step around to the other side of that wall, though…

…you’ll find a tea ceremony room!

When not being used for events, this space, called Kinpuan (tea ceremony cottages often have the suffix -an), can be used as a passenger lounge. However, when we looked at the tatami reed flooring we saw that there is indeed a rodotani, or sunken hearth, built in, so actual tea ceremony demonstrations can be held here.

You don’t have to wait for a tea ceremony if you’re feeling thirsty, though. On the first floor is a tea stand, called Chaten, that offers various green tea drinks, from regular matcha to matcha floats and even matcha beer. They also serve green tea sweets such as cake and pudding, as well as light fare in the form of rice balls and ochazuke (rice with hot green tea poured over it) with salmon.

The tea we got was freshly brewed and high-quality, served in a nice bottle that you can take home with you.

There’s a corner with souvenir sweets too, handy or stocking up on if you’re spending a night at one of Hakone’s ryokan (traditional Japanese inns) and want some snacks to munch on while you’re in your room.

The ship’s third floor also has a drink/snack bar, which was unstaffed during our press tour but looks like it’s ready to go for peak travel days.

Speaking of the third floor, it too has a tea cottage-style space, this one a half open-air one, called Ryokufuan, with a cool circular window for a classical Japanese villa feel.

Certain sections of the outdoor deck are painted a very eye-catching shade of vermillion, bringing to mind Japanese lacquerware.

However, it’s going to be pretty chilly in Japan for the next several weeks, so it’s nice that Daichakai has no shortage of stylish interior seating areas, and with pretty much every wall being a window, you can still enjoy the view while staying out of the cold in winter.

▼ The boat’s route takes it past the Hakonejinja shrine, whose torii gate stabds just off the lakeshore.

The Daichakai route starts at the Hakone Sekisho Ato port, at the southeastern corner of Lake Ashinoko, and after departing makes stops at Motohakone and Hakone-en. From Hakone-en, the ship usually sails back to Hakone Seikisho Ato, but two boats a day, the ones departing Hakone Seikisho Ato at 9:20 a.m. and 3:05 p.m., go on to Kojiri, at the north end of the lake, but without docking before coming back to Hakone Seikisho Ato, and the final boat of the day is just a hop from Hakone Seikisho Ato to Motohakone, leaving at 4:30 p.m.

▼ Note that the fares listed as “Round-trip” in English under the one-way section are for the full loop that goes all the way to Kojiri and back.

Full timetables for the Daichakai, and its sister ship the Sorakaze, can be found on their official website here.

Related: Daichakai official website
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