Airbnb boasts one of the largest travel communities in the world, filled with users offering up lodging and those eager to visit somewhere new. The Japanese subsidiary of the company has revealed the top spots added to Japanese users ‘Favorites (Wish Lists)’ from May 1 to May 17, 2022. Where will travelers in the country be headed this summer?   Golden Week is long gone and users are starting to think about where to visit during the hottest part of the year. This national ‘Wish List’ might make it easier to pick a spot, with many locations highlighting lesser-known areas!  

Gujo Hachiman Villa, Limited to 1 Couple Per Day (Gifu)

This completely private rental villa was made for sauna enthusiasts. One lucky pair per day can book this suite along the Yoshida River flowing through Gujo Hachiman, known as the “City of Water and Dance.” Currently booked through the end of August, reservations for September and beyond will be available in early June. Book a stay to enjoy the gorgeous autumn foliage!

A House Surrounded by Lush Greenery in the Countryside (Tottori)

Hosted by a family of musicians and architects, this guesthouse invites guests to enjoy gorgeous Nordic-inspired interiors and the serene quiet of the countryside. For those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, this is the perfect spot.

Hoshina Satomachi, Limited to 1 Couple Per Day (Nagano)

There’s nothing like spending the summer in a traditional Japanese home. Enjoy a barbeque on the terrace and relax on the massive lawn. This is the perfect spot for families with children or pets!

Coastal Cabin (Chiba)

You can’t have summer without a pool. This luxurious coastal retreat boasts a 15-meter pool, outdoor Jacuzzi, bonfire space, and a barbeque. Relax by the pool while listening to your favorite songs or soak in the outdoor bath as you watch the waves crash along the shore.

An Elegant and Peaceful Log Cabin (Nagano)

Located at 1,300 meters above sea level on the Iizuna plateau, this log cabin is situated in the midst of a dense forest. A perfect space for couples, families, or small groups of friends, guests are welcome to enjoy hiking through this gorgeous landscape in the center of Japan!

Rokuyon, which manages unique accommodations mainly in Shibuya, has opened the fourth room of "MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS”, the home-sharing facility, named "HARAJUKU" produced by ASOBISYSTEM, which introduces HARAJUKU culture to the world.

 

"MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS offers accommodation services in concept rooms full of originality not found in existing hotels or home-sharing facilities. The concept of the fourth room is "HARAJUKU". The room is filled with "KAWAII", one of the representative cultures of Japan. Once you step into the room through the archway, you will feel as if you have wandered into the world of a picture book. The room is inspired by Harajuku, a place where you can enjoy the extraordinary feeling of being lost in a different dimension.

 

With the opening of the room HARAJUKU, an entire building has been transformed into MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS, with four rooms available for booking via Airbnb. The rooms can be used for a variety of purposes, such as accommodation for domestic and foreign tourists, staycations (casual holiday at home or nearby), girls’ parties, and birthday parties with your friends. In order to ensure the safety of the guests, they carry out temperature checks, use alcohol sanitisers and disinfect the rooms with alcohol when cleaning.

 

The archway at the entrance is a gateway to a world of wonder. From the moment you step into the house, the excitement is bound to build.

The living room is decorated with colourful objects and animals reminiscent of a museum. Why not find your favourite objects and animals, and enjoy taking photos with them?

The bedroom has a queen-size bed, together with a sofa bed and an air bed in the living room, which can accommodate up to four people.

The shower room is equipped with amenities such as shampoo, conditioner, and body soap. The separated washbasins and Toto Washlet toilets have been installed.

The kitchen is fully equipped with a microwave, fridge, and other daily necessities. Colourful KAWAII tablewares are lined up so that you can enjoy the world of the room more.

 

MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS

The first room  'SAKURA'

The room has received high praise from both domestic and international travelers.

A monument of cherry blossoms, the symbol of Japan, fills the ceiling of the bedroom, creating a gorgeous and unique space.

 

The second room 'ORIGAMI'

This room is themed on origami, one of the symbols of Japanese culture.

The living room is furnished with benches and stools inspired by a teahouse. Looking up at the ceiling, a number of Japanese umbrellas decorate the space.

 

The third room 'DOSUKOI'

The room combined the traditional Japanese culture of sento, a Japanese public bathhouse and sumo, Japanese wrestling.

The sumo wrestler's hands and the large bath inspired by a sento attract the viewer's attention. The painted pictures on the walls are the work of Kiyoto Maruyama, one of only three sento painters in Japan.

   

The rooftop

The rooftop offers an expansive space with a panoramic view of Harajuku. It can also be used for events such as tent saunas and BBQs. Only the rooftop can be rented out as a rental space.

   

Why don't you create your own story at MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS, a place full of unique concepts that you can only experience here?

The Van Gogh Museum in the Netherlands livestreamed the Vincent Van Gogh & Tokyo Olympic online event in collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Japan on July 9.   Curators and researchers at the Van Gogh Museum took part in the digital event which was hosted on TeamNL Tokyo Expo. In addition, researcher Joost van der Hoeven and Olympic athletes Candy Jacobs and Keet Oldenbeuving will make a sporty contribution to the livestream. Their sport skateboarding is an Olympic discipline for the first time.   The event served to strengthen Netherlands-Japan ties at the upcoming Olympic Games.

Lacoste has announced the release of a new collection themed on the Tokyo 1964 Summer Olympics in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee. The collection arrives in time for the new run of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics which was originally set to run last year but was delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be held from July 23 to August 8. Lacoste's collection will go on pre-sale in Japan on April 29 before rolling out at Olympic Museum stores in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Canada, and Mexico on July 15.   1964 was a historical year for Japan as the country saw rapid innovation and evolution in art, lifestyle, fashion, and many other areas. The Lacoste capsule collection respects the traditions of the Olympic Games at the time while adding a contemporary touch. It features the Tokyo 1964 logo created by Japanese graphic designer Yusaku Kamekura and fuses it with Lacoste's French style, turning the emblem an eye-catching gold and adding Lacoste's iconic crocodile. The line-up includes polo shirts, tees, nylon hoodies, sweatshirts, caps, and more. The items are made from materials like pique fabric, fleece, cotton, and water resistant nylon. For the Japan pre-sale of the capsule collection, Lacoste Japan is holding a campaign called "THE POWER OF TOKYO 1964" which hopes to charge the athletes of Tokyo 2020 with the energy of Tokyo in 1964, a year of innovation. A special video was released for the promotion featuring background music by Towa Tei who was born in the year 1964. The song, entitled MAGIC, is a bridge connecting the years 1964 and 2021.

PLAY! DIVERSITY SHIBUYA and Airbnb launched a new website on July 2 which lets people experience Shibuya tourism and all things Shibuya online. The online project comes in response to the economic slump that Shibuya has faced as a result of COVID-19 which has meant less tourism. The website will feature a host of unique content that captures the essence of the Shibuya experience. The first entry to the website will see KABA taking users on a virtual walk through the city of Shibuya. KABA, an activist for the LGBTQ community in Japan, was appointed as an official Tourism Ambassador of Shibuya this year. As well as this, the energetic Akkun, another Shibuya Tourist Ambassador and influencer amongst Shibuya's youth, will also be hosting a "Shibuya Sake School." There is much more content to enjoy right now too, and the website is set to expand even more.   Other features include the "WANDER COMPASS" which lets users learn about Shibuya's history and visit local spots through a virtual tour, and Shibuya TSUTAYA O-EAST's own DJ Bar "AZUMAYA" is showcasing how to make Japanese cocktails using various Japanese ingredients and spices.   Visit Shibuya from the comfort of your own home using Airbnb and PLAY! DIVERSITY SHIBUYA's special new website.

SEGA has revealed that Sonic at the Olympic Games - Tokyo 2020™ has pre-registered 2 million users across Android, iOS, and FireOS platforms.  

What is Sonic at the Olympic Games - Tokyo 2020™?

As the title suggests, it's a mobile game that features characters from across the Sonic the Hedgehog series at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games. Set to release worldwide on May 7, 2020, it features both new and popular games that are set to take place at Tokyo 2020ーwhich has now been postponed to July 2021. Players can rank online on the worldwide leaderboard while they compete in games set around famous sights in Tokyo.   To celebrate 2 million registered users, players are being gifted with the song Glimmering Gift - Super Transformation (SONIC MANIA) from the soundtrack as well as Training Points which can be used to unlock character actions and new stages. SEGA Japan is also holding a competition on its official Twitter account. 5 people who follow the account and retweet the competition tweet will receive the above-pictured exclusive jacket.   Pre-register for the game here: https://www.olympicvideogames.com/sonic/en/   TM IOC/TOKYO2020/USOC 36USC220506. © 2019 IOC. All RightsReserved. ©SEGA.