Nepal Pavilion Finally Opens at Osaka Expo; All Pavilions Now Open
The Nepal pavilion had remained closed since the expo kicked off in April. At its opening ceremony held around noon on Saturday, the pavilion's staff greeted visitors with cheers.
'We are glad to be open, despite the delay,' said Birendra Bajracharya, director of the pavilion. 'I want visitors to see our displays, which resonate with the expo's theme.'
About 50 objects, including a Nepalese Buddhist statue and mandala, are on display at the pavilion. Visitors can also enjoy food and purchase items.
The pavilion is Type A, meaning Nepal handled the construction on its own. However, construction work had been suspended due to delays on the Nepalese side in paying its Japanese contractor.
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SoraNews24
6 hours ago
- SoraNews24
For the ladies – An awesomely authentic old-school capsule hotel that accepts female travelers
Our experience traveler/capsule hotel newbie spends a night at Apaiser. Though a night in one is a quintessentially Japanese travel experience, the majority of capsule hotels don't accept female guests. Case in point: though our Japanese-language reporter Ikuna Kamezawa is a seasoned traveler, until recently she'd only spent a single night in a capsule hotel, and it was a new, modern one with fancy snore-monitoring wellness equipment. Ikuna has still been wanting to have the old-school, authentic capsule hotel experience, a night in the sort of place that helped form the accommodation sub-category during the bubble economy years when a salaryman needed a place to stay on a shoestring-budget business trip, or maybe to catch some Zs after missing the last train home of the night. Capsule hotels like that that can accommodate female travelers aren't easy to find, but Ikuna finally managed to come across one while planning a trip to Nagoya. The Apaiser capsule hotel is a five-minute walk from Exit 8 of Imaike Station, which is itself just a 10-minute subway ride from Nagoya Station, and the intersection of the Higashiyama and Sakura-dori Lines. So right off the bat, it's situated in a very convenient spot. You take your shoes off in the entryway, before even coming into lobby, and stick them in a shoe locker. Once fully inside, Ikuna checked in and was given a key for a locker in which she could keep her luggage. To Ikuna's surprise, the luggage lockers for female guests are down in the basement level, a women-only floor which also houses the women's bath, but her sleeping capsule was actually all the way up on the 5th floor. However, this setup didn't seem like it was going to be such a big problem after Ikuna looked over the hotel layout. The second and third floors have men's capsules, while the fourth floor, the 'Refresh Floor,' has various massage and beauty services. The fifth floor, in addition to men's and women's capsules, also has a manga and Internet corner, plus a powder room, and there's a restaurant on the first floor as well. With all these possible places to relax in, Ikuna didn't see herself spending a ton of time in her sleeping space idly rifling through the stuff she'd brought with her. ▼ Ikuna's reservation even included a voucher for a free welcome drink in the restaurant upon arrival. As mentioned above, many capsule hotels don't accept female guests, usually under the logic that it would be unwise to offer unsecured bunks for women to sleep in a space where guys are roaming around too. Apaiser's solution to this is to have a block of capsules for women only in a section that's separated from the rest of the hotel by a locked door. The only way to open this door is to tap a luggage locker key that's linked to one of the women's sleeping capsules, ensuring that only women staying at the hotel have access to this area. Ikuna found herself smiling excitedly at just how retro everything looked. She even loved the little steps built into the capsule bank's frame that you step onto to get to the upper spots, like a mini obstacle course. Taking a peek inside, the aesthetic continued to be thoroughly throwback…or maybe that's not the right term, since Apaiser has been around since the days when this was a new, contemporary style. Whatever you want to call it, though, it was exactly what she'd been looking for. Each capsule is outfitted with its own TV, and while you could also stream stuff on your mobile devices for entertainment, be aware that while there's a standard power outlet, there's no USB charging port. ▼ With her mind in '80s mode, though, Ikuna was fine with no USB option, and was honestly too busy admiring the just-leaving-the-analog-age look of the earphone jack for the TV, shown on the left here. Part of the reason the Apaiser has all the facilities we mentioned earlier is because in addition to being a capsule hotel it's also a public bath/sauna that's available for day use. Sure enough, when Ikuna headed down to the bath, she was impressed by how big and nice it was. ▼ Entrance's to the women's (女性専用) and men's (男性専用) baths The manga and Internet area was also spacious and comfy, feeling more like a dedicated manga cafe than a hotel just trying to squeeze a little extra utility out of otherwise unused floor space. Freshly bathed and thoroughly entertained, Ikuna crawled into her capsule, put down the shade, and had a great night of restful sleep. Even after she woke up, though, she was still finding things to love about this hotel. Apaiser's first floor sevres breakfast, and it's not just a table with self-serve toast, boiled eggs, and chopped cabbage like at some budget-priced hotels in Japan. Instead, you can choose from a variety of set meals, reasonably priced for around 600 yen (US$4.15). Ikuna's package included breakfast and allowed her to pick any of the morning meals, so she opted for the grilled fish set, which in addition to a generously sized filet of fish gave her miso soup, rice, okra, pickles, and nori (dried seaweed). In addition to being extremely tasty, it was a perfectly balanced assortment of nutritious ingredients that gave Ikuna a protein boost to fuel her through the morning without leaving her stomach feeling bloated or heavy for the rest of the day. Honestly, if this was her breakfast every day for the rest of her life, she'd have no complaints. As a matter of fact, the one and only grumble that Ikuna had was that while there are hairdryers provided in the women's bath area, there were no electrical outlets for her to plug in the hair iron she'd brought with her from home, and such devices can't be used in the sleeping capsule either. But aside from that, Ikuna gives this ladies-friendly capsule hotel full marks. She was even satisfied with the prices, which are 4.300 yen (US$29.75) per night Sunday through Thursday and 4,800 yen on Fridays, Saturdays, and nights before holidays, with a breakfast voucher an additional 500 yen. Just be aware that female guest capacity is limited to 20 travelers per night, so making a reservation ahead of time is recommended. Hotel information Apaiser / アペゼ] Address: Aichi-ken, Nagoya-shi, Chikusa-ku, Imaike 5-11-14 愛知県名古屋市千種区今池5-11-14 Website Bath/sauna interior photos: Apaiser Manga corner photo: Apaiser All other photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
7 hours ago
Evacuees from Quake-Hit Southwestern Japan Islands to Return
News from Japan Jul 22, 2025 21:50 (JST) Kagoshima, July 22 (Jiji Press)--Evacuees from southwestern Japan islands hit by a series of earthquakes are expected to head home starting as early as Friday night, local officials said Tuesday. There are currently nine evacuees from the Tokara islands off Kagoshima Prefecture, including Akusekijima, according to Toshimamura, a village that includes the islands. Seismic activity near the islands has slowed in recent days, paving the way for the islanders to return, the Toshimamura officials said. The village government is considering providing subsidies for livelihood support to all households on Akusekijima and Kodakarajima, another island in the Tokara chain. There have been over 2,200 earthquakes strong enough to be felt by humans around the Tokara islands since seismic activity intensified on June 21. The biggest was a quake measuring lower 6, the third highest on the Japanese scale, that struck on July 3. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Tokyo Weekender
8 hours ago
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Things To Love About Summer in Japan
It's not an exaggeration to say that I dread summer in Japan with every fiber of my being. For years, I've been telling my friends that we've all just been socially conditioned to like summer because of months-long vacations from school. As soon as I feel the first ominous droplets of humidity in late May, I know I'm in for an infinite stretch of sweaty subway rides, punishing sun rays and bad hair days (more like bad hair months ). But if there's one skill I've mastered after 20 rewatches of the movie About Time , it's romanticizing mundane and even objectively unpleasant moments and seasons of life — so here are things I actually like about summer in Japan, from quintessential experiences to nostalgic memories. Maybe this summer will finally convert me into a believer. Peaches You haven't truly relished a fruit until you've had a Japanese peach, available only in the summer months. A perfectly ripe Japanese peach will have you waxing poetic and believing in life again. The Sound of Windchimes These traditional glass decorations hanging on storefronts make a magical, soft twinkling sound at every warm breeze — a comforting reminder of summer's slow rhythm. Sunsets on the Train There's something so enchanting about seeing a sunset specifically through a train window, especially while listening to dreamy, melancholy music (think Beach House or The Marias). Bonus points if you can see the ocean, Spirited Away style. Wearing Yukata Distinct from a kimono, yukata are unlined cotton garments commonly worn at summer festivals, and often feature beautiful summery patterns. Even if you forgo wearing one, it's fun to just admire everyone's matsuri yukata. Fireworks This one is obvious, but gazing at glittering bursts of light in the sky with your loved ones at a festival is a peak Japanese summer experience. Hanabi , the Japanese word for fireworks, means 'fire flower.' Check out our roundup of fireworks festivals across Japan. Kakigori From simple syrupy shaved ice cups to elaborate and luxurious mango creations, Japan's kakigori feel decadent and light at once. Shirokuma, a classic style of kakigori from Kagoshima Prefecture, is available at most grocery and convenience stores — try it this summer! The Smell of Mosquito Coil This might be a niche experience, but the incense-like smell of a mosquito coil — a must in Japanese summers — is weirdly satisfying and a nostalgic sign of summer. Retro Electric Fans Kids these days will never know the simple joys of yelling into a spinning fan and hearing your distorted voice. Plus, they have so much more visual character than boring modern fans or air purifiers. Peak Komorebi If you read our untranslatable Japanese words article, you already know that komorebi refers to the quietly beautiful phenomenon of light filtered through swaying leaves. Although komorebi is not unique to summer, the season sees its most enchanting form — a portrait of vibrant green and gold in a dreamlike, glowing haze. Air Conditioning I know AC is not unique to Japanese summers, but its crisp coolness is so satisfying after a long day of existing in under-airconditioned spaces. Cicadas Singing Some people find them distracting when trying to fall asleep, but I find the rhythmic drone of semi (cicadas) soothing — without it, the soundscape of summer would feel empty and soulless. Morning Glory and Sunflowers Tiny trumpet-shaped morning glory flowers dot sidewalks and gardens in the summer months. Sunflowers, of course, are one of the most beloved signifiers of summer in Japan, with many parks dedicating weeks to sunflower festivals. Rice Fields If you've lived in the suburbs or countryside, you get it — Japan's rice fields are at their most verdant and beautiful during the summer, with young rice plants framed by pools of water reflecting the blue sky (which is another thing to love about summer — the sky is so blue, and the clouds are so fluffy!). Kids Catching Bugs Catching insects like dragonflies and beetles is a common wholesome activity for Japanese children in the summer, and it's heartwarming to witness kids still being curious about nature in today's technological dystopia. fukagawa hachiman festival Matsuri Japan's vibrant, exciting summer festivals are essential to enjoying the season. Although the crowds can feel a tad overwhelming at major festivals, their energy and camaraderie bring life to hot summer nights. Check out our ultimate guide to Tokyo summer festivals . Related Posts Summer Hacks To Survive Japan's Heat Where To Eat the Best Kakigori Shaved Ice in Tokyo This Summer Unmissable Fireworks Festivals in Japan for Summer 2025
