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[title]Whether you have a soft spot for Japanese cuteness or are merely looking for something fun to read over Golden Week, you’ll want to pick up or download the latest issue of Time Out Japan magazine.
On stands across the country from April 30, our special number digs deep into what’s hot right now in kawaii culture, starting with the cover – which is adorned with either an eminently squeezable cedar-tree plushie or an equally cuddly bonsai tree.
That’s right – we’ve gone ahead and created two distinct covers for our guide to what kawaii looks and feels like in 2026, a dizzying journey that starts with profiles of our two featured artists: soft-toy creator Meriyasu Kataoka and floral-print blanket master Makoto Egashira.
Beyond the interviews, you’ll find a roundup of the latest and greatest services catered towards cuddly toys, tips for plushie photography, and an introduction to five quirky kawaii icons you need to know.
For a little palate cleanser after all that saccharine splendour, we turn the lights down low to bring you half a dozen nightlife spots worth seeking out now in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.
On top of all that, you’ll find a guide to the stranger sides of Tokyo’s Ikebukuro, a sake-fuelled report from the Hiroshima brewing district of Saijo, tips on how to keep your cool when shopping in Japan, and more.
You’ll be able to pick up your FREE copy of Time Out Japan magazine in English at Haneda and Narita airports, Time Out Market Osaka, as well as selected hotels, tourist information centres, restaurants, cafés and shops across Japan. A digital edition will also be made available.