The 40th Hokkaido Product and Tourism Fair runs at SOGO Omiya from 1 to 12 October 2026. Here are the dates, the vendors in each half, the daily-limited bento and sweets, and the eat-in hours.
Hokkaido Food Fair at SOGO Omiya: Sweets, Uni Bento and Ramen (Oct 1–12) Read more
Yoshinoya and Hello Kitty team up for the 10th time, pairing an original made-in-Japan Shirayuki fukin (kitchen cloth) with frozen Yoshinoya food sets from October 1 to November 30, 2026. The three sets cost 4,212 to 5,300 yen (tax included) on Yoshinoya’s official online shop and marketplace stores. Buyers also have a chance to win one of 50 Arita porcelain collab bowls by lottery. Yoshinoya and Hello Kitty Team Up for the 10th Time: Ouchi Yoshinoya Campaign 2026 Yoshinoya Co., Ltd. will hold the Ouchi Yoshinoya Campaign 2026 (roughly, Yoshinoya at Home), a collaboration with Sanrio’s popular character Hello Kitty. The campaign runs on the official Yoshinoya online shop and at its stores on major e-commerce marketplaces. This is the 10th collaboration between the two brands. The first release of the campaign is a set that pairs an original-design Shirayuki fukin (a Japanese kitchen cloth) with Yoshinoya frozen
Nihonbashi Bettara-ichi returns on October 19–20, 2026. It is a street fair of over 300 years, held around Takarada Ebisu Shrine, with about 500 stalls, sweet radish pickles and around 1,500 lanterns after dark. This guide covers the dates, what to eat and buy, and how to get there.
Nihonbashi Bettara-ichi: Tokyo’s Pickle Fair and Lantern Night, Oct 19–20 Read more
Japan’s Kyushu Fukko Ouen-wari now works on JAL Dynamic Package flight + hotel bookings, taking up to 50% off the trip price, or 60% in Kumamoto and Kagoshima. Savings are capped at ¥20,000 per person for one night and ¥30,000 for two or three nights. Miyazaki goes on sale first, at 14:00 on 30 September, and sales in each prefecture stop once its budget runs out. JAL × Kyushu Fukko Ouen-wari Fly JAL to Kyushu and get up to 60% off your trip Japan’s Kyushu recovery travel discount now works on JAL’s flight + hotel packages Up to ¥30,000 offper person, per booking, for 2–3 nights (¥20,000 for 1 night) Miyazaki opens Wed 30 Sep, 14:00Stays from 1 OctOne prefecture, 1–3 nights Last updated: 30 September 2026. Based on JAL’s official pages (notice dated 29 September) and announcements from the Japan Tourism Agency and Miyazaki Prefecture. JAL’s key
Kyushu Fukko Ouen-wari on JAL: Up to 60% Off Flight + Hotel Read more
From October 1, 2026, towns can spend no more than 47.5% of donations on gifts, shipping, portal fees and admin combined. That cap drops 2.5 points each October until it reaches 40% in 2029. Your deduction, the ¥2,000 out-of-pocket amount and the one-stop exception stay the same, but tighter local-product rules mean some gifts may be pulled, cost more or shrink. Checked against the ministry’s own documents Furusato Nozei Is Changing on October 1 50% → 40%cap on what towns can spend, lowered every October until 2029 From October 1, 2026, municipalities have to keep more of every donation, and the rules on what counts as a “local product” get stricter at the same time. Starts Oct 1, 2026Your deduction works the sameSome gifts may change If your feed is full of posts saying you’ll “lose out” unless you donate by September 30, here’s the short version: nothing
Furusato Nozei Changes in October: What Donors Need to Know Read more
From October 6 to November 17, 2026, Matsuya and Matsunoya hand out a random Sumikko Gurashi reflector keychain with each eligible kids’ meal, while supplies last. The keychain comes in six designs, reflects light in dark places and has space for a name on the back. A second round starts November 17, and an X repost campaign runs until October 18. Matsuya and Matsunoya Launch a Sumikko Gurashi Collaboration Matsuya Foods operates Matsuya, known for gyumeshi (beef bowls), curry, set meals and other rice bowls, as well as the tonkatsu chain Matsunoya. The company will launch a collaboration with the popular character series Sumikko Gurashi at stores nationwide starting at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. The Sumikko characters, loved by families with fans ranging from children to adults, are teaming up with these familiar everyday restaurant chains. Ordering an eligible kids’ menu item gets you exclusive
Jeju Air’s 48-Hour Limited Sale offers one-way fares from ¥13,230 on 14 Japan–Korea routes, with Matsuyama–Seoul/Incheon the cheapest. Most fares are STANDARD with 15 kg of checked baggage, and all prices include fuel surcharges and airport fees. Booking closes at 9:59 a.m. on September 30, and travel must be completed by October 31. Jeju Air 48-Hour Limited Sale: Overview Korean low-cost carrier Jeju Air is running a “48-Hour Limited Sale” on its Japan–Korea routes. The booking window is very short, from September 28 to 9:59 a.m. on September 30, so it closes on the morning this article is published (September 30). The travel period is September 28 to October 31, making it worth a look if you are planning a trip to Korea on an October weekend or holiday. The sale covers 10 routes to and from Seoul/Incheon and 4 routes to and from Busan. The lowest one-way
Jeju Air 48-Hour Sale: Japan–Korea One-Way Fares from ¥13,230 (Ends Sept 30) Read more
You can get a Japanese credit card as a foreign resident without permanent residency or a guarantor, provided you have a residence card, a Japanese address, a phone number and a bank account in your name. Issuers care most about how long you’ll stay and whether you have stable income. Start with a no-fee card like Rakuten Card, and if you’re rejected, wait 6 months before applying again. For foreign residents & students Your first Japanese credit card:which one, and how to get approved What issuers look at, the right first card for your situation, the Japanese application form, and what to do after a rejection. Checked against each issuer’s official pages on 29 Sep 2026. Things to have ready4 What issuers check6points Wait after a rejection6months Key takeaways Foreigners can get a Japanese credit card. You don’t need permanent residency or a guarantor. You need a residence
Credit Cards in Japan for Foreigners: Which One to Get First Read more
If you’ve been in Japan under 6 months and don’t work full-time here, you count as a non-resident and many banks won’t open a regular account. Japan Post Bank is the realistic first choice if at least 3 months remain on your residence card. Cards issued from 14 June 2026 can’t yet be used for Mizuho’s online or Seven Bank’s ATM and online applications, so apply at a branch. For foreign residents & students Before you open a bank accountin Japan, know these 3 rules The 6-month rule, 3 months left on your residence card, and the new residence cards issued from June 2026. Checked against each bank’s official pages on 29 Sep 2026. Left on your card3months+ Resident status after6months Banks compared10 Key takeaways If you’ve been in Japan less than 6 months and don’t work full-time for a company here, the foreign exchange law treats you
Bank Accounts in Japan for Foreigners: Where to Open First Read more
Vandle Card is a prepaid Visa that needs only a Japanese mobile number able to receive SMS, with no credit check and no ID for the free virtual card. Entering an invite code at sign-up and making a first top-up earns both you and your inviter ¥200. The code can’t be added after registration, and most top-up methods, including convenience stores and online banking, are fee-free. Vandle Card — a prepaid Visa app ¥200for entering an invite code at sign-up and making your first top-up Vandle Card invite code: enter it once on the sign-up screen A prepaid Visa you can get with a Japanese mobile number — no credit check, no documents. The code works only during sign-up. After your card is issued and you top it up for the first time, you and the person who invited you each get ¥200. Last checked: 30 September 2026
Vandle Card Invite Code 6wz7av: Get ¥200 at Sign-up Read more
Signing up for Rakuma, Rakuten’s flea market app, with an invite code earns 300 limited-time Rakuten Points you can spend on Rakuten Ichiba and elsewhere. The code only counts in the official app, and you must confirm your email, verify your phone number and link your Rakuten ID. Selling fees start at 10% and fall to as low as 4.5% as your monthly sales grow. Rakuma, Rakuten’s flea market app 300Rakuten Points for signing up with an invite code Enter the Rakuma invite code on the official app’s sign-up screen Invite codes only work for new accounts created in the official app; registering on the website doesn’t count. After signing up, confirm your email and verify your phone number. Last checked: September 29, 2026 (Rakuten Rakuma’s official invite campaign page and Rakuma help guide) Invite code Tap the button below to copy it. It mixes upper- and lower-case
Rakuma Invite Code 6fU27: 300 Rakuten Points for New Users Read more
Enter a Mercari invite code on the new-account screen, and both you and the inviter get ¥500 in points within 14 days. The code can’t be added once sign-up is done, and the points expire 30 days after they arrive. Using a stranger’s code is fine, since Mercari never passes your name or address to the other person. Mercari, Japan’s flea market app ¥500in points when you enter an invite code at sign-up A Mercari invite code only needs to go in once, on the sign-up screen You can enter it only while creating a new account, and it can’t be added later, so copy the code before you start. The points expire after 30 days. Last checked: September 29, 2026 (Mercari Help Center “招待ポイント”, Mercari’s official column and more) Invite code Tap the button below to copy it, then paste it into the 「招待コード」 (invite code) field
Mercari Invite Code HZHQCZ: Get ¥500 in Points in Japan Read more
Air New Zealand is selling round-trip fares from Tokyo/Narita to Auckland and Christchurch until October 19, 2026, with Economy from ¥138,000 including fuel surcharges and taxes. Premium Economy starts at ¥298,000 and Business Premier at ¥509,000. Travel runs from December 8, 2026 to July 6, 2027, covering New Zealand’s summer through early winter, though some blackout dates apply. Air New Zealand Launches a Limited-Time Sale Air New Zealand is running a limited-time sale from September 29 to October 19, 2026. The sale is linked to Tourism New Zealand’s campaign “私を満たす、ニュージーランド旅” (roughly, “A New Zealand Journey That Fulfills Me”). It covers Tokyo/Narita routes to Auckland and Christchurch, with round-trip Economy Class fares from ¥138,000. Fares include fuel surcharges and taxes, so the price shown is close to what you actually pay. The travel period runs about seven months, from December 8, 2026 to July 6, 2027. Anyone considering a
Tigerair Taiwan’s summer 2027 sale covers 33 routes between Taipei/Taoyuan, Kaohsiung, Taichung and 22 Japanese airports, with one-way fares from ¥8,500 plus taxes and fees. Members with tigerprime status get first access on October 1, 2026, and the sale opens to everyone from October 2 through October 3. Travel runs from March 28 to October 30, 2027, covering Golden Week and the summer holidays. Tigerair Taiwan Launches Sale to Mark Summer 2027 Schedule Release Taiwanese low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan is holding a sale to celebrate the start of bookings for its summer 2027 schedule. The sale covers 33 routes linking three Taiwanese cities — Taipei/Taoyuan, Kaohsiung and Taichung — with 22 airports in Japan, with one-way fares starting from ¥8,500 on routes such as Okinawa/Naha. It runs in two phases: the first is exclusive to tigerclub members with tigerprime status, and the second is open to everyone. Sale
Sunshine City in Ikebukuro hosts about 65 Hokkaido vendors from October 8 to 12. Entry is free, and there are about 400 eat-in seats. New this year is a tasting of 33 Hokkaido sake labels from ¥200 a pour. This guide covers daily hours, first-time vendors, the cooked-to-order stalls and how to get there.
Hokkaido Marugoto Fair at Sunshine City: Free Entry, 65 Stalls and a First Sake Tasting Read more
From October 1 to 31, 2026, every Shabuyo restaurant brings back pumpkin puree for make-your-own pumpkin pudding, adds Halloween picks for the first time, and offers an AR camera that dresses up to five people in character costumes at the table. Elementary schoolers pay ¥1,099 (tax included) for any course except raw snow crab, and preschoolers eat free. Shabuyo’s “Happy Halloween Campaign” Starts October 1 Shabuyo (しゃぶ葉), the all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu chain operated by Skylark Restaurants Co., Ltd., will hold a family-friendly “Happy Halloween Campaign” at all of its restaurants for a limited time, from Thursday, October 1 to Saturday, October 31, 2026. Highlights include the return of the popular pumpkin puree for making pumpkin pudding, the debut of Halloween picks, an AR camera that lets you dress up in matching costumes with the Shabuyo Friends characters, and the Neko Robo cat robots in Halloween outfits. It’s a “no-prep”
Shabuyo Halloween 2026: Make Pumpkin Pudding and Try a Costume AR Camera, Oct 1–31 Read more
The 24th Yokohama Motomachi Food Fair runs October 3–4, 2026, 4pm–8pm around Motomachi Naka-dori. This guide covers the hours, which shops take part, how the 100-yen ticket system works, and what to check before you go.
Yokohama Motomachi Food Fair: Oct 3–4 Hours, Shops and Tickets Read more
Sushiro brings back the Sumire-supervised Sapporo Rich Miso Ramen nationwide from September 30 to October 25, 2026, starting at ¥490 including tax. Like the bowls at Sumire, the famed Sapporo shop founded in 1964, it has a rich, full-bodied miso soup, here topped with minced meat and ginger. Only 780,000 servings are planned, sales stop once they sell out, and it is dine-in only. Conveyor-belt sushi chain Sushiro is bringing back the “Sapporo Rich Miso Ramen” (Sapporo Noko Miso Ramen), supervised by Sumire, a popular shop that represents Sapporo’s miso ramen scene. It is part of the “Sushiro × Tabelog” Nationwide Famous Shop Supervised Series, a collaboration with the restaurant search and reservation service Tabelog. The bowl, which was very well received when it was sold in December 2025, returns to Sushiro restaurants across Japan from Wednesday, September 30, 2026. This article covers the product’s features, price, sales