I think it’s safe to say that pop culture in Japan isn’t like anywhere else in the world. It incorporates an incredible kaleidoscope of things and is somehow both one of Japan’s most defining elements, but in itself, incredibly difficult to define. It covers anime and manga, music, idol culture, video games, trending restaurants, viral pop-ups…all of this and more.
In this post, I’m diving into not just what pop culture in Japan is, but how you can experience it for yourself. If you’re dreaming of planning a Japan trip that lets you experience your otaku fandom in real life, or just want to take your understanding of Japanese culture to a deeper level, then this is the post for you!
Are you planning a Japan trip?
Let us help you! We’re a Tokyo-based travel agency all about creating custom itineraries and cultural experiences that get you off the normal tourist track to experience more of the real Japan. Why not start by checking out our otaku tours and anime-themed trips for the ultimate pop culture adventure?
A Quick Introduction to Pop Culture in Japan
Japanese pop culture covers all types of popular entertainment, fashion, social media, and celebrity trends that both define the moment and also represent Japan’s greater image from a global perspective. To give you a quick overview of what this means on a deeper level, we have to start with a bit of history.
Modern pop culture really began taking shape after World War II, as Japan rebuilt both its internal structures and external global image. Early manga pioneers and iconic films like Godzilla set the stage for what Japan’s modern entertainment identity would become. By the 70s and 80s, anime, video games, and idol culture exploded in popularity, with companies like Nintendo and hit series like Gundam taking youth culture by storm.
In the 90s and 2000s, Japanese pop culture went worldwide as Pokémon, Sailor Moon, J-Pop, Harajuku fashion, and cosplay became internationally famous and recognisable. Today, Japanese pop culture is immediately identifiable by things like its kawaii-factor, beauty, attention to detail, innovation, and novelty.
I also can’t leave this section without quickly introducing the concept of an otaku: a person with an extreme passion for their particular interest. These days, otaku usually refers to a anime/manga superfans, but an otaku could be someone obsessed with anything, e.g., video games, idols, maybe even trains.
How to Experience Pop Culture in Japan
Now that you know a little more about what pop culture in Japan is, it’s time to move on to the where! As I mentioned, pop culture in Japan refers to a huge amount of very different things, and to get a full picture of the zeitgeist, you probably need to get to know at least a few of them.
Here are what I consider to be the most prominent areas of Japanese pop culture to get you started:
Anime and Manga
I would argue that this is potentially the most internationally well-known area of Japanese pop culture…or at least it was my first introduction to Japan as a teenager on the other side of the world in the early 2010s. Anime and manga have come to be one of Japan’s most popular forms of entertainment, with incredibly huge worldwide fan bases which show up online and in person at conventions, movie premiers, meet-ups, etc.
Of course, you can read, watch, and enjoy anime and manga from anywhere in the world, but if you want to feel more a part of the otaku community in Japan, there are a few ways. You can visit anime locations in real life, such as the Suga Shrine from ”Your Name”, take an anime-themed tour, or (if you’re in Japan at the right time) even go to Comiket (Japan’s giant manga convention).
For shopping, it goes without saying that you need to visit Akihabara and Nakano in Tokyo. These neighbourhoods are filled with second-hand and collectables shops where you’ll find no end of manga volumes, figurines, and memorabilia for even the niche-est of shows.
There’s also a whole lot of anime and manga museums where you can learn more and meet other fans. A few I’d recommend are:
Ever wondered how similar Japan is to anime?
Video Games
Video games are a giant part of pop culture in Japan. Of course, I have to start with Nintendo, which, just in case you didn’t know, is a Japanese company! When you start to think about Japan’s love for kawaii characters, this does seem obvious…who else could design a character as cute as Yoshi or as iconic as the Mario brothers? For Nintendo fans, I highly suggest looking into visiting the Nintendo museum in Kyoto, just be ready to book several months in advance.
Pokémon is another hugely influential example of video game characters becoming larger than life, with visiting one of the 16 official Pokémon Centres across Japan being an absolute must-visit for any video game lovers.
Video game culture’s influence can be spotted in many other ways in Japan, for instance, at cosplay events, like Nagoya’s World Cosplay Summit. Other examples are that you’ll see video game characters/figurines in every arcade’s claw machine section, collectables in the gashapon (capsule toy machines), and people playing into the night at 24-hour internet cafes.
However, today, you can really experience video game culture in Japan through eSports and the huge mobile game craze taking over the population. Streaming is huge across the country (and the world, really), you can go watch your favourite eSports athletes at the many tournaments happening year-round, or the easiest way to really be a part of Japan’s video game culture? Simply join the masses in downloading mobile games like Pokémon TCG Pocket or Monster Strike, then play them on the train.
Idol Culture
Whilst Japanese video games and anime are pretty global at this point, I can’t say the same for Japan’s idol culture. It isn’t the only country in the world to have this, but certainly for Westerners, it can be quite a new concept. Idols are performers who sing/dance/act, but usually at a trainee level or early in their career (before “graduating” to the next stage). Idol culture refers to supporters following the journey of their favourite idol in a more committed way than a typical fan.
They cheer them on at concerts, attend meet and greet events, collect their merch, and sort of devote their free time to showing their support. There is a sense of growing up alongside the idols and watching them develop as performers, which is a big part of the appeal.
If you’re in Japan and see someone taking a photo of a small photo of a person next to a famous place or cool backdrop…then this is idol culture. Once you start noticing these things in Japan, it’s hard to stop noticing. From convenience store promotions to massive advertising billboards in Shibuya and Shinjuku, idol culture is everywhere.
If you want to experience idol culture in Japan, there are plenty of options. Tokyo has several venues where idol groups perform live, often daily, such as AKB48’s theatre in Akihabara or outside of Kabukicho Tower in Shinjuku. You can also attend handshake sessions, photo opportunities, or album release celebrations by looking at the events at popular record stores like Tower Records.
Sports
When it comes to sports in Japan, one rises far above the rest: baseball (or yakyuu in Japanese). Baseball has been popular for over a century and is genuinely a massive part of everyday life…you literally can’t walk for more than five minutes in Tokyo without seeing Shohei Ohtani’s face advertising everything from English lessons to green tea.
Even if you are not usually a baseball fan, going to a live game in Japan is an experience that I cannot recommend enough. Trust me, I’ve never been to a live sporting event before this, but going to support your local team at a game in Japan is just so much fun! With the organised cheering, catchy team songs, and waving around of plastic bats in perfect rhythm, it honestly feels more like a concert than a sports match. You can catch a game from March to October, and tickets are usually pretty affordable.
Baseball aside, Japan has plenty of other popular sports worth exploring. Sumo is an obvious one and is completely unlike anything else in the world. If you are lucky enough to be in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya or Fukuoka during a tournament, the atmosphere is incredible. Even outside tournament season, you can watch morning practice at a sumo stable or see more relaxed demonstrations from retired athletes.
Want to know how to experience sumo for yourself?
How to Learn About Japanese Pop Culture
One big part of understanding Japanese pop culture is to really immerse yourself in it through different media. There are plenty of ways to do this, even from outside of the county, that go beyond watching anime or spending the day in Akihabara.
Podcasts
Personally, I love podcasts. It’s one of my favourite ways to learn about a new subject or fan out about something I already love. If Japanese pop culture is that thing for you, then you are in luck; there are loads of podcasts (in English) that cover just about everything from the history of Japan to life in Japan today. Here are a few Japanese culture podcasts to get you started:
- Uncanny Japan: A deep dive into unique parts of the culture that are less well known to Western audiences, such as legends, myths, and superstitions
- Japan Station: Each week, a new guest comes on to talk about all aspects of Japan, like the language, history, food, movies, or anime
- Tokyo Lens: A look into the elements of daily life in Japan, with different topics like adventuring, hidden gems, and how the culture is changing
Japanese TV Shows
Like any country, you can learn a lot about Japan from its TV shows. Japanese reality shows are actually a great way to get a look at Japanese pop culture from the perspectives of real people, and I tend to find Japanese reality shows feel a lot more authentic than the Western ones. Single Infernos and Terrace House are really popular options, and a great place to start… Although I also loved Love Village, which is for participants over 35 looking for a second chance at love.
J-Dramas are also super popular in Japan. As the name suggests, these are Japanese TV dramas, which are very convenient for binging as they’re usually only 10-12 episodes long. There are so many of these, but The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House (2023), First Love (2022), and Boys Over Flowers are a few that I’d recommend.
YouTube and Social Media
These days, I just don’t think you can gloss over the importance of social media to pop culture in any country. Of course, Japan has lots of its own super famous influencers and streamers, as well as expats who make content about living in the country. Honestly, I think the best way to find these is to open YouTube or your favourite social media app, and just start searching for Japan/Japan vlog/Japan day in the life/etc. This is also a great way to stay on the pulse of what’s trending and the viral spots you might want to add to your itinerary.
As a bonus note, following Japanese influencers is also a great way to improve your Japanese (more on this below).
Books
One of the first things I did on arriving in Japan was to read a lot of Japanese fiction (translated into English). I found this to be such a great way to learn more about Japanese culture from the perspective of a Japanese person. It’s also a fun way to feel a part of pop culture in Japan by reading whatever is popular here (including manga) in the moment. A few recommendations to start are:
- Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
- Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
- Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami
Get more book and TV recommendations
Studying Japanese
The truth is, one of the best ways to experience pop culture in Japan is to dedicate some time to understanding the language. Firstly, this will mean you can actually interact with people in Japan and connect with Japanese fans of your favourite anime/manga/idol/sports team/etc. It also opens up a whole new world of Japanese pop culture, like Japanese podcasts, influencers, and live TV.
It goes without saying that learning Japanese isn’t easy, but we have lots of useful resources to get you started, like Japanese language learning tips and mistakes to avoid.
Can you Experience Pop Culture in Japan as a Foreigner?
Absolutely! One of the best things about Japanese pop culture is that you can experience it from anywhere in the world thanks to anime, influencers, and online groups. However, by being in Japan, you get to experience its pop culture in a whole new way.
You can visit museums, attend events, go shopping for collectables, try your luck at the gashapon, and so much more! All that’s left to do is to get out there and start looking!
Pop Culture in Japan: FAQs
What is Japanese pop culture like?
Japanese pop culture is super unique, bright, fast-moving and incredibly diverse, ranging from anime and fashion to video games, music, and sports. One thing that is consistent across the different genres is the passion and excitement people have for their favourite idols, characters, and teams.
What is an otaku?
An otaku is someone with a deep, often specialised passion for a particular hobby such as anime, manga or video games. In Japan, the term can be neutral or slightly negative, but internationally it is often used more casually.
Where should I go in Tokyo for Japanese pop culture?
Akihabara, Shibuya, Harajuku and Ikebukuro are some of the best areas to explore anime shops, fashion streets, arcades and themed cafes. Each neighbourhood has its own style, so visiting a few will give you a broader feel for Tokyo’s pop culture scene.
What are some examples of pop culture in Japan?
Common examples include anime, manga, J Pop, idols, fashion subcultures, video games and sports like baseball and sumo. You will also find pop culture in everyday things such as themed cafes, character goods and street style trends.
