An inland prefecture in Kantō, Japan; populous hub near Tokyo.
Kyoto's Gion Matsuri festival, one of Japan's oldest rites, draws crowds for a centuries-old parade of 12-ton floats. Scholars describe it as an offering to deities, rooted in epidemic protection, while the Meiji-era split of Shinto and Buddhism reshaped its religious practices.
A magnitude 5.8–5.9 earthquake struck southern Ibaraki and rattled Tokyo, injuring dozens across five prefectures. Trains faced delays; Shinkansen service remains normal. Authorities set up a task force to assess damage as residents brace for possible aftershocks.
Yamanashi prefecture has proposed charging climbers who attempt Mount Fuji during the off-season and who require helicopter rescues or fail to file climbing plans. The plan aims to deter dangerous, unplanned ascents with fees tied to helicopter operation costs, and to require advance plans for climbs above the sixth station outside the official season. The proposal follows rising off-season climbs and rescues.