The Japanese raccoon dog, also known as the tanuki, is a species of wild dog that is native to Japan and is famous for its mythical reputation in Japanese folklore.

The Hakone Ekiden, a long-distance relay race held annually between Tokyo and Hakone, is one of the most prestigious races in Japanese college athletics.

In Japan, there is a tradition of eating KFC for Christmas dinner, which started as a marketing campaign in the 1970s.