The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, created by Nagaru Tanigawa in 2003, is a popular light novel series and anime that explores themes of existentialism, time travel, and alternate realities.

The Hakone Open-Air Museum is a sculpture park located in Hakone, a scenic mountainous region near Tokyo.

In Japan, there is a tradition of eating soba noodles on New Year's Eve to bring good luck.