tohoshinki japan tour

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TVXQ Prepares Extensive Live Tour to Celebrate 20th Anniversary in Japan

T VXQ is gearing up to commemorate their 20th anniversary since debuting in Japan with an extensive live tour spanning the country.

SM Entertainment disclosed on April 28th that the duo will inaugurate their tour in November in Saitama, followed by performances in seven other cities including Aichi, Hiroshima, Osaka, Fukui, Miyagi, Fukuoka, and Kanagawa, totaling 19 shows.

This tour serves as part of the buildup to April 2025, marking two decades since TVXQ’s debut in Japan.

Renowned for their iconic songs and dynamic performances, TVXQ aims to deliver unforgettable experiences for their dedicated fan base who have steadfastly supported them over the years.

In the previous year, TVXQ established a new milestone in Japan with their nationwide live tour, ‘TOHOSHINKI LIVE TOUR 2023 CLASSYC,’ emerging as the foreign artists with the most performances at the Tokyo Dome and other major domes across the nation.

Anticipation is high for their upcoming tour, which is expected to elicit enthusiastic responses.

Moreover, TVXQ recently concluded their ‘2024 TVXQ! CONCERT 20&2’ Asia tour in Jakarta on April 20th, further underscoring their enduring popularity and significant influence on the music scene, both in Japan and globally.

List of TVXQ concert tours in Japan

From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The South Korean pop duo TVXQ, known as Tohoshinki ( 東方神起 , Tōhōshinki ) in Japan, have embarked on twelve nation-wide concert tours. Debuting as a five-member vocal pop group in April 2005, Tohoshinki held their first Japanese tour, the Heart, Mind and Soul Tour, in 2006. This was followed by the Five in the Black Tour in 2007 and the T Tour in 2008, the latter being the group's first arena tour and bringing in an estimate of 150,000 fans from 17 shows. From May to July 2009, Tohoshinki held their fourth and last Japanese tour as a quintet, The Secret Code Tour, selling over 300,000 tickets. For the tour's finale, Tohoshinki performed in the Tokyo Dome , making them the third Korean music act, and the first Korean pop group, to do so. [1]

After the departure of members Jejung , Yuchun , and Junsu in 2010, remaining Tohoshinki members Yunho and Changmin did not tour again until January 2012, when they held their first concert tour as a duo, titled the Tone Tour . The tour sold over 550,000 tickets in Japan and grossed over US$73 million, making it the largest overseas concert held by a Korean artist at the time. The duo broke their own record the following year with their sixth Japanese concert tour, the Time Tour , making Tohoshinki the first Korean artist to hold a dome tour in Japan. [2] The tour's two-day finale was held at Japan's largest stadium, the Nissan Stadium , pushing the duo as the first international music act to headline a stadium concert. [3] The Time Tour was the highest-grossing and most-attended concert tour held by a foreign music act in Japan at the time, selling over 850,000 tickets and grossing US$93 million. [4] Tohoshinki broke that record again with their Begin Again: Live Tour in 2018, which made US$110 million from 1.28 million tickets. The finale of the Begin Again Tour was again held at the Nissan Stadium, pushing Tohoshinki as the first foreign music act to headline Nissan Stadium twice. [5] It is the highest-grossing concert tour held by a foreign music act in Japan. [6]

From January 2012 to June 2014, the duo performed in concerts for over 2 million people in Japan, the fastest mobilization by a non-Japanese act. [7]

Celebrating 10 Years of TVXQ in Japan: 10 Fun Facts You Didn't Know About Tohoshinki

We’re celebrating the 10th year anniversary of TVXQ ! – or better known in Japan as Tohoshinki – in Japan this month. There are things that most of us know about them already. For instance, we know that they advanced to Japan in 2005 as five members and that in 2010, the band became a duo. Now, the two members, Yunho and Changmin , are celebrating their 10th year anniversary as Tohoshinki. We also all know that Tohoshinki are the J-pop kings, are wildly popular and not only are they the most popular Korean act, they are the most popular foreign artists in Japan of all time. But as a devoted fan, I’m here to tell you 10 things that you might not have known about the legends.

1. To appeal to the Japanese audience, they sang in… English…?

In 2004, before they made their official debut, Tohoshinki tested out the Japanese market with two singles, “ Hug ” and “ Triangle ,” which were remakes of the original Korean songs in English. They only ended up selling about 5000 copies of each in Japan. Nobody’s sure why they decided on debuting in Japan in the first place after these dismal results (/sheds a tear)… but it’s okay! We know there’s a happy ending!

2. “Cassiopeia to Bigeast, we love you”

Everyone knows about TVXQ’s amazing Cassiopeia , but do you know about Tohoshinki’s mighty Bigeast ? Bigeast is Tohoshinki’s official Japanese fanclub name and just celebrated its ninth anniversary. The name is a play on the words “biggest” and “east” from the meaning of their group name, “Rising Gods of the East.” The unofficial count currently sits at 300,000+ members. They are extremely dedicated and they engage in a fierce bloodbath battle on a regular basis for concert tickets.

3. Back in my day…

Tohoshinki really struggled their way up to the top. They advanced into Japan and together with BoA , laid down the foundation for Hallyu there. To get there though, they had to do everything, including milking cows, picking strawberries, catching fish… all for some airtime on the graveyard shift on TV. They had to do active things, because they couldn’t speak the language fluently enough. It all brings a tear to my eye, and I’m so glad that they don’t have to do silly things like that anymore on TV and they can just sit there and talk. Wait…

……….

Okay, but at least now they get to do the silly things during the daytime.

4. Bad hair day… every day

Diplomatic words to describe Tohoshinki’s hairstyle while in Japan include interesting, unique, and, uh, experimental. More frank words to describe their hair in Japan include terrible, terrible, and terrible. One day, they would have beautiful styling in Korea, then as soon as they fly over to Japan, it’s like their hair get slathered with oil and get styled in the worst possible way.

Changmin seems to be the bigger victim of Avex ‘s questionable hair styling, but Yunho is also a victim nonetheless. I mean, what.

It’s a good thing they have handsome faces to make up for the ugly hair.

5. Tohoshinki: Single-printing machines

Struggling to be noticed, Tohoshinki put out single after single after single. In 2008, for instance, they released nine singles in that year alone. With every single followed tons of high-five events, name card exchanges, and performances on makeshift stages. They’ve calmed down a bit since then, to about three great singles each year, for a grand total of 65 singles. Quality over quantity, right?

6. Superstar fanboys

In Korea, TVXQ maintains this classy gentleman image and they’re too good to even sit at a studio and talk about serious things. In Japan, Tohoshinki unleash their inner dorks and become flailing fanboys of… anime. In particular, they continually express their love for One Piece and Gundam . Above, we have a Changmin and a Yunho at the Gundam model section of a toy store.

They ended up spending almost $1000 on Gundams at that store by the way.

7. A-Nation: From “bathroom time” to “Toho-Nation”

This is my personal favorite story. Avex, their Japanese management company, holds a collaboration concert between all of their artists called A-Nation every year. When Tohoshinki first participated in them in 2005, they were the opening act, in the scorching sun in broad daylight, in front of an unenthusiastic crowd who weren’t even their fans. In the years following, so many people left to go to the bathroom during Tohoshinki’s performances that people even called it “The Great Migration.”

They performed after nightfall for the first time in 2009 in A-Nation, and then in 2011, Tohoshinki closed the show. Tohoshinki closed the show every year since then. Today, Tohoshinki took over so completely that the concert has been colloquially dubbed “Toho-Nation.”

8. God Tone

Tone , oh the album almighty, the beautiful album that Yunho and Changmin put their hearts and souls into to keep Tohoshinki alive. It remains Tohoshinki’s best-selling album. It hit the top of the Oricon daily, weekly, and monthly charts. It sold more than 100,000 copies on the first day of release and 200,000 copies in the first week for a total of over 300,000 copies sold. It was released in three colors, and the three versions were constantly flipping back and forth to take the top spots on the charts.

9. Yunho’s rare tears

Years ago, Yunho revealed that he promised his late grandfather that he wouldn’t cry until he was happy with his level of stardom. Even Changmin, who lived with him for years and had gone through thick and thin together, said that he had never seen Yunho cry. Since then, Yunho has shed tears twice on stage, both times at the Tokyo Dome . The first time was in 2012 where he yelled out, “I am incredibly happy right now!” Everyone in the hall cried with him except Changmin, who’s flustered and says, “This is strange, he normally doesn’t cry.” The second time was only a few days ago at the last leg of Tohoshinki’s last Japanese tour before Yunho’s enlistment , where he explained that he cried because he was very blessed.

10. Nissan dreams

Tohoshinki remains the only Korean artists to have performed at Nissan Stadium . It holds 70,000 audience members and for some perspective, the Tokyo Dome ‘only’ holds 50,000. They sold out every seat at these two performances at Nissan Stadium in 2013, and it’s this moment that Changmin talks about as being the most memorable in his Japanese career. It will also be the source of one super pretty gif that every Bigeast and Cassiopeia looks at to feel proud of their unbeatable duo!

As Tohoshinki celebrates its 10th year anniversary, they’re still as successful as ever. They gathered 750,000 audience members in their latest dome tour alone, “ Tohoshinki Live Tour 2015 ~WITH~ .” While now is also a time of uncertainty and worry for both the members and the fans with their impending hiatus due to their military service, I think Tohoshinki has little to worry about with their dedicated legion of Bigeast and Cassiopeia, who will no doubt be waiting for them to return and continue to break their own records .

kiddy_days is a fan of TVXQ and she is currently trying to think of ways to occupy herself while they are on hiatus. In the meantime, she hopes for one last Korean comeback and concert before they have to leave.

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Trip within a Trip: Osaka and Kyoto, Japan

May 1, 2024 • 9 min read

Make your next trip to Japan even better by adding on four days in exciting Osaka (pictured) and Kyoto © EarnestTse / Shutterstock

Senior Director of Content Laura Motta recently spent 10 days in Japan . To make the most of her time in the country, she included a four-day mini-excursion to Osaka and Kyoto – a trip within a trip, if you will, which anyone can replicate.

Everyone goes to Tokyo , and I would never tell you to skip it. But another critical part of any Japan itinerary is that magical Shinkansen (bullet train) ride south to Osaka , and the astounding sites that await beyond. A mind-boggling pair of cities – Osaka and Kyoto – are crammed with more shrines and temples, steel-and-glass skyscraper malls, scenic vistas and world-class restaurants than you can experience in a month, never mind in just a few days. This was my third trip to Japan and my second time visiting Osaka and Kyoto.

Before I get to my recommendations, here are a few practical tips:

• When to arrive: Arriving in Osaka around midday lets you drop your bags at the hotel, rest and then hit Dōtonbori in the evening, when its famous neon lights are ablaze. 
• Getting there from the airport: The spotless, inexpensive airport limousine bus from Kansai Airport makes eight stops in Osaka, which include all of its main train stations.
• Getting around: Japan is world-famous for the ease and comprehensiveness of its public transit for a reason. You can – and certainly should – do this route without a car. High-speed (more expensive/faster) and local (less expensive/slower) trains cover every inch of this region and will shuttle you quickly between Kyoto and Osaka. Both cities have easy-to-use subway systems.
• What to pack: Certainly, your walking shoes and room in your stomach for a lot of ramen. Keep in mind that Japan has four distinct seasons and temperatures vary significantly between them. Check the weather ahead of time – and pack accordingly.
• How to structure your days: It’s tempting to cram your schedule when there are so many things to see. Yet realistically, you won’t be able to do more than two major sites – maybe three, if you’re really going for it – in a single day. This is especially true in Kyoto, where the best sites are far apart and can require up to an hour of travel to reach.
• Take it easy:  Don’t forget to eat, hydrate, rest and wander. And tell yourself you’ll be back.

Day 1: Osaka

Snack time .

You’ve been traveling all morning. It’s time to eat. (Unless, of course, you stuffed yourself en route on the amazing bento boxes you can get at Tokyo Station.) Keep it simple like I did and grab onigiri (rice balls) or a  sando  at 7-Eleven. There’s one on every corner, you’ll only spend a few dollars, and buying local snacks – especially in Japan – is among travel’s greatest joys. 

See the neon

If you’re in Osaka, go see the Glico man. It's a rule. Or maybe it's just mine. This famous animated sign of a runner, arms raised, about to cross the finish line in some hypothetical marathon in the sky, remains delightful despite the tourist crush on the streets below. This ad for the Glico candy company (candy bars give you energy – get it?) has become an informal mascot of Dotonbori , Osaka’s dining and nightlife district. After dark, it’s fun to wander here through the area’s many arcades, claw-machine and pachinko parlors, and shops. If you start here on a weeknight, it’s delightfully quiet.

Insider tip: Arrive before sunset and duck into a tiny side street to Hōzen-ji , a small temple known for its moss-covered statues. I was there when they were lighting the lanterns for the evening – a dreamy experience indeed.

Have a cheap and cheerful dinner

Dontonbori is teeming with restaurants. You can’t miss the distinctive signage advertising takoyaki (grilled octopus balls), gyoza and crab. My favorite takoyaki stand, Takoyaki Yoriabunzemon, is humble compared to its bombastic neighbors; there is no 5ft marquee. Inside, you’ll sit on a well-worn barstool while the single cook pours takoyaki batter into the famous round molds and serves it to you still piping hot, and slathered in mayo, barbecue sauce and bonito flakes. A warning: if you value the skin on the roof of your mouth, do not eat too fast here.

Day 2: Kyoto

Bullet train .

The Shinkansen train between Osaka and Kyoto is cheap and lightning fast. This trip is included in many Japanese rail passes , but if you’re paying for a standalone ticket, you’ll pay 1420 yen (about US$10). The trip takes 15 minutes, so slower local trains hardly seem worth the mildly cheaper price. Arrive midday and head to your hotel to check in and drop your luggage. Before you depart, don’t forget to look around Kyoto Station for the eki  ink stamp, which you can imprint into a notebook as a souvenir. Every train station in Japan has a uniquely designed stamp, even if you sometimes have to ask the attendant at smaller stations where to find it.

Stay in style

If there’s one place to splurge on a fabulous hotel in Japan, it’s in Kyoto. Whether you’re strolling under vibrant fall leaves or spring cherry blossoms, or wandering the narrow alleys and stepped streets of the Gion district , Kyoto is romantic, its temples and shrines otherworldly. My choice was Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto , a new luxury property that blends smart contemporary design with traditional Japanese accents. Beside its excellent restaurant – more on that below – the highlight is the hotel's updated approach to the traditional onsen . This vast, moodily lit indoor space offers heated pools and loungers amid beautiful rock formations and water features. And unlike many onsen experiences, this one is a bathing-suits-required, mixed-gender space where everyone can hang out. There is also no surcharge for entry.

Visit the temples

My boyfriend cheekily refers to Fushimi Inari Taisha , Kyoto’s famous shrine with its rows and rows of vermillion gates ascending a dramatic hillside, as “the Instagram shrine.” It’s hard to say that he’s wrong: the site is a favorite among foreign travelers for good reason. The gates are simply gorgeous and – yes – photogenic. Just don’t expect to find yourself there alone. 

Insider tip: Afterward, stop at the charming Vermillion Cafe for a sweet snack and coffee. Sit on the back porch, which overlooks a lovely stretch of forest, for especially serene vibes (spectacular in autumn).

If you still have energy left in the afternoon, head to Nishi Hongan-ji , a mammoth Buddhist temple complex that’s home to some of the largest wooden structures in Japan. After you marvel at the huge lanterns and expansive halls, stop by the brightly painted Chinese Gate, which dates back to the late 1500s. This temple is also within walking distance of Kyoto Station, and can be a good place to start or end your trip.

Day 3: Kyoto

Go for the gold.

Kinkaku-Ji , sometimes called the Golden Pavilion, is among Kyoto’s (and Japan’s) most famous and photographed landmarks. This UNESCO World Heritage site , where a brilliant gold temple appears to float along the shores of a serene lake, is well worth braving the crowds for, especially in sunny weather when the reflection of the lake glints off of the temple’s exterior walls. Go early, packing your patience – and you’ll understand instantly why so many people flock here. 

School Bus Coffee Stop is a charming spot for an easy, affordable breakfast or lunch in cozy, industrial-farmhouse-style surroundings. Comforting selections like bagel sandwiches and avocado toast are accompanied by the shop’s excellent, house-roasted coffee.

Modern love

For an aesthetic palate cleanser after a quick lunch, stop by the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art , which houses rotating exhibits, often of contemporary and modern art, in a fantastic brick structure that dates to the 1930s.

Taste sensation

And you’d be remiss if you stayed at the Mitsui without eating at its elegantly flamboyant Italian restaurant, Forni . Yes, there are pizzas and pastas on its à la carte menu. But I’d highly recommend the tasting dinner, where impeccably composed dishes like sea bream citrus tartare and grilled wagyu arrive on geometric plates and stands. It’s a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach.

Day 4: Osaka

Smart hotel.

After going luxe in Kyoto on meals and lodging, I came back to Osaka looking to save money without sacrificing too much comfort. I wasn’t ready to sleep in a sarcophagus-sized pod or get every meal at 7-Eleven. (Well, not every meal – just a few.) After getting off the train from Kyoto at the massive Shin-Osaka Station, I took the easy-to-use metro to one of the best places I’ve stayed in Japan, the chicly designed, austere-but-comfortable  Hotel Noum , just across the river from Temmabashi Station. The location made transportation connections easy and kept me sheltered from the stark urban rush of Umeda, Osaka’s high-rise business district. Rooms are small, comfortable and spotless; mine had a river view. The hotel also has an airy coffee shop in its lobby that attracts as many locals as travelers. I popped in here for a breakfast pastry and a latte and was ready to start the day.

Window(less) shopping

Even if you don’t stay in Umeda, visiting the neighborhood is a must. Spend a day wandering its cavernous, endless indoor shopping malls and underground food courts. You may never see daylight, but you will find everything from Hermès bags to the best 300-yen (US$2) gyoza you’ve ever tasted. I like to check in on the enormous red whale, which hangs suspended from the atrium of the Hep Five department store, which also happens to have a ferris wheel on its roof.

Enjoy a messy lunch

Train stations are where you’ll find some of the best food in Japan – and Osaka’s sprawling Umeda Station is no exception. My favorite train-station ramen is at Menya Takei, located behind the entry gates for the Hankyu Railway. Menya Takei specializes in tsukemen , in which the ramen noodles and broth are served separately. Dip the noodles into the broth to eat – yes, you’ll undoubtedly get it all over your clothes, but that’s part of the fun. Lots of laundry to do when you return home is a sure sign of a great trip. 

Insider tip : Ask the gate agent to let you through. They’ll make you pay for a rail ticket on the way in, and then may refund you on the way out.

From Osaka, hop back onboard the Shinkansen for more exploring in Japan, or do what I did and catch a quick, affordable domestic flight to Tokyo’s Haneda airport to connect to your flight home.

Keep planning your trip to Japan:

The 24 best things to do in Japan Find out if you need a visa to enter the country Take to the open road on these top drives How to discover Japan on a budget

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Everyone is visiting Japan. An extended currency slump means the tourists will just keep coming.

• Japan's weak currency is boosting tourism, with a record-breaking 3.1 million visitors in March.
• The devalued yen is encouraging tourists to spend more on luxury goods.
• The currency is negatively impacting outbound travel, with more Japanese tourists staying in the country.

Japan is a beloved tourist spot . A weak currency is ensuring that it will remain that way for foreigners.

The country just broke its pre-pandemic tourist record, with 3.1 million foreign visitors in March. The government said it's on track to surpass 2025's target of 32 million annual foreign visitors this year, after 8.6 million tourists visited in the first quarter of 2024.

Japan opened to tourists in October 2022, after over two years of strict, pandemic-induced border restrictions. Pent-up demand, combined with a cheaper currency, has fueled the record number of visitors.

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Tourists are staying longer and spending more due to the weak yen, which makes it cheaper for foreigners to purchase accommodation, activities, food, and gifts. The yen has fallen nearly 10% year-to-date , compared to the dollar.

Japan's currency has been depreciating largely due to high interest rates in the US, which makes the dollar more attractive to investors. A historic rate hike in Japan last month — the first since 2007 — did little to reverse the downward trend.

Japan is a tourist hot spot because of its status as a culture and entertainment icon, its natural wonders, and its unique cuisine. Tourists from South Korea, China, Taiwan, and the US made up the biggest portion of foreign visitors in March, according to Japan's National Tourism Organization.

Japanese carriers like Japan Airlines and ANA plan to cash in on the tourism boom by running more routes from Asia.

The sharp decline of the yen has also expanded demand for luxury goods. Foreign tourists are taking advantage of the currency discount by snapping up cheaper products in Japan from premium brands such as Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer, Chanel, and Prada, Bloomberg reported earlier this month.

While the weak yen creates a sweet spot for foreigners, it is severely hurting Japanese travelers.

The number of outbound travelers was less than half the number of inbound travelers in March, per the National Tourism Organization. Outbound Japanese travel was down 37% last month compared to the same period in 2019, though it ticked up from February, the agency's data shows.

High airfare costs and low buying power is compelling more locals to skip international travel in favor of domestic locations.

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