Machigatari launches bilingual encyclopedia of nearly 600 Japanese towns

Independent developer Takashi Hiraoka has launched Machigatari, a free bilingual web encyclopedia that catalogs nearly 600 lesser-known towns across Japan for global travelers, students and culture enthusiasts. The platform aims to eventually cover all of Japan and spotlight places beyond Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

Why it matters: - Machigatari gives travelers and researchers a single place to explore towns that are often overshadowed by Japan’s biggest destinations. - The platform aims to surface local history, climate and daily life from across Japan, not just from major cities. - The site is free to use and does not require registration, lowering the barrier to entry for casual visitors and serious users alike.

What happened: - Independent developer Takashi Hiraoka launched Machigatari on Oct. 7, 2026. - The site is a bilingual digital encyclopedia built for global travelers, students and culture enthusiasts. - Machigatari currently features nearly 600 Japanese towns. - The platform is live at Machigatari.

The details: - The website is designed as a continuously evolving project, with regular updates to expand its town database. - Hiraoka’s stated goal is to eventually cover all 1,700-plus municipalities in Japan. - The site uses an app-like mobile interface that lets users swipe and flick through town profiles. - The desktop experience is keyboard-first, with instant search and navigation from town to town. - Every page is published in both English and Japanese. - The layout is intentionally minimal, with typography and photography taking priority over clutter. - Machigatari includes local narratives meant to read like a visual encyclopedia.

Between the lines: - The launch reflects growing demand for niche, place-based travel content that goes beyond standard sightseeing lists. - A bilingual format also suggests the project is aimed at both domestic users and international readers, not just tourists. - The emphasis on design and navigation signals that Machigatari wants to function as both a reference tool and an experience.

What's next: - Machigatari will keep adding and updating town profiles as it works toward documenting every municipality in Japan. - Hiraoka says the long-term goal is a complete nationwide encyclopedia of local towns. - More information and project updates are available at the project's website and Machigatari on X.

The bottom line: - Machigatari is trying to turn Japan’s overlooked towns into a browsable, bilingual digital atlas for anyone who wants to look beyond the country’s most famous cities.