Taking advantage of rising hotel prices and the boom in shachuhaku (sleeping in your car), the Japanese convenience store chain Lawson has rolled out a new pilot program that lets travelers spend the night in select store parking lots, reports Tokyo Weekender.

From July 14, 2025 through June 2026, six Chiba locations—Minamibōsō, Kamogawa, Onjuku, Ichinomiya, Futtsu — are offering “Car-bini” (a play on the Japanese word konbini, short for “convenience store) koRV-park-style spaces for ¥2,500–¥3,000 ($16–$20) a night.

The concept is simple: reserve and pre-pay online, arrive at 6 p.m., occupy two marked spaces, and stay until 9 a.m. Guests get access to store restrooms, an extension cord for electricity, and trash disposal for one bag. “Lawson stores are open 24/7—providing constant access to food, drinks, bathrooms and even ice cream,” Tokyo Weehender notes. That’s a big upgrade over rural michi-no-eki that lock their gates at sunset.

A partnership with the Japan RV Association keeps the experiment orderly, addressing growing concerns about noise, litter, and idling engines at free rest areas. A Lawson spokesperson told Tokyo Weekender that “many customers already take naps in store lots, but inconsistent policies created confusion.” By formalizing the stay, the chain turns underused pavement into revenue and gives drivers peace of mind.

Only one vehicle per store is available during the trial, but Lawson hopes to expand nationwide. Until then, road-trippers can literally fall asleep under the glow of a Lawson sign — proof that in Japan, convenience truly never sleeps.

Previously:
• Watch this clever Japanese rice ball hack
• This video shows you how to travel in Japan on the cheap
• How to get food in Japan without knowing how to speak Japanese

TL;DR: These Digital Binoculars can see at night, snap photos, and record video. They’re also only $90 (reg. $159.99).

Most binoculars are great in daylight but nearly useless once the sun goes down. If you’ve ever tried spotting wildlife or navigating a trail in low light, you know how frustrating that can be. These Mini Digital Night Vision Binoculars solve that problem. They can see at night, snap photos, and zoom in like life is a video game. It’s honestly pretty sick, and they’re also on sale. Instead of paying $159.99, you can pick them up for only $89.99.

A great gift for outdoorsy people

These binoculars aren’t just about looking cool; they actually pull off some serious night vision magic. You get 10x optical zoom plus 4x digital zoom, so you can spot wildlife, check out far-off landscapes, or scan your campsite without missing a thing. The built-in 850nm infrared light lets you see clearly in total darkness, and the 2.4-inch HD screen shows everything in real time. You can even see up to 1,000 feet ahead, which is wild for something this compact.

And yes, they also take pictures and record video. You can capture your nighttime adventures in full 1080p HD, then relive the moment or share it with your friends. With seven brightness levels and four different viewing modes, including infrared and that bright green spy-movie look, you can tweak the visuals depending on where you are.

Even with all that tech packed in, these things are super portable. They weigh under half a pound and fit easily into a backpack or jacket pocket. The silicone buttons feel solid, and the rechargeable battery gives you hours of use on a single charge. You can top it off with a USB-C cable, and there’s an auto-shutoff feature to save power when you’re not using it.

Basically, they’re a solid choice if you want to explore the dark without lugging around bulky gear. Whether you’re camping, night fishing, or just curious what’s out there after sunset, these binoculars have your back.

There’s still time to get a pair of Mini Digital Night Vision Binoculars on sale for $89.99.

Mini Digital Night Vision Binoculars with 1080p HD Recording

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According to a June 17 report by Fox News, the company recently introduced two new robots, HopeJR and Reachy Mini, designed to be open, affordable, and easy for anyone to use.

HopeJR is a full-size robot with 66 moving joints, capable of walking, using its arms, and performing a variety of movements independently.

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Hugging Face plans to price it around $3,000, far below what robots of this scale usually sell for. This price makes it more practical for schools, small research teams, or individuals who want to explore robotics without needing a large budget.

Additionally, Reachy Mini is about 11 inches tall and designed for use on a desk. It includes a camera, microphone, and speaker, and it can move its head in six different directions.

Reachy Mini is expected to cost between $250 and $300. It is made to be simple to build and customize. It also integrates with Hugging Face Spaces, which provides users with access to over 500,000 AI tools already available through the Hugging Face Hub.

Both robots are open-source, which means anyone can build them from scratch, modify their functionality, or even add new features.

Hugging Face CEO Clem Delangue said this open model is meant to keep robotics accessible and prevent the field from being controlled by a few large companies.

Meanwhile, Mattel, the company behind brands like Barbie and Hot Wheels, has announced a partnership with OpenAI. What’s the goal of the collaboration? Read the full story.

World of Dypians adds a new dimension to Web3 gaming with its MMORPG where players interact with AI, blockchain and Metaverse. Recently World of Dypians launched its Mini App on Telegram to make earning rewards more for mobile players.

This article will go through the features of the Mini App, how to earn through the reward system and the airdrop for those who join the platform.

What is World of Dypians?

World of Dypians is a virtual world where players get to play and get rewarded for their commitment and activity. It’s an MMORPG that combines AI and blockchain with Metaverse.

With over 1 million members, it has a thriving Web3 community. The recent Mini App launch on Telegram allows players to earn rewards directly on the platform.

The Mini App already has over 20,000 users who are trying out the app’s features, such as daily rewards, mini-games and a social referral system. By playing daily and inviting friends, players can earn coins, unlock rewards and grow their presence in World of Dypians.

Earning and Reward System

The World of Dypians Mini App keeps it interesting with multiple ways to earn coins, which can be converted to USDT. For those who log in daily, the app has a Daily Session feature with a Daily Streak that rewards consistency. As players log in, their rewards grow, starting from 100 coins on Day 1 and 3,000 coins on Day 7. Missing a day will reset the streak.

The Mini App categorizes earnings into three: Game Coins, Task Coins and Invite Coins. Players earn Game Coins through in-app gameplay, and collect Task Coins and Invite Coins by completing tasks and referring friends. With a simple dashboard, players can track their coin earnings, see which tasks they’ve completed and stay updated on their progress in the community.

One of the features is the referral system, which allows players to earn extra coins by inviting friends. It’s structured in a way that rewards both the inviter and the invitee, verified users earn more per referral.

World of Dypians Airdrop and Future Rewards

World of Dypians offers more than in-game rewards; there’s also an airdrop opportunity. Players who stay active on the Mini App can keep earning and accumulate points for future airdrop opportunities. The Future Airdrop Leaderboard will track users’ accumulated coins to determine eligibility for special ongoing rewards.

Moving forward, World of Dypians will be adding more airdrop options and partnering with blockchain projects so active players will continue to get exclusive rewards, including unique digital assets and tokens.

More Airdrop Opportunities

Furthermore, the World of Dypians Airdrop on Gate.io is open, and players can win part of a $10,000 premium subscription prize pool. Players need to create a game account on World of Dypians and then complete in-game tasks like opening a Daily Bonus Chest to qualify. This campaign is from October 24 to November 23.

There is also the BNB Chain Airdrop Alliance Program, which connects World of Dypians with other Web3 projects to expand the scope of the rewards.

Game and Task Features

The Mini App has various features to keep the gameplay fresh and reward players for their activity. In the Game Section, players can open chests with random coin amounts, available hourly. In the Earn Section, players have daily opportunities like mini-missions and social media tasks to earn more coins and stay active in the community.

Players can also compete for the Weekly Leaderboard where top players will win part of a $2,000 USDT prize pool each week.

In-Game Treasure Hunts: A Separate Adventure

While the World of Dypians Mini App on Telegram offers accessible daily rewards and social engagement, the game itself brings players deeper into the experience through its in-game Treasure Hunts. Currently in Beta, early access to the game is available on Steam.

One of the best parts of World of Dypians is the Treasure Hunts, where players search for hidden chests across the game world. These limited-time events last around 90 days and involve daily quests and leaderboard challenges.

Top players receive rewards with tokens like COOKIE, IMX or SKL. Each hunt has its own theme sometimes tied to a partner like the recent Cookie3 or Immutable Treasure Hunts. For example, the Immutable Treasure Hunt from August 15 to November 13, 2024, has 90 days to find the treasures and get a share of the $20,000 IMX token reward pool.

Editor’s note: Written with the assistance of AI – Edited and fact-checked by Jason Newey.

LINE, the popular messaging service in Asia, has launched its new Mini Dapps and Dapp Portal. This move could bring blockchain technology, often called “Web3,” to millions of everyday users. While Telegram showed how chat apps can host decentralized games and apps, LINE aims to make it easy for more people to discover, play, and trade digital assets without leaving the familiar LINE Messenger app.

What Is the Dapp Portal?

The Dapp Portal is a hub inside LINE Messenger where people can find and use “Mini Dapps.” These Mini Dapps are small web-based applications built on blockchain technology. Users don’t need to download separate apps or set up complicated crypto wallets.

LINE’s Kaia Wallet, part of the Dapp Portal, handles all the digital items for them. That means newcomers can try out Web3 services without worrying about private keys or long strings of letters and numbers. It’s a simple idea: if you can chat, you can explore these new blockchain tools.

Many people see Web3 as the future of the internet because it shifts control from big companies to regular users. LINE wants to be at the forefront of that shift. Offering Mini Dapps can attract creators, developers, and everyday folks who are curious about digital assets, such as tokens and NFTs (unique digital items).

This expansion also taps into the growing interest in blockchain across Asia, especially in places like Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand, where LINE is extremely popular.

Meet the First Mini Dapps

LINE has introduced 32 Mini Dapps that were built with its Kaia Wave program. One highlight is Bombie and Cattea, created by Pluto Studio, which previously attracted 43 million users in only six months. There’s also Captain Tsubasa -RIVAL, inspired by a famous soccer manga that’s loved in many Asian countries.

Another Dapp called Superz rewards users who keep fit, proving that blockchain apps aren’t limited to gaming or finance. Whether you’re into soccer, cuddly characters, or healthy living, there’s likely a Dapp that sparks your interest.

Exploring Dapp Portal Inside LINE Messenger

Getting started with the Dapp Portal is easy—just open its Official Account in LINE Messenger, and you’re good to go. When you land on the “Home” screen, you’ll find a quick overview of your rewards and any missions waiting for you. These missions might have you play a short game, test out a new feature, or grab a unique NFT. Completing them earns you KAIA coins, Dapp points, or even more NFTs, making it a fun and hassle-free way for anyone—especially newcomers—to step into the world of blockchain.

KAIA coins are tokens you can earn directly, though you’ll need to set up and link your Kaia Wallet to claim them. Dapp points come from participating in tasks, and you can later swap them for coins. Some missions also offer NFTs as rewards, giving you unique digital collectibles to keep, trade, or show off.

Play, Trade, and Market

• Play Tab: Explore a wide range of Mini Dapps by category or popularity. Each Dapp has its own page with details on missions and any special items it offers.

• Trade Section: Swap, buy, and cash out digital assets. You can quickly convert KAIA coins or trade other tokens. Transaction fees and steps are clearly explained, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Market Section: Browse, buy, or sell NFTs from various Dapps. You can compare prices at a glance and put your unwanted NFTs up for sale in just a few taps.

My Page serves as your personal dashboard for all things digital in the Dapp Portal. It displays your entire lineup of tokens and NFTs, along with your balances of KAIA coins, Dapp points, and any other rewards you’ve accumulated.

From here, you can organize your favorites, keep track of everything you’ve collected, and decide what to do next. Whether you’re a first-time user or a veteran NFT collector, My Page simplifies how you manage and enjoy your blockchain assets.

How Does This Compare to Telegram?

Telegram proved that messenger-based Web3 services can work by hosting several popular crypto games and mini apps on the TON blockchain.

What sets LINE apart is its deep local presence and the trust it’s built over the years. Many people in Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand rely on LINE for their day-to-day communication and even payments. That kind of loyalty might make all the difference when it comes to introducing new blockchain features.

LINE’s focus on an all-in-one platform may also draw in more developers, who can use the Kaia Wave program and software tools to create their own Mini Dapps.

Why Asia Is Eager for Web3

Asia has a reputation for adopting new tech quickly. In Japan and South Korea, for example, blockchain and NFTs have gained popularity in gaming, art, and entertainment. Governments in the region often support or regulate these industries in ways that let them innovate.

LINE’s local expertise lets it design features that fit these cultures, so it’s better positioned to meet user needs than a global app that doesn’t understand local habits. If LINE’s Web3 features become mainstream in its core markets, that success could spread to other regions and help push wider adoption of decentralized apps.

A Glimpse into the Future

As LINE adds more Mini Dapps, it may face some challenges. Scaling up to handle millions of transactions might be tough, and regulators keep updating the rules around crypto in different countries. Still, there’s a huge opportunity here.

Services like NFT trading, DeFi (decentralized finance), and even digital identity management could find a home in a familiar messaging environment. LINE’s plan to introduce over 1,000 Mini Dapps by 2025 shows it’s serious about staying ahead of the curve. If everything goes well, LINE may become a leading example of how messaging platforms can drive Web3 adoption.

Editor’s note: Written with the assistance of AI – Edited and fact-checked by Jason Newey.