To know the latest domestic information, the news paper is the best resource. Berfore internet, it's very difficult to get it. However, Fortunatly, there are serveral online resource to get them now. You can access them even if you are not living in Japan.
The Japan Times
The Japan Times is privinding paper base and online base news. It has advantage in Economic and Political more the other news pager. You may get it at Kiosk. It's also providing weekly paper book.
Japan Today
Japan Today is providing Japanese general news such as Natonal, Crime, Plitics ,Entertainment and etc.. It was lunched in 2000. This is an enough resource to get the recent Japanese information casually. It links to Metropolis. It's providing the life information in Jpanan. The Japan Today also has the web page for mobile device. Japan Today can be red only on line.
METROPOLIS
http://metropolis.co.jp/default.asp
The METOROPOLIS is providing Japanese entertainment information.
Gaijin Pot.com
The Gaijin Pot is providing a comunity space and classfifieds information. You may also watch job seeker's information.