But there are general interest news stories about both of your examples. Source: your links.

I don't think it matters to many people that this was in japan, so much as it does that this is totoro and also that it was done by regular people who just wanted to make something nice. It'd be just as cool if grandparents in Ohio did this, expect they'd inevitably be sued into bankruptcy for it by disney.

Do you realize the linked article isn't talking about an actual bus stop? The movie My Neighbor Totoro has a scene at a bus stop. These people recreated the bus stop near their home/business.

So no, any bus stop that's been decorated is not "the same thing outside of Japan." This is specifically about being the bus stop from the movie.