Train check: Sapporo to Furano on the Lavender Express
Denise Stephens travels from Sapporo to Furano on the Lavender Express train.
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Latest fromJapan
Whangārei mother teaches Japanese to rugby fans
Japanese lessons offered in Whangārei for World Cup-bound rugby fans.
Man screaming 'You die!' kills 33 at anime studio
The fire was the worst mass killing in Japan since 2016.
Whanganui judoka Keightley Watson wins gold
Keightley Watson has won gold in the Hong Kong Asian Cup over the weekend.
World champs to be valuable experience for climber
Whanganui's Rachel Māia's next challenge is world paraclimbing championships in France.
Grannies in running shoes: The Uber Eats of Japan
Ride-sharing is banned in Japan. So Uber had to improvise.
Record levels of rain in Japan force 1 million people to evacuate
The massive downpour has brought more than the monthly average in 72 hours.
Comment: Ivanka didn't belong anywhere near the DMZ or G-20 summit
Comment: Who benefits most from her government role — the American people or her family?
Peters: Japan restarting commercial whaling 'concerning'
But Green MP Gareth Hughes wants Peters to express his concerns to Japan personally.
Japan to import deadly viruses as scientists prepare for Rugby World Cup
SCMP: Experts want to study some of world's deadliest viruses in preparation for RWC.
Japan resumes commercial whaling. But is there an appetite for it?
New York Times: The industry took a more than 30 year hiatus. Can it survive upon return?
Kimono no-no: Kim K ditches label name after backlash
Social media users were quick to express their outrage when the name was announced.
Sing along: Around the world in three Karaoke bars
The universal language of Karaoke translates into any environment, almost. . .
Cleansing plastic from oceans: Big ask for a country that loves wrap
New York Times: Japan is showcasing plastics recycling at the G20.
Japan Airlines bans pilots from drinking - again
The ruling comes after a series of incidents in which pilots have been unable to fly.
Watch: Zoo's hilarious lion drill with person in lion costume
Notice the expressions of the actual real lions.
In Japan, it's a riveting TV plot: Can a worker go home on time?
New York Times: I Will Not Work Overtime, Period! - modest Japan TV hit strikes a chord.
Japan pushes 300 North Korean boats out of fishing grounds
Japan says hundreds of North Korean boats tried to poach in oceans rich with squid.
NZ's healthcare system ranked 18th globally
New Zealand's healthcare system ranked 18th place jointly with the UK.
Inside Japan's 'most exclusive' naked spa
A exclusive relaxation hot spot requires you to check your inhibitions at the door.
The economic signal we should all be worried about
COMMENT: Low interest rates aren't always ideal.
Japan desperately needs more day care workers. New mothers need not apply
New York Times: She had a job crucial for Japan. Then she got pregnant and was forced out.
Blowing your nose, eating on the go, littering: What not to do in Japan
Japan's customs can be confusing, but there are simple ways to fit in when you travel
#KuToo movement gains momentum after minister's high-heel demand
Minister declares women wearing high heels "is necessary and reasonable" in the workplace.
Accident-damaged Japanese import numbers on the rise
Kiwi car dealer in Japan worries about accident repaired cars heading for NZ.
Japan's extreme recluses already faced stigma. Now, after knifings, they're feared
New York Times: Even before the recent violence, the recluses were vilified.
Traffic pollution levels in Auckland were compared with city in Japan - and the news isn't good
Auckland had higher levels of a harmful compound when compared with a Japanese city.
Let's not upset the President: The White House tells the navy to hide the U.S.S. McCain
New York Times: The hide-the-ship scheme during Trump's trip drew a torrent of criticism.
Animal cafes: Japan's ugly otter-smuggling underbelly
There has been a craze in Tokyo for shops that feature live animal petting zoos.
'I will kill you': Horror stabbing of young girls at bus stop
A man has attacked 19 people in a stabbing rampage.
Trump in Japan: Pomp and tense circumstance
The president and prime minister tried mightily to minimise their differences.
Trump climbs into sumo ring to present 30kg trophy
"Sumo wrestling," the US president marvelled later.
The city with the best ramen in the world
Where to find the best ramen, okonomiyaki and takoyaki.
Escape Tokyo heat for these calming Japanese waters
If you want the beauty and culture without the crowds, consider Kusatsu Onsen.