Cherry blossoms in Japan are blooming at a hastened pace this year as a result of a warm spell.

In the heart of Beppu next to the waterfront. It was close to the train station and had a mountain view out of nearly every window.

Airbnb will soon give landlords a better way to find out how the strangers showing up at their properties are behaving.

Japan yesterday mourned the thousands who lost their lives in a massive earthquake and tsunami five years ago.

In the three prefectures that suffered severely from the tsunami, local governments and companies are planning "recovery tourism" tours.

Five years after Fukushima, the then prime minister reveals the "paper-thin" margin that stood between his country and an unimaginable future.

The service between Auckland and Osaka was suspended in 2013.

Kyoto is famous for its many shrines and temples and for night-time Hanami festivals, coinciding with the seasonal blooming of the cherry blossoms.

Some people in Japan find solace in sending stuffed animals on trips in their place.

Faced with a shortage of hotels, Tokyo's Ota district has approved renting out rooms and private homes to accommodate a growing number of tourists.

McDonald's has been struggling in Japan, could chocolate covered fries save the day?

Sweating in Auckland's humidity this morning, we couldn't help but fantasise about crisp mountain air.

Japanese stocks plunged into a bear market amid a slump in equities across Asia.

For the past 3 years, a train has stopped at the remote Kami-Shirataki station in far north of Japan just twice a day, for the service of 1 student.

Five years after tragedy hit Japan, chart-topping band Princess Princess reunite for one final fundraiser.

As part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's drive to reinvigorate the world's third-largest economy, Japan is striving to accelerate innovation ahead of hosting the Olympics in 2020.

The National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), based in Japan, has played the leading role in developing a small sensor that capable of detecting cancer and other diseases.

The Bank of Japan still has policy options to continue its unprecedented monetary easing, says Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, days after the central bank announced it wouldn't expand its main stimulus target.

Jamie Joseph coaching Japan will require significant concessions from that union and the Highlanders, writes Wynne Gray.

Off the Japanese coast, Eric Young explores an island where stunning art meets brilliant architecture.

Japan has advised the International Whaling Commission it will resume whaling in the Southern Ocean but has reduced its intended take.

John Key has described Japan's decision to resume whaling in the Southern Ocean as a show of "bad faith".

Eleven ghost ships, some with decaying corpses on board, have turned up off the coast of Japan.

The New Zealand Government has hit out at Japan's decision to resume Southern Ocean whaling - a move which defies the International Whaling Commission.

The Japanese government has drafted an outline of comprehensive policies related to the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact.

The Japanese government is planning to establish about 10 centers in fiscal 2016 to help develop nursing care robots to help elderly.

Tokyo's Hato Bus is proving to be one of the bright lights in Japan's tourism industry.

A night at the sumo stadium is strangely reminiscent of a job at the freezing works, writes Dean Parker.