The bartender took a while to warm up but ended up being a great translator and all-round funny guy.

Later this year, outdoor-gear retailer North Face will offer its environmentally conscious shoppers at its outlet in Tokyo's posh Harajuku fashion district a chance to save the planet.

A Japanese tourism board has highlighted three unwanted habits in a bid to stop holidaymakers behaving badly when visiting

A Snoopy Museum dedicated to the artwork of Charles M Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts comic strip, is opening its doors in Japan.

Japan's burgeoning whisky business is driving rice farmer Hiroshi Tsubouchi to hit the booze.

At first glance, the cafe, which also serves alcohol, looks like any other except for an altar next to the countertop bar with a Buddha statue set against a gold backdrop.

Authorities in Japan have ordered almost 250,000 from their homes following Saturday's 7.3 magnitude earthquake.

A Kiwi couple living in the Japanese city hit by two earthquakes have been huddled in their car with their three young children for the past two nights.

Adding to the ongoing trend of Japanese animal cafes, a lunch spot dedicated to the humble hedgehog has opened in Tokyo.

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.

Japan is known to be pricey - so here are some ways to enjoy your Japanese holiday on a budget.

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.

In a capital city that's passionately embracing the future, Bridget Jones finds traces of a glorious past.

A giant squid made its way into Japan's Toyama Bay on Christmas Eve, treating onlookers to a rare sighting of the magnificent creature.

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.