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.

Amezaiku, a traditional craft of making artistic confectionery, has enchanted people for centuries.

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.

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.

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".

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.

Learning slurping skills keeps Kevin Pilley busy as he dries out amid the world's largest collection of pot noodles.

There is a race taking place between some of the big names of car making - Japan's Toyota and Honda and their Asian neighbour Hyundai - and a smaller camp led by the tech visionary Elon Musk.

Work to create rules for putting self-driving vehicles into practical use is kicking into high gear as progress continues on the development of such vehicles.

Paintings drawn by a 21-year-old woman with Down syndrome are enjoying widespread popularity in Japan.

Children living near the Fukushima nuclear meltdown site have been diagnosed with cancer at a rate of up to 50 times that of children elsewhere.

Why are toilet paper sales soaring in Japan despite a falling population?

Authorities are grappling with the aftermath of massive flooding that killed at least three people, as thousands of rescuers search for the missing.