Japan

Japan

13 people found dead after 7.1 magnitude quake hits southwestern Japan

Dozens more remain trapped underneath the rubble as authorities race against the clock to save as many people as possible during the critical 72 hour rescue period. The tremor is the most powerful to hit the region in 10 years since a 7.0 magnitude quake recorded in 2016.

29/07/2026

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Japan issues tsunami alert after 7.1 magnitude quake in Kyushu

Japan issued a tsunami alert after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Kyushu, damaging buildings, cutting power and prompting emergency response efforts.

28/07/2026

Moments

This Hello Kitty ‘hotel’ allows guests to check-in but not stay

At this hotel-inspired exhibition in Tokyo, Sanrio fans can check-in with a room key, explore rooms, a garden and beach zone, but can’t stay the night.

27/07/2026

Japan

Japan revises succession law but retains ban on female emperors

Nationwide opinion polls in Japan have suggested broad public support for a female emperor, but some conservative political figures remain opposed to the idea.

17/07/2026

Climate

Tokyo workers told to wear shorts to work to save on AC

People in Japan - where many workers are forced to wear suits to work - are divided over whether shorts are appropriate for work, with one saying, “I just don't think hairy legs look very neat”.

16/07/2026

Residences

This Hokkaido lakeside retreat has open-air bathing and stunning décor

For a peaceful escape in northern Japan, WE Hotel Toya, Dusit Collection offers guests a scenic night’s sleep overlooking Lake Tōya. There are also Japanese and Thai delicacies to choose from, made with locally sourced ingredients, as well as a spa and indoor hot baths.

06/07/2026

Markets

Japanese yen sinks to 40-year low against the US dollar

The Japanese yen has dropped to its lowest level against the US dollar in four decades, putting markets on alert for urgent action by Tokyo to halt a slide that record intervention and higher interest rates have so far failed to stop.

30/06/2026

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Japan fans flood Shibuya as World Cup draw with Sweden sets up Brazil clash

Japan reach World Cup last 32 after 1-1 draw with Sweden on 26 June, prompting celebrations across Tokyo. , sparking huge celebrations in Tokyo’s Shibuya. They now face Brazil in the knockout stage.

26/06/2026

Travel News

Japan unveils ‘supreme class’ bullet train cabins

Already renowned for their speed and comfort, Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains are about to become even more luxurious, with new private suites set to launch this autumn featuring lockable doors, reclining seats and dedicated Wi-Fi.

23/06/2026

Japan

Japan to increase visa fees by more than five times starting on 1 July

Japan wants to help manage the rising costs of its immigration system by making tourist visas significantly more expensive in the first fee increase in nearly half a century.

22/06/2026

Economy

Bank of Japan raises its key interest rate to a three-decade high

The Bank of Japan raised its benchmark interest rate to 1% on Tuesday, citing challenges stemming from a weak Japanese yen and higher prices.

16/06/2026

Destinations

Want to book a life-changing holiday? Travel to these destinations

Searching for more than a beach break? These are the places that travellers say transformed their lives when they returned home.

15/06/2026

Japan

Watch: Bear captured after roaming through Japanese city

Authorities in Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo, captured a bear after a multi-day search linked to several sightings. Security camera footage showed the animal running through a shopping arcade, prompting school closures and safety warnings.

09/06/2026

Travel News

‘If you throw trash, you lose cash’: Tokyo tourists face fines

Visitors caught dropping rubbish in Tokyo’s popular Shibuya ward will now be fined on the spot as authorities battle the side effects of Japan’s record tourism boom.

03/06/2026

Japan

Bear injures four in Fukushima as annual number of attacks rises

Japan's Environment Ministry said 13 people were killed in more than 230 bear attacks in 2025, exceeding the number of fatalities and attacks in any preceding year.

02/06/2026

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Moment bear chases and attacks workers in Japan

CCTV footage captured a bear chasing and attacking a worker outside a factory in Fukushima. Four people were injured as the animal wandered through a residential area, prompting a large-scale response by police and emergency services.

02/06/2026

Japan

Japan’s southernmost region of Okinawa braces for Typhoon Jangmi

The tropical storm, sweeping through the southernmost Japanese prefecture of Okinawa, is expected to head towards Amami Oshima island on Tuesday.

01/06/2026

No Comment

Panic at Tokyo luxury mall after man sprays unidentified substance

Firefighters, police and hazmat crews surrounded a luxury shopping mall in Tokyo’s Ginza district after a man sprayed an unidentified substance inside, with 19 people taken to hospital.

25/05/2026

Japan

Around 20 people injured after spraying incident in Tokyo mall

Roads around the building in the shopping district of Ginza, where the mall is located, were blocked off following the incident, and fire trucks lined the street.

25/05/2026

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Ancient Buddhist hall with 1,000-year-old ‘eternal flame’ burns in Japan

A Buddhist hall on Japan’s Miyajima Island that housed an “eternal flame” believed to have burned for more than 1,000 years was destroyed in a fire, with aerial footage showing the building engulfed in flames.

21/05/2026

Japan

Japan arrests Americans over stunt at baby monkey Punch's zoo

The baby monkey became an internet star this year after the zoo posted photos of Punch clutching an IKEA plush orangutan for comfort after being rejected by his mother.

18/05/2026

Travel News

Japan’s Pokémon travel trend flies high with new themed airport

A regional airport in Japan is getting a Pokémon-inspired makeover as part of post-earthquake recovery efforts.

17/05/2026

Health news

Finding the right words for feelings could help ease anxiety, study

People with higher levels of autistic traits may be more likely to cope with anxiety caused by uncertainty by putting their emotions into words, a new study finds.

13/05/2026

Japan

Japanese man arrested after wife's remains found in zoo incinerator

The victim once told her relatives that her husband was threatening to "burn you until no trace of you will be left," public broadcaster NHK said, citing investigative sources.

01/05/2026

Mobility

Inside Japan’s real-life sci-fi town where robots coexist with humans

Developers say the aim of Woven City is to gather real-world data on how people and machines interact, helping improve safety and shape future regulations.

28/04/2026

Residences

See inside this Japanese hotel brand’s expanded Pokémon room range

Every stay includes special-edition MIMARU-original merchandise, such as themed fabric bags and collectable items.

27/04/2026