From island-hopping in southerly Okinawa to farm experiences in rural Aomori and skiing in far northern Hokkaido, this diverse archipelago offers intriguing local culture, ancient history and epic wilderness experiences around every corner — and deeper exploration reaps huge rewards

(whatever your budget!)

A change is as good as a rest, so the saying goes. As well as a relaxing break, travelling to a new destination can spark creativity, and if your holiday takes in a lovely garden or a beautiful landsc

A RETRO REVIVAL, ‘TICKET TRAVEL’, INDIGENOUS FIRSTS — THESE ARE AMONG THE KEY TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS SET TO INFLUENCE THE YEAR AHEAD. WORDS: QIN XIE

Nestled at the foot of Mt. Fuji, Yamanashi Prefecture seeks to become the blueprint for Japan’s regional revitalization and restore hope for future generations, by promoting education, investment, innovation and its natural beauty.

Over-tourism and fighting through crowds doesn’t deliver a restful holiday, nor does queuing to see an ‘Instagrammable’ view. Travellers are opting to skip the obvious and find more real, sustainable