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5 years on from the tsunami
On March 11th 2016, it was exactly five years since the earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan's northern coast. To mark this anniversary, this March at Inside Japan Tours is all about Tohoku: looking back on its troubles, celebrating its charms, and taking stock of how far the region has come in the past five years.
To read all about this beautiful region, including first-hand accounts of the disaster and recovery, visit our dedicated tsunami page:
The Japan Tsunami 5 Years On
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21/11/2016
Japan airports to provide duty free shops on arrival
Picking up some duty free will soon be possible at arrivals in a number of Japanese international airports.
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14/11/2016
Japan's elderly population turning to Uber
An ageing population, rural communities and regulations in big cities mean Uber is taking a different approach in Japan.
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17/10/2016
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones banned on Japanese airlines
Japan is the latest country to ban the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on flights.
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03/10/2016
New programme to boost travel to Japan's hot spring resorts
Visitors are being encouraged to enjoy the health benefits of onsen and the natural environment surrounding them.
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27/09/2016
Snake causes bullet train emergency stop
It is unclear how the snake came to be on board the shinkansen.
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09/09/2016
New Yamanote Line station to be designed by Kengo Kuma
The designs for the new station have been inspired by the paper-folding art of origami.
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07/09/2016
Haneda Airport gets helpful rollerskating robots
Small red and white robots could be the future of customer service at Tokyo?s Haneda Airport.
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25/08/2016
Japanese government aims to beat Tokyo-Osaka maglev train target
Government investment will bring the completion of the innovative train route forward.
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23/08/2016
Orlando Bloom in Japan to promote new Dreamliner route
Orlando Bloom talked about his love for all things Japanese at an event to celebrate the new Dreamliner route.
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16/08/2016
Train routes app launches for Japan Rail Pass
The new app is an essential tool for those travelling around the country using the Japan Rail Pass.
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15/08/2016
Restaurant train launched between Tokyo and Chichibu city
Dine on board and enjoy the delights of Chichibu when arriving at your destination.
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05/08/2016
New app translates train announcements from Japanese
The app can translate both automated recording and live voice announcements.
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01/08/2016
Weekly express bus passes to be launched for visitors to Japan
The bus passes may be more convenient, but come with a rather hefty price tag.
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15/06/2016
New sightseeing train with panoramic windows launched in Niigata Prefecture
Made up of an observation car and a dining car, Echigo Tokimeki Resort Setsugekka is a high spec train made with sightseeing in mind.
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31/05/2016
Revival of tourism could be key to quake-hit Kyushu's recovery
Strong earthquakes have caused much disruption in Kyushu, with tourism suffering as a result.
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18/05/2016
Woodblock prints provide inspiration for new Japanese passport design
The new passport design will feature 24 of the 36 views of Mount Fuji by Katsushika Hokusai.
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10/05/2016
Electric car charging points outnumber petrol stations in Japan
The availability of electric car charging points has helped drive sales of the vehicles in Japan.
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19/04/2016
Kumamoto Airport reopens to commercial passengers
While passengers can arrive at Kumamoto Airport, flights are departing empty due to a lack of infrastructure to process passengers.
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13/04/2016
Invisible trains being developed in Japan
The trains will appear invisible by reflecting the surrounding landscape.
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08/04/2016
Waterproof aircraft technology being developed in Japan
New technology could make aircraft more weatherproof and therefore cut down on delays and changed routes.
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04/04/2016
Japan Rail Passes now to be available in-country
It will no longer be too late to purchase a rail pass once you have arrived in Japan.
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29/03/2016
Conference delegates to benefit from fast lanes at Japanese airports
Two of Japan?s top international airports will offer the service to delegates and VIPs.
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22/03/2016
Thousands grounded in Japan due to airline computer glitch
Passengers flying with All Nippon Airways and some smaller airlines are affected by a computer failure.
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18/03/2016
Electric cars must overcome Hokkaido?s cold conditions
Japan?s most northerly island provides greater challenges for car manufacturers.
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03/03/2016
Kyoto trials foreigner friendly taxis
Foreigner-friendly taxis should help to reduce the language barrier between drivers and passengers.
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04/02/2016
Smartphone app for underground areas around Tokyo Station being tested
The app is not expected to be rolled out fully until 2018.
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03/02/2016
Yamaguchi Prefecture claims to be the new Australia
Ever thought of visiting Japan instead of Australia? There may be more similarities than you think.
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28/01/2016
Ground breaking ceremony held at Shinagawa maglev station
Maglev trains are capable of running at 500 kilometres per hour.
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22/01/2016
10 of 30 best sites in Japan are found in Tokyo, Kanagawa and Chiba prefectures
While three of Japan?s prefectures were heavily represented, the whole country is brimming with fascinating sites.
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12/01/2016
Japanese train company keeps station open for sole passenger
A sole student keeps the Kami-Shirataki station in use, as she travels to school each day.
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06/01/2016
Dog gets free trip to Japan
The four-legged passenger was not discovered by its owner or airport staff prior to the flight.
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02/12/2015
Nara railway workers install turtle crossing points
So far it is believed that ten turtles have avoided being crushed by using the crossing points.
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11/11/2015
Mitsubishi takes Japan's first ever passenger jet to the skies
A successful test flight means MRJ can continue on its projected schedule.
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10/11/2015
Japan plans more flights to regional airports
Japan has huge ambitions for the future of tourism in the country.
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02/11/2015
A sweet ride offered aboard luxurious Japanese train
Those with a sweet tooth will love the opportunity to enjoy French-style confections aboard a luxury train.
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28/10/2015
Lonely Planet includes Japan on its Best in Travel 2016 list
Japan is one of the places to be next year, according to the experts at Lonely Planet.
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21/10/2015
The best autumn leaf viewing spots in Japan revealed
Never mind cherry blossom season, autumn is when Japan really glows.
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16/10/2015
Japan tests full body scanners at 3 international airports
If the trials go well, the new scanners are to be rolled out to all Japanese international airports by 2020.
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12/10/2015
Ninja Council formed to promote tourism in Japan
Officials from ten Japanese prefectures have joined together to create a ninja council in order to promote tourism.
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09/10/2015
Japan's regional airports handling 60% more international flights
More flights are connecting Japan to foreign countries than five years ago.
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08/10/2015
Celebrate all things shinkansen this weekend
High-speed train fans will want to attend this special event across the weekend.
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05/10/2015
Robot translators could be future of tourism in Japan
Could robot translators help tourists and locals communicate in Japan?
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02/10/2015
Japan to test self-driving taxis on public roads next year
Driver-less taxis could be seen in Tokyo as soon as 2020.
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21/09/2015
Selfie sticks banned at western Japan's train stations
Selfie sticks are seen as a safety concern and an obstruction to the flow of passengers on train stations.
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17/09/2015
Hokkaido shinkansen to begin service in March
The additional line will connect to existing ones and improve the bullet train network.
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16/09/2015
Dragon sightseeing trail gets tourists off the beaten track in Japan
The dragon route allows visitors to see a less well-known side to Japan.
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07/09/2015
Japanese airports to introduce mobile fingerprinting terminals
From next year, immigration should be quicker at Japanese international airports.
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04/09/2015
New Japan tourism knowledge sharing site launched
Nippon Quest allows users to get the inside info on all things Japan.
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03/09/2015
See Hiroshima prefecture from a cat's perspective
A city in Hiroshima prefecture is offering you a cat as a tour guide.
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19/08/2015
Osaka's Kansai International Airport sees busiest month on record
Visitor numbers are up in Osaka, as the international airport welcomes more passengers than ever.
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14/08/2015
Japanese railway station installs cameras to detect drunken passengers
West Japan Railway is trying to cut down the number of accidents involving drunken passengers and trains.
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13/08/2015
Tourists issued with etiquette manual for visiting Kyoto
Reading up on the rules of etiquette is a good idea before travelling to Japan.
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10/08/2015
Japan improves upon the skateboard
A battery-powered device no bigger than a laptop could be the next big transport trend.
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04/08/2015
Incredible drone footage highlights beauty of Kagoshima
Drone footage shows how diverse the beauty of Japan actually is.
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13/07/2015
Tokyo to introduce 2 new subway lines
New subway routes across Tokyo mean it should be easier to navigate the city in the future.
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