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Tokyo

Tokyo
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Tokyo. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Head of Government
Governor Yuriko Koike
Taiwanese officials have warned that the sustained presence of mainland Chinese government vessels across parts of the first island chain aims to establish a “new status quo”. Photo: Xinhua
Taiwan

Mainland China’s ship activity near Taiwan hits record for third month in a row

Beijing has ramped up its law-enforcement and survey operations around island since Tokyo and Manila announced boundary talks.

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Spain

How to be a good tourist; a guide for the modern traveller

United States

As I see it | The US is telling its trading partners – do as I say, not as I do

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China-Japan relations

Japan lawmakers to visit China in bid to cool row, but thaw unlikely: experts

‘China opposes the Takaichi administration’s erroneous policies but it does not reject exchanges with Japan’: academic Xu Weijun.

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One analyst in China says an expected visit by a Japanese delegation implies that in Tokyo “there are still political forces that hope to manage differences through dialogue and restore exchanges”. Photo: Shutterstock
Japan

Video | Japan express train accident kills 4 workers

A Tokyo-bound express train hit the men as they worked on the tracks.

Japan

4 workers die after being hit by train north of Tokyo

Four of the seven workers engaged in weeding work died, while the other three were uninjured.

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China travel

From travel warnings to visa fees: why Chinese tourism to Japan is in free fall

Mainland visitors fell more than 56 per cent in July, compounding a slump driven by escalating diplomatic tensions and soaring costs.

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A Chinese tour group cross a road in the Ginza shopping district in Tokyo in November 2025, when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan caused outrage in Beijing. Photo: AFP
Japan

Will Putin’s Kuril Islands visit push Japan closer to Ukraine?

With its need for Russian gas limiting fresh sanctions, analysts say Tokyo has few economic weapons left to respond.

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Japan

Japan’s hotels embrace sleep tourism with brain scans and custom beds

With burnt-out guests eager to unplug, properties from Tokyo to Zushi are turning overnight stays into medical-grade rest.

Asia housing and property

The View | Japan property is booming, but China is where the value lies

Japan’s commercial property market is in a league of its own, but the sharp repricing in China creates compelling opportunities for investors.

The Shanghai skyline as seen from Lujiazui on July 8. Premium buildings in the city’s central business district are outperforming the rest of the market, creating opportunities for investors seeking to position for a stronger recovery. Photo: Getty Images
Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Hong Kong’s night economy must focus on after-dark vibes, not events

Organising the biggest spectacles or boasting of the loudest nightlife matters less than understanding why people choose to stay out in the first place.

Illustration: Henry Wong
Japan

Japan PM avoids Yasukuni Shrine on WWII anniversary, 4 ministers visit

Before taking office last October, Takaichi visited Yasukuni several times but has refrained from going to the shrine since becoming PM.

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Japan

What does the first visit to the Kuril Islands by Vladimir Putin mean for China?

Diplomatic offensive seen to signal growing alignment between Beijing and Moscow to isolate Tokyo ahead of key November summit.

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Japan

Video | Russia’s Putin visits disputed islands sparking protest from Japan

The Russian president inspected the Pacific fleet on his first trip to the disputed archipelago, drawing a protest from Tokyo.

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin interacts with local residents on Iturup island, one of four islands in the contested chain known as the Kuril Islands in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, on August 13, 2026. (Photo by Gavriil Grigorov / POOL / AFP)
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Japan

Video | Record rain in Japan causes deadly flooding

The heavy rainfall in Chiba prefecture has inundated transport routes, cut power to thousands and disrupted peak holiday travel near Tokyo.

A man walks on a flooded road after torrential rain in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, August 13, 2026. Kyodo/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MANDATORY CREDIT. JAPAN OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN JAPAN.
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Hong Kong society

Hongkongers stranded after storm disrupts trains and roads to Narita airport

Hong Kong tour groups in Tokyo forced to seek alternative routes, with some travellers stuck overnight at various locations.

Japan

Heavy rains in Japan leave 8 dead, thousands stranded at Narita airport

Record rainfall in Chiba prefecture inundates transport routes, cuts power to thousands and disrupts peak holiday travel near Tokyo.

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SCMP Highlights

Influencers spark Canto revival; Stephen Chow’s genius: 7 Lifestyle highlights

From a quiet modern home in Tokyo to The Odyssey’s age-old concept of hospitality, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Donnie Wong, Andrew Bui and Mihi Matshingana are among a surge of Cantonese-speaking influencers making a splash on social media this year. Photos: Donnie Wong, Andrew Bui, Frites Macau
China-Japan relations

China detains Japanese executives in dual-use technology export probe: report

Several Japanese detained upon entering China, according to newspaper, as Beijing alleges foreign firms violated export restrictions.

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China-Japan relations

‘Ghosts of the 20th century’: how China and Japan clash over post-WWII narrative

In quest to win trust of Asian neighbours, Beijing is intensifying its rhetoric against Tokyo’s changing defence posture.

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South Korea

As record heatwave hits Asia, fears of energy crisis and health risks mount

Asia’s power infrastructure may come under pressure due to high demand for air conditioning amid lingering concerns over energy supply.

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Two tourists use a hand fan and an umbrella to seek relief from the extreme heat in Seoul on Thursday. Photo: EPA
SCMP Highlights

Hong Kong’s dining battle; TV host’s insomnia struggle: 7 Lifestyle highlights

From Singapore’s dragon dance to French cultural influence in Hong Kong, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

The Red Cuisine owner Joyce Yuen serves dishes at her restaurant in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong. Many restaurants in the city are struggling with falling customer numbers as more locals head to Shenzhen for cheaper meals. Photo: May Tse
China-Japan relations

Chinese and Russian warships were seen circling Japan. What could it mean?

The pair aim to show they aren’t boxed in by the first island chain and that Moscow can project power despite the Ukraine war.

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China airliners

How did 2 planes come within 20 metres of each other in the sky in Japan?

The incident, which at one point saw only 20 metres separating the planes, offers lessons for Chinese regulators and operators, analysts say.

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Hong Kong property

The Peninsula Hong Kong and Tokyo set for HK$2.1 billion revamp

No timeline has been set, but the operator says it will minimise disruption while preserving the heritage of its iconic Hong Kong hotel.

The Peninsula Hong Kong in Tsim Sha Tsui, which is set to undergo renovation. Photo: Sam Tsang
Japan

US-Japan trade thaw driven by shared yen for stronger currency

How long this boost in relations will last, though, depends on whether the yen can hold its value, experts say.

A woman looks at an electronic screen showing current and recent Japanese yen exchange rates against the US dollar on Monday. Photo: Reuters
Aviation accidents

Narrow escape: how ANA flight from Shanghai avoided a collision at Tokyo airport

Flight NH968 lands safely with 197 on board after 2024’s deadly crash at the same airport and last year’s mid-air disaster in Washington.

Japan

Video | Lions die of suspected heatstroke in Tokyo zoo

Officials said they are the first heat-related deaths of the zoo’s lion population in its 62-year history.

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