In Tokyo’s Meguro ward, Makoto Nishimura’s small apartment is a trove of traditional Japanese instruments. Hanging in front of her bookshelf is a row of three-stringed shamisen (a type of square-shaped lute) wrapped elegantly in kimono fabric. Other instruments used for kabuki performances – such as flutes, drums and a 13-stringed Japanese harp called a koto – sit off to …

Why is it that the older I get, the more frequently I become exposed to traditional folk dancing (something I loathe), when travelling abroad? I was in Bali; specifically at Rimba, a lovely hotel near the village of Jimbaran, where the resort’s seaside bars, restaurants and infinity pools keep you contentedly complacent. I’d chosen it, though, for another reason: to …

A section of the Berlin Wall on display in Seoul acts as a reminder of South Korea’s fractured relationship with the North. But thoughts of reunification are never far away and there’s a whole government department dedicated to the idea, although its staff don’t seem very busy, writes Stephen Evans. There is now a bit of the Berlin Wall in …

Uzbekistan Airways passengers will be directed to a “special weighing machine” at the departure gate, to determine each person’s average weight with their hand baggage. The airline said that individual passengers’ weights would not be disclosed, and “full confidentiality of results is guaranteed”, with the weighing machine only categorising passengers by sex and into adult and child groups. “According to …

Four months after an earthquake destroyed major heritage sites in Nepal, attractions and Everest climbing trails have been declared safe to visit, a report claims. After a period of rebuilding and uncertainty, tour companies are resuming trips to the country after an assessment of Everest concluded that there was “minimal damage” to the majority of accommodation and trails. April’s 7.9 …

1. Getting there (on an Express service) If you’re in a hurry to get to a London airport, expect to pay through the nose. With single fares from Paddington priced at £21.50 in economy class, the Heathrow Express is, pound-for-pound, Britain’s most expensive, above-ground, rail journey, clocking in at nearly £1.50 per mile. A return journey costs £35 – slightly …

From August 15, Britons will be one of 113 nationalities who will be able to apply for India’s “e-Tourist visa”, making the process of obtaining correct entry documents cheaper and quicker. UK passport holders will be able to apply and pay for an online visa using the Indian government’s tourist visa website, removing the need to book an appointment at …

A mini-revolution is taking place at airports across the country after retailers were forced to admit that customers are not actually required to show their boarding passes at the till and that those who do are merely helping companies claim back VAT. Thousands of air passengers who had up until now been under the impression that producing their boarding pass …

A city in Iran has experienced what is believed to be history’s second highest temperature ever as a blistering heatwave lingered over the Middle East. The air in Bandar Mahshahr in the Persian Gulf recorded a sweltering “heat index” of 74°C (165°F) last Friday. A heat index is a measure of how hot it “feels” to the body – it …

easyJet has removed its two-tier cabin baggage policy meaning that passengers could now face the inconvenience of having their carry-on luggage placed in the hold. Up until recently the low-cost carrier guaranteed that passengers with cabin luggage measuring 50 x 40 x 20cm or less would be able to keep their bags with them throughout their flight. Customers were able …