Beyond hobby farming on city allotments, Japan's young people are returning to agriculture as a viable career choice, spurred on by cool cultural products, a stagnant job market and smart government initiatives.

From ramen shops to sushi stands, there’s no doubt that eating out is big business in Japan. But authentic, local dining is off-limits to many foreigners due to the formidable language barrier that persists outside major cities. Could an app get tourists to pick up the chopsticks?

Tokyo is often perceived as a disjointed concrete jungle. Roppongi Hills challenges this assumption by putting all life’s essentials – from museums to office space – under one roof, wrapped up in almost three hectares of foliage. Is this what the cities of the future will look like?

Tokyo evokes visions of technicolour displays and baffling electrical appliances. But is it the best place to live? Monocle thinks so, awarding the city first place in its annual quality of life survey. Alongside a successful bid for the 2020 Olympics, is Tokyo enjoying its moment in the sun?