Macy's, Kohl's and J.C. Penney have all recorded weak sales in 2015. But while Americans might be spending less on clothes, homeware and televisions, people are still opening their wallets for a different kind of purchase – buying more experiences while cutting back on 'stuff'.

The stereotypical image of a holiday masks a much larger variety of desires and options, connected to states of mind, emotions, personal interests and idea of leisure and enjoyment. How much do we still identify with white sands and blue sea?

Going on holiday no longer means having a well-earned rest by the pool. Affordable flights mean people are travelling for all sorts of new reasons; to get a facelift, to work, to shop, to give birth, and even to die. The first in a two-part series looks at travel for medical reasons.

Japan houses one of the most overworked populations on the planet – 60% of workers would describe themselves as stressed. The advent of a new national holiday – Mountain Day – signifies Japan's attempt to progress towards a more realistic and healthy work/life balance.