Japan

I spent a couple of days walking the streets of Tokyo, observing the city’s ‘anything goes’ approach to zoning that lets people build, trade, and experiment in ways Australian cities can’t.

What I learned about housing and transport from walking Tokyo’s Yamanote rail loop.

Despite the allure of Japan’s Shinkansen, Australia is just too different to make high-speed rail viable down under any time soon.

The yen’s collapse has made Japan a tourist hotspot, but it has also sparked crisis fears. While a full-blown crisis is unlikely due to Japan’s relatively low interest costs and its ability to raise taxes, an ever-aging population and repeated policy missteps are only increasing the risks.