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?

Fancy a bit of globetrotting, but don’t have time to learn another language? A new gadget could be set to change the way we communicate with locals when travelling. Ili is a wearable, real-time translator from Japan-born start-up Logbar that's designed to break down the language barrier.

In the run up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Japan is looking to attract more foreign visitors. But many tourists are put off visiting by the country's notoriously homogenous culture, which alienates non-Japanese speakers. Umami is an app making it easier for tourists to get a taste of local cuisine.

Gone are the days where intrepid travellers would touch down on foreign soil without having any clue how to get around. In today's hyperconnected world, travellers are able to thoroughly research, itemise and plan their holidays on a level that's never before been possible.