Travel
World's 1st AI chatbot for car rental drivers debuts at Narita International Airport
Bespoke Inc has announced a collaboration with Times Mobility Networks Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Park24 Co Ltd, to offer the AI chatbot concierge Bebot to their customers at Narita International Airport. With this, Times has become the first car rental agency in the world to offer such a service. Once customers register at respective Times… Read
Travel books, from literary pilgrimages to beer tours
Whether you're an armchair traveler, a road tripper or a frequent flier, books about travel can inspire and inform. Here are a few out this season on a variety of travel themes. — "Great American Railroad Journeys." This book is a tie-in to a BBC series of the same name… Read
Unpacking the mystery of wobbly suitcase syndrome
You are rushing to catch a train or plane and suddenly the suitcase you're pulling starts to rock from wheel to wheel, threatening to flip over. Tens of millions of travellers suffer this annoyance every day, but up to now, nobody could say exactly why. Poor design? Sub-standard construction? Faulty… Read
Delta adds facial recognition kiosks at Twin Cities airport
Delta Air Lines says it is the first U.S. airline to use facial recognition technology to speed the process of checking baggage. Four self-serve kiosks for checking bags debuted Monday at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, including one that uses facial recognition technology to match travelers with their passport photos. The… Read
New eatery, shopping complex opens near Osaka Castle
A new complex containing restaurants and stores opened in Osaka Castle Park on Thursday with the operator aiming to cash in on the growing number of foreign and local tourists visiting the major historical attraction in Osaka. The two-story complex, named Jo-Terrace Osaka, is located near JR Osakajokoen Station and… Read
ANA recognized for 'World's Best Airport Services' and 'Best Airline Staff in Asia' at SKYTRAX World Airline Awards
ANA has once again been recognized as the world’s leading airline in two categories at the prestigious 2017 World Airline Awards hosted by SKYTRAX. The awards for “World’s Best Airport Services” and “Best Airline Staff in Asia” were presented in a special ceremony at the International Paris Airshow this week.… Read
Rediscovering surfing at Chiba’s Onjuku Beach
If you’re a water baby like myself, then water sports are far more appealing than snow adventures. Now that it’s mid-June and summer has once again made an appearance, I still have memories of Japan’s August humidity, so I decided to head to the beach while the weather was still… Read
Photographer captures gorgeous shots of Kyoto’s Kamogawa River
While images of temples and shrines (and matcha) generally come to people’s minds when they think of Kyoto, Japan’s historic capital, the Kamogawa River is also an important part of the city. It runs right through town, and draws many spectators to its banks in the spring, when the beautiful cherry blossoms that line the… Read
Solomon Islands teem with UK and Japan heritage
The flag of the Solomon Islands may no longer include the Union Jack in its upper left corner, but British culture, society and royalty are still fondly remembered and respected in a part of the Commonwealth that is just about as far from Great Britain as anywhere on the planet.… Read
Shangri-La opens 450-room Hotel Jen Beijing
Shangri-La has opened the 450-room Hotel Jen Beijing, the second Hotel Jen in mainland China. Located in the centre of Beijing’s central business district (CBD), the hotel features a vibrant co-working hub, a gastropub with its own brewery, and an expansive gym catering to fitness enthusiasts and road warriors. “We… Read
