Travel
ANA promotes traditional culture with kabuki-theme safety video
Pre-flight safety briefings are all about reminding passengers to take proper precautions, but some national airlines also take the opportunity to showcase their country’s attractions and culture, turning them into informative videos that leave a lasting impression. Japanese airline ANA recently produced one such clip that paid homage to one of Japan’s… Read
5 tips for women traveling solo in Japan
As an expat, there are many reasons you might choose to take a solo adventure in Japan. Maybe your new friends don’t have the same days off work as you. Maybe you’ve been living in Japan for years and have grown tired doing the same things with the same people. Or… Read
The story of Shimokitazawa
Shimokitazawa, “Shimokita” to the locals or just “Shimo” to the syllable-adverse is a southwestern corner of the capital city that’s been touted as a hipster haven, a thrift store goldmine, an epicenter to the city’s boho community and Tokyo’s answer to Greenwich Village in New York. Although these labels aren’t… Read
Hiking and Trekking in the Japan Alps and Mt Fuji
The Japanese have long understood the pleasures of the outdoors – from admiring koyo ("colorful autumn leaves") to goraiko ("watching the sunrise from a mountain top"). It's little surprise that hiking features prominently in Japanese culture, since Japan is home to so many amazing landscapes, offering fantastic opportunities for exploration.… Read
Idol group Momoiro Clover Z introduce hidden charms of Nagasaki City
Whether it's local delicacies such as champon noodles, beautiful stained glass adorning churches or the famous Meganebashi Bridge, Nagasaki, with its exotic mood and delicious dishes, has charms you won't experience anywhere else. In its latest promotional effort, Nagasaki City has launched a new project called "Nagasaki LOVERS" which shines a spotlight… Read
Tourism in Osaka, often overshadowed by Tokyo, is catching up
Osaka, long Japan's "second city," is winning the race against Tokyo to draw foreign tourists, but after a boom, its retailers and property developers are adapting to shifting tourism spending patterns. Inbound tourism to Osaka surged five-fold between 2012 and 2017, faster than visits to Tokyo, as the city lured… Read
Marriott to open 2nd Courtyard Hotel in Osaka
Marriott has signed a deal to open a second Courtyard hotel in Osaka. Owned by Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing but rented and operated by Sun Frontier Fudousan, the new-build Courtyard by Marriott Osaka Honmachi hotel is expected to open in late 2019. The hotel will be the second Courtyard… Read
Japanese travelers avoiding Kyoto as number of foreign visitors continues to grow
If you’re planning a trip to Japan, Kyoto is pretty much a must-add to your itinerary. While it may not be the nation’s political capital any more, it remains very much the heart of Japan’s cultural traditions, and its beautiful temples, shrines, and gardens are exactly the sort of images that grace… Read
What do The Beatles and a mummy have in common? You can find them both at this Yamagata temple
itting cross-legged in eternal meditation is Tetsumonkai, the ancient mummy who brings good fortune and health to visitors of Churen-ji Temple, located in northern Japan. Self-mummification was a common practice among Shugendo Buddhists until it was outlawed in the late 1860s. During the Edo period, some monks took this practice to… Read
Japan Airlines’ ZIPAIR low-cost carrier to start flights next year
Japan Airlines has named its new low-cost carrier ZIPAIR, and said it will connect Narita airport near Tokyo with Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Incheon airport near Seoul next year, as demand for budget air travel grows in Asia. The operator of the low-cost carrier (LCC) service offering medium to long-haul flights,… Read
