Bangkok, Tokyo & Taipei top 3 destinations for Lunar New Year

BANGKOK, Tokyo and Taipei are the top three most popular destination for Asia Pacific travelers over the Lunar New Year period in 2019, according to booking data from Agoda, one of the fastest growing digital travel platforms. 

This year, Osaka, slips from third spot in 2018 to sixth, while Taiwan scoops three of the top ten destinations with Taipei in third, and Kaohsiung and Taichung in fifth and seventh respectively. Overall, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand will benefit most from travelers celebrating the Lunar New Year.

Travels during the Spring Festival tend to be reserved for family bonding and indulging in food and leisure activities that the whole family can enjoy. It is thus not surprising that most travelers in the region has chosen gourmet and retail paradise in Bangkok, Tokyo, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore among their top ten destinations.

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Tourism to Japan breaks all records

THE Japan National Tourism Organization announced that more than 30 million overseas travelers visited Japan in 2018, an all-time record and an 8.7% increase over 2017 (the previous record year).

"Tourism to Japan from the United States – about 5% of the total – soared 11%," says Naohito Ise, Executive Director of the Japan National Tourism Organization in New York.

In 2018, America's two most influential travel magazines gave #travel to #Japan a major thumbs-up, with Travel+Leisure pronouncing Japan the "Destination of the Year" for 2018 and the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards citing Tokyo and Kyoto as the top two big cities in the world.

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Where will you be ringing in the New Year?

TOKYO, Paris and New York City are the top destinations to ring in 2019 according to Agoda, one of the world's fastest growing online travel agents (OTA), with more than a third more people opting to getaway to celebrate on New Year's Eve.

A top ten destination for many markets globally and number one for Chinese and Singaporean travelers, Tokyo's appeal continues with a jam-packed itinerary of concerts, parades and light shows making it the perfect destination to cast off the old and welcome in the #NewYear.

It's no wonder Paris, boasting endless themed parties, New Year countdowns at popular landmarks and shows for the whole family, has secured the top spot for travel in Europe. The "City of Love" is a top ten for their British neighbors as well as travelers from Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The ball drop at Times Square in New York City is one of the most iconic and star-driven celebrations of New Year's Eve in the world, so it comes as no surprise that New York City is the top North American destination for travelers globally and number two for Americans traveling domestically.


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New hotel brand targeting millennials

A leading Japanese hospitality company headquartered in Tokyo, has announced the launch of "Tavinos," a new hotel brand aimed at adventure-seeking millennials and like-minded travelers from around the world.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the number of international visitors to #Japan has increased in recent years, hitting a record high in 2017. Fujita Kanko is adding this brand to their portfolio of 70+ well-established properties to target international visitors and millennials, a fast-growing, yet relatively untapped segment for the company.

With a state-of-the-art blending of design, space, and technology, the company is positioning Tavinos as a sleek hub for international visitors to meet fellow travelers, gather local information, and have fun during their travels.

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Day trips on the Odakyu line

THE Odakyu Electric Railway, established in 1948, is one of Japan's major private railway companies. With the Shinjuku central transportation terminal in the capital of #Japan, Odakyu lines extend to Hakone, one of Japan's foremost hot spring tourist destinations, and Enoshima-Kamakura, the historical seaside town close to the city center, and they are used not only for sightseeing but also by two million commuters traveling to work every day.

Four types of day tours allow travelers from abroad to enjoy the tourist attractions in areas along the Odakyu lines.

1) Yoyogi Uehara near Shinjuku and Shibuya in downtown Tokyo;

2) Shimokitazawa well known for young people's subculture;

3) Nature-rich, sacred mountain Oyama also known as a historic site; and

4) Odawara, which is the gateway to Hakone and where there is a station on the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train line.

All four tours are day trips requiring advance reservations. On all these tours, guides provide detailed information in English on local tourist attractions in these four respective areas. Reservations for these tours can be made online as well as at INBOUND LEAGUE and Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center Shinjuku West for foreign tourists, both situated in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward.


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Sustainable travel off the Golden Route

TOKYO based startup tour operator Heartland JAPAN is leading the way in creating sustainable #travel #destinations off the so-called Golden Route (Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima etc.) which is currently overburdened by the year on year increase in inbound travellers (an increase of 450% over the past five years), set to reach 40M in 2020.

In spite of the staggering rise in foreign tourists, relatively little has been done so far to make travellers aware of alternative destinations, with a continued fixation on commercialised travel spots. It is here that Heartland JAPAN positions itself in providing the information and means for inbound visitors to journey off the beaten track.

Heartland JAPAN aims to create life-changing journeys, to provide physical and spiritual fulfillment through outdoor activities, hands-on experiences and cultural exchanges with locals. The company’s current fully guided adventure tours cover five destinations across #Japan, all of which are reachable from the various 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Olympics game sites, providing the perfect opportunity for visitors to these events.

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Explore the Russian Far East

ACCOMMODATING just 200 guests, Crystal Endeavor, the world’s largest, most spacious purpose-built polar class expedition yacht, will set sail from Tokyo in August 2020 on a journey encompassing the far east of Russia and Japan to mark her maiden voyage. 

The territory Crystal Endeavor will cover during this 17-day voyage is dramatic and far from the beaten path – from the rarely explored Kamchatka Peninsula and the Kuril Islands (places favoured by whales, otters, seals, bears and foxes) to the glorious hot springs in the Valley of Geysers, to the natural paradise along Japan’s northern shores and the volcanic peaks of Mt Rishiri.

Crystal Endeavor itineraries will go on sale Thursday, 23 August 2018.


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Tokyo Metro Opens New Tourist Information Center

A new tourist information center has opened in #Tokyo station to assist international travelers. This is the fifth tourist information center Tokyo Metro has opened with the other five being located in Ueno, Ginza, Shinjuku, Omotesando, and Shibuya stations. 

The newest information center will keep 9:00 am – 5:00 pm hours 365 days a year to serve traveling tourists in need and will be located near the central ticketing gate of the Marunouchi line. 

In addition to offering transportation information and Tokyo Metro tickets, the information desk will also provide information on facilities around Tokyo station as well as sightseeing spots, and hotels in the area.

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Where Old meets New

THE Tokyo Metropolitan Government is holding a campaign to promote Tokyo's charms overseas and also in a broad scope in Russia using the logo and slogan "Tokyo Tokyo Old meets New." 

The key messages -- "Unparalleled Excitement" and "Your Next Kick" -- have appeared at airports and on trains as well as various media outlets such as newspapers and magazines since June 1, 2018, as part of this full-scale promotional campaign. 

Along with promoting Tokyo's charms effectively to travelers around the world, it is spreading the image of #Tokyo as a tourist #destination worldwide.

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Tokyo's popularity grows

BASED on survey results of over 160,000 AFAR magazine readers Tokyo was selected as the #1 Asian/Middle Eastern city to visit for 2018.

As the host city of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, #Tokyo has been striving to welcome more visitors to the city. Tokyo's growing popularity stems from the truly unique nature of the city, namely the co-existence of long-honored traditions and never-ending innovation.

On par with its art and cultural scene is Tokyo’s celebrated culinary scene. Now with the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, Tokyo continues to attract visitors for endless opportunities for world class dining, cultural experiences, and unmatched hospitality.

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A total of 234 restaurants are awarded stars in the MICHELIN guide Tokyo 2018

THE MICHELIN guide #Tokyo 2018 has been released with 512 restaurants and 42 hotels included in the guide. 

All the restaurants awarded three stars maintain their distinction: Azabu Yukimura, Joël Robuchon, Kagurazaka Ishikawa, Kanda, Kohaku, Makimura, Quintessence, Ryugin, Sukiyabashi Jiro Honten, Sushi Saito, Sushi Yoshitake and Usukifugu Yamadaya.

The MICHELIN guide Tokyo 2018 comprises:
12 restaurants with three stars, 56 restaurants with two stars, of which 5 are new 166 restaurants with one star, of which 23 are new 278 restaurants with a Bib Gourmand, of which 59 are new.


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Conde Nast scores Tokyo as #1 top large city in the world

Condé Nast Traveler today announced the results of its 30th annual Readers' Choice Awards with #Tokyo recognized as the #1 top large city in the world, with a score of 91.35, and #Kyoto recognized as the #3 top large city in the world, with a score of 88.98.

"This recognition from Condé Nast's readership is a testament to the growing North American passion for Japanese destinations," stated Ken Iwata, JNTO New York's Executive Director. "JNTO will continue and further its effort to inspire people to visit Japan, including hidden gems of less-traveled areas such as Setouchi."

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Japanese tourism on the rise

TOKYO, Osaka and Kyoto are experiencing tourism growth and becoming more visible as top International destinations.

In Euromonitor's Top 100 City #Destinations Ranking 2017, the organization named #Japan one of the year's greatest success stories. Tokyo rose six places to 17, and Osaka experienced 52% more tourist arrivals in 2015 than 2014. 

Further evidence that Osaka is on the rise, the city's Hotel St. Regis was recently named both one of the 10 best city hotels in Asia and one of the top 100 hotels in the world by Travel & Leisure. Kyoto was listed fourth on Travel & Leisure's 2017 The World’s Top 15 Cities list.

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Polka dot pumpkins

A Yayoi Kusama Museum is set to open in Tokyo’s Shinjuku on 1st October 2017.  Yayoi Kusama is one of Japan’s most famous and prolific artists. Even when people don’t recognise the name, mention her spotted pumpkins and everybody lets out an ‘aaah’ of acknowledgement.

So it’s very exciting news for one and all that the internationally famed artist will have an entire museum dedicated to her polka-dot works from this autumn onwards, located in one of Tokyo’s most central and well-trodden districts.

The five storey Yayoi Kusama Museum will house a gift shop on the first floor, with floors two and three dedicated to exhibition spaces. On the fourth floor, the artist will create Instagram-friendly immersive installations. On floor five, visitors can expect to find a reading room with documents and material relating to Kusama’s works.

Each year, Kusama will run two rotating exhibitions, the first of which will be titled: “Creation is a Solitary Pursuit, Love is What Brings You Closer to Art”. This exhibition will run from 1st October 2017 until 25th February 2018. Tickets will go on sale from 28th August, and will cost around 1000 yen (£6.40) for adults, and 600 yen (£4.20) for children.

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Up in the air . . .

FLY to Fukuoka in the south of #Japan from £373 rtn with Air France. Air France are also currently also offering flights to Osaka from £448, Tokyo from £540 and Nagoya from £550 in selected months of 2017.

Prices apply to a return ticket per adult, including taxes, surcharges and fees. Credit card surcharges may apply.

To search for flights and for more information and to book see Air France's website: http://www.airfrance.co.uk

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JAL launches new route between London & Tokyo

JAPAN Airlines (JAL) is set to launch a new direct morning flight each way between London and Tokyo starting from 29th October, 2017.

The new service will operate between Tokyo’s Haneda (HND) and London’s Heathrow (LHR) airports. The outward flight will depart from LHR at 9:30am and arrive at HND the following day at 6:25am, while the return flight will depart from HND at 2:45am and arrive at LHR later the same day at 6:25am.

With the addition of the new daily nonstop service, JAL will operate a total of four flights daily to and from Japan together with its partner airline British Airways (BA). The addition will greatly enhance choice for customers, as both outbound and inbound flights offer completely different departure and arrival timings to those of JAL’s existing services between the two countries.

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Google Maps Adds Cherry Blossom Icons

CHERRY blossom trees in Tokyo started to bloom on the 26th of March, and are expected to be in their peak bloom, known as “mankai” in Japanese, this week between the 2nd and 8th of April

To coincide with the cherry blossom season in #Japan this year, Google Maps has added cherry blossom icons to its maps of Japan for a limited time only. 

The icons are displayed on popular cherry blossom-viewing spots such as parks, rivers and castle grounds, and are designed to help potential blossom enthusiasts locate a suitable spot for their flower-viewing activities.

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Flowering Glory: Hanami in Japan

TOBU Railway’s massive network extends through #Tokyo as well as four surrounding prefectures: Chiba, Saitama, Tochigi, and Gunma. 

With 463.3 kilometers of operating track, Tobu is Kanto’s largest private railway and is used by commuters, students, business travelers, and tourists. 

Tobu Railway will debut its new limited express service in the spring of 2017 for visitors to capture the most of #hanami (flower-viewing) in Japan.

• Ashikaga Flower Park’s major feature is it's 150 year old wisteria.

• Tsutsujigaoka Park with its long-standing history and the over-800-year-old azalea. 

• Sumida Park is one of Tokyo’s best cherry blossom spots. The park is located near Senso-ji temple and TOKYO SKYTREE, the world’s highest tower.

• Tobu Treasure Garden’s moss phlox offer a vast, pink carpet-like view Approximately 200,000 moss phloxes in this garden bloom in all glory during April. 

• Satte Gongendo’s bank of cherry trees, a place boasting around 1,000 cherry trees, where visitors can enjoy a tunnel of cherry blossoms. 

• Tsurugajo Castle Park with around 1,000 cherry trees adorning Tsurugajo Castle, with cherry blossoms reflecting on the moat’s water at night.

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Oasis of calm in Tokyo's business district

SITUATED in Otemachi, the economic center of #Japan, surrounded by financial and media giants you will find “HOSHINOYA Tokyo”. Otemachi which is next to the Imperial Palace, was an area of Bushi’s (vassals) mansions during the Edo-period and has a distinctive atmosphere different from other areas of Tokyo such as Shinjuku or Shibuya. 

HOSHINOYA Tokyo is uniquely created as a “Japanese Ryokan”. A ryokan is a traditional Japanese style inn where you can relax in a tatami-floored room with hot spring baths and seasonal cuisine. 

Ryokans, however, are hard to find in large cities and are more typically located in scenic areas such as in the mountains or by the ocean where the beauty of the seasons are celebrated. 

Now staying in a ryokan is one of the most popular experience for tourists from overseas to enjoy the authentic Japan. 

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Picture Credit: By Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37238534

Tokyo cheapest long haul destination for UK travellers

#JAPAN has been named as one of the top ten best value holiday hotspots for 2017 according to the Post Office’s Holiday Money Report. The Post Office’s ‘Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer’ surveys costs of 8 popular items UK tourists are likely to purchase - such as a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, a bottle of mineral water, suncream, and a 3-course evening meal for 2 people - in 44 destinations.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the barometer is dominated by popular European destinations such as the Algarve, Prague and Budapest, however Tokyo’s debut at number eight this year makes it the only long haul destination in the list of top ten best value cities.

According to the report, Japan’s appeal has increased in leaps and bounds in recent years as the yen has fallen in value against the pound - by a whopping 24.7% over the past five years. Consequently, prices for commodities such as meals and drinks have dropped sharply, turning a country once regarded as a luxury destination for the few into a now affordable option for many.

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Picture Credit: PeterThoeny 98786299@N00/31899781041 via photopin