Japan Sees Tourism Recovery Taking 1-2 Years

Above, the Fukuoka PayPay Dome, formerly known as the Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japanese tourism industry doesn't expect a full recovery for at least one to two years.

This may be a good opportunity for tourists (as some people might still be reluctant in traveling to Japan, at least for a while) to get bargains on hotel rooms and even airline tickets.

According to the Nikkei Asian Review:

TOKYO -- Japan's coronavirus-hit tourism sector expects a rebound to take between one to two years after being hit by huge customer losses, a Nikkei survey shows. 

Close to 60% of tourist businesses in Japan are experiencing a fall of more than 80% in their number of customers amid the coronavirus, according to the results of the survey conducted at the end of May. 

Nikkei got answers from 103 tourist-related companies including hotels, transportation services, and other facilities.

To read more, go here.

Fukuoka Travel Tips

Above, Fukuoka Yahuoku! Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fukuoka is fast becoming a popular travel destination. I paid it a visit back in 2007 after an all-day shinkansen ride from Tokyo and after visiting other places in Kyushu first.

Kaiju fans are familiar with Fukuoka as it was used in Godzilla vs SpaceGodzilla (1994) and in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995). The most prominent landmarks of Fukuoka used in those movies were Fukuoka Tower and Fukuoka Dome (now called the Fukuoka Yahuoku! Dome).

Japan Visitor has some tips for places to see while in Fukuoka.

They begin with:

Fukuoka is gaining a reputation as an alternative city in Japan to visit due to its relaxed atmosphere. It is the crown jewel of the Kyushu area and both a cultural and commercial hub. 

Fukuoka has a wide variety of choices in terms of places to to visit and things to do. Though a large, modern city it still retains its charm and cultural heritage. As a result the city is fast becoming popular with tourists from around the world. 

Here are some highlights visitors to Fukuoka can enjoy.

To read more, go here. 

The Power of Fukuoka Tower

Above, Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Godzilla fans are familiar with a tall structure that was prominently featured in the 1994 Toho feature film, Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla.

That structure was Fukuoka Tower.

Australia's Gold Coast Bulletin has an interesting article on Fukuoka Tower.

They begin with:

DOMINATING the shore line of the southern Japanese city of Fukuoka is the impressive mirrored Fukuoka Tower, the tallest seaside structure in the country. 

Fukuoka is on the island of Kyushu and is actually closer to Seoul than Tokyo. 

The city has a population of 1.42 million and opens out onto the Sea of Genkai which features many islands and clean beaches. 

The best way to take it all in is from the Tower’s observation deck, 123m above sea level. 

Going up in the glass elevator, you realise that all that shimmers on the outside is not what it seems with the structure mostly hollow inside of the 8000 mirrored panels. 

The Fukuoka Tower’s main purpose is to serve as television broadcast facility with an overall height of 234m.

In 2007, I took a whirlwind trip to Kyushu and visited Fukuoka. One of the places I visited while there was Fukuoka Tower, which is also within easy walking distance from Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome, which was featured in Gamera, The Guardian of the Universe (1995).

Above, a view from Fukuoka Tower's observation level. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fukuoka is spotlighted on page 45 of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

To read more about Fukuoka Tower, go here.

New JAL Domestic Airfare For Foreign Visitors To Kyushu

Above, Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome that is familiar to Gamera fans. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Those of you who are Godzilla or Gamera fans are in luck!

Japan Airlines has announced a new domestic airfare for Kyushu of ¥5,400.

According to Japan Today:

TOKYO —Japan Airlines (JAL) is offering a new domestic fare - “oneworld® YOKOSO/Visit KYUSHU Fare” for overseas visitors in order to stimulate travel demand from overseas to the Kyushu region. 

JAL said it hopes the new fare will help invigorate the local economy by attracting more overseas travelers to visit Kyushu through its enhanced domestic network.

Gamera, Godzilla and Rodan made appearances over the years at various locations in Kyushu. This would be a great opportunity for fans to visit the island, especially if time is limited and one can't take an all-day ride on the shinkansen from Tokyo or Osaka.

To read more, go here or here.

Travel Insurance: Will You Be Covered For Earthquake Loss or Injury In Japan?

Above, Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you are traveling to Japan and a major earthquake occurs, will you be covered by your travel insurance? 

That question is answered in an article by Australia's Finder.com.au.

They wrote:

Japan is still reeling after two major earthquakes hit the southern island of Kyushu on  6 and 14 April, killing 48 people, injuring 263 more and destroying 1,527 houses in the Kumamoto prefecture. Recorded at magnitudes 6.5 and 7.3 respectively, the earthquakes have caused the largest natural disaster Japan has seen since the earthquake and tsunami that struck in 2011, killing 22,000 people. 

Natural disasters cause significant disruption for both locals and travellers. If you were planning to travel to Japan around the time the earthquakes occurred, whether you would be covered by your travel insurance would depend on when you purchased your policy.

To read more, go here. 

50 Things To Do In Fukuoka

Above, Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fukuoka is well-known to kaiju fans for being featured in three prominent monster movies over the years. The first being Rodan (1956).

Then, the city was featured in two movies in the 1990s: Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994) and Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe (1995).

Fukuoka is located on the island of Kyushu, which is about an 8-hour ride on the shinkansen from Tokyo. Flights to Fukuoka can be taken from Tokyo's Haneda Airport. I visited Fukuoka in 2007. I took the shinkansen to get there.

Besides being centers of action in the aforementioned monster movies, there are other things to see in do in Fukuoka. Since we're nearing vacation season, now's the time to start planning for your trip.

Above, Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tsunagu Japan has a list of 50 things to do in Fukuoka. Two of the items on the list, Fukuoka Tower and Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome, were featured in two of the movies mentioned above.

Before getting to the list, they wrote:

Don't know what to do in Fukuoka? These spots and activities were recommended by people from Fukuoka themselves, so try to see and do as much of them as you can!

Fukuoka's monster attractions are featured in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan on page 45.

To see what the other 48 items are on the list, go here.

Fukuoka Walking Tours

Above, Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fukuoka is known to kaiju fans as being featured in Rodan (1956), Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe (1995) and Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla (1994).

Landmarks used in those movies include Hakata Bay, Fukuoka Tower and Fukuoka Yafouku! Dome.

Gaijinpot.com has posted an interesting article on places to see in Fukuoka by just taking a walking tour or two. Although the locations used in the aforementioned kaiju movies aren't part of the walking tours, there are other things to see and enjoy.

They begin the article with:

All around Japan people are starting to venture out after a long, grueling winter tucked into their kotatsu. Spring is on its way, and heading outside to have fun is finally a real possibility. Soon it will be time to pack a picnic, pick up some friends and head for the nearest cherry blossom tree for a Hanami party. 

There are plenty of alternatives to Hanami viewings though. Spring is also the perfect time to explore a new place on foot, and there is nowhere better suited for a walking tour than Fukuoka city. Other Japanese cities like Tokyo and Osaka are just too big to walk around, but Fukuoka offers you the chance to see everything that the city has to offer, simply by walking through its streets (as long as you pick the right ones!).

To read more to find out what you can see during a walking tour of Fukuoka, go here. 

"Abenomics" Driving Japan Tourism

Above, the Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Business Insider is crediting the policies of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for the surging tourism in Japan. They are crediting "Abenomics" for the boom.

They wrote:

Japan's tourism industry is booming, and it's one of the most successful parts of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's growth strategy, according to researchers at investment bank Societe Generale. 

Visitors to the country more than doubled between 2011 and 2014 (Abe became Prime Minister again at the end of 2012).  

Abe's "Abenomics" policy has been made up of the Bank of Japan's massive quantitative easing scheme, along with easier fiscal policy. The policy has weakened the Japanese yen (an expected near-term outcome of the package), which in turn has made it cheaper for tourists.

To read more, go here.

Latest Blog Post Pick-ups

The fine folks at The Japan Daily picked up several of yesterday's blog posts to share with their readers.

They include:

To read The Japan Daily, go here.

Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome Renamed Again Last Year

Above, the Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome in 2007. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 1995, the Fukuoka Dome was used in Gamera, The Guardian of the Universe to try to trap three maneating Gyaos birds.

The Fukuoka Dome opened on April 2, 1993.  It was renamed the "Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome" on February 2, 2005 when Yahoo Japan purchased the rights.

In January 2013, it was again renamed the "Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome" to promote the Yahoo! auctions website in Japan. It's part of the Hawks Town commercial complex that contains a hotel and shopping mall in addition to the stadium.

Looks like I will have to change another thing in the revised edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.