Godzilla Attacks Nagoya's Chubu Electric MIRAI TOWER

Another Godzilla-related attraction has opened in Japan. 

This time, it is the Chubu Electric MIRAI Tower in Nagoya. The tower has been featured in several Godzilla movies over the years.

According to News On Japan:

NAGOYA, Jun 23 (News On Japan) - Godzilla has emerged from the water in front of the Chubu Electric MIRAI TOWER in Nagoya's Hisaya-odori Park, with menacing eyes and sharp fangs giving the impression it is about to leap...

The connection between Godzilla and the MIRAI TOWER dates back to June 20, 1954, when the tower first opened as Nagoya TV Tower. Modeled after the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the 180-meter-tall structure was often called the 'Eiffel Tower of the East.' Upon its opening, it attracted large crowds and even hosted aerial weddings. In 2008, it was designated a 'Lover’s Sanctuary,' popular with couples, especially in winter.

After temporary closures due to major earthquakes, the tower was renovated and reopened in September 2020. Last year, it was recognized as an Important Cultural Property, and this year it celebrates its 70th anniversary. Alongside the tower, Godzilla has also marked significant milestones, sharing a history with the structure since the release of its first film in 1954.

Inside the MIRAI TOWER, a special exhibit showcases the intertwined history of the tower and Godzilla over the past 70 years. The exhibit highlights the tower’s appearances in various Godzilla films, including ‘Mothra vs. Godzilla.’ Visitors can see that the tower has been destroyed by Godzilla three times in the movies.

To read more, go here. 

[Monsters In Tokyo] #3 Toho Studios Godzilla

Above, yours truly at the Toho Studios Godzilla statue in 2010.

The travel section of News On Japan has posted a page dedicated to Toho Studios in the Setagaya Ward outside of Tokyo.

Titled [Monsters In Tokyo] #3 Toho Studios Godzilla, it includes a map and the following promotional video on the studio:

I have been to Toho Studios several times, the first being in 2001 before the studio was renovated to better produce movies, television shows and commercials for the modern digital age. My most recent visit was in 2015.

There is currently a Godzilla movie being produced at Toho. 

Above, Shin Godzilla appears over a Toho soundstage in the video.

Information on visiting Toho Studios is included in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

To see the page, go here.

Video: Things To Do In Kyoto

Above, a gate at Nijo Castle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Kyoto, Japan is one of those "must-see" places in Japan for foreign visitors. Anyone who is remotely interested in Japanese culture should visit the city at least once. I've been there twice.

Kyoto is much more laid-back than Tokyo and not as crowded when one is away from the tourist sites.  Even then, the experience is still a pleasant one. 

News On Japan posted a video on "Things To Do In Kyoto" that is worth a viewing.

The post starts with:

There are so many incredible things to do in Kyoto—you can visit golden temples and vermillion shrines, stroll through Zen rock gardens and swaying bamboo forests, slurp down bowls of ramen and participate in graceful tea ceremonies.

It’s one of the only places you can still glimpse geisha in extravagant kimono and white makeup rushing to appointments in wooden teahouses. Monks still live and work in the city’s 2000 temples and shrines—you’ll see them in flowing robes performing ceremonies and hear the chanting.

To view the video, go here. 

Kiyomizu-dera - Kyoto - 清水寺 - 8K

Above, the Kiyomisu-dera stage in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla II in 1993, while the King of the Monsters was down in Kyoto, Japan, he passed by Kiyomizu-Dera.

What's Kiyomizu-dera?

According to TokyoStreetView:

Located in the heart of Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera is one of Japan's most famous and celebrated temples thanks to its iconic 13-meter high wooden stage with a unique view.

Founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa waterfall, Kiyomizu-dera literally means, “Pure Water Temple.” It was originally associated with the Hosso sect, one of Japan's old Buddhism sects until 1965 when it formed its own Kita Hosso sect.

The article includes a video on Kiyomizu-dera.  

To read more and see the video, go here.

Empty Kyoto Streets

Above, people gathered on the Kiyomizu-dera stage in pre-pandemic 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The last time I was in Kyoto, Japan was six years ago. 

We took a bus tour of several attractions in the city including Kiyomizu-dera and Kinkaku-ji. There were crowds at every stop.

Today, Kyoto is basically a ghost town with few people roaming around.

News On Japan posted a video of Kyoto's deserted streets by Samuel Streetlift.

They begin with:

Have you ever been to Kyoto, Japan? Then you might remember how crowded it was and how you wished you could see the city without any tourists.

Well, this dream has now become a reality. - Samuel Streetlife

 To see the video, go here.

Kyoto Named Top Place To Visit In Japan

Above, the pagoda at Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

"Best of" lists are generally subjective. That also goes for the following article posted in News On Japan concerning Kyoto.

According to the article:

The ancient city of Kyoto, the former Japanese capital and currently the capital city of the Kyoto Prefecture, has been listed as the top place to visit in Japan, ranking ahead of some of the country's top and most-visited attractions. 

The city was given the gold medal by the travel website The World Bucket List, finishing in first spot on their ‘Japan Bucket List', a compilation of the ten best things to do in The Land of the Rising Suns. 

The Japan Bucket List 

The Japan Bucket List pulls together the very best of what Japan has to offer, and ranks them in order from tenth place to first. While any bucket list is subjective, there is no doubt that any one of these ten choices would find a place on all similar itineraries. 

The article regards Japan as the “cultural capital of the East” and “one of Asia's most notable nations”, a claim hard to dispute considering the country's pulling weight in tourism; around 31 million people visit, making it Asia's third most visited country after Thailand and China. 

Throughout the list, The World Bucket List puts forth its ardent reasons as to why each attraction or location occupies the slot it does, and for the benefit of future visitors it includes the relevant address of each.

To read more, go here.

Japan Lifts State of Emergency

Above, a view of Tokyo from the Tokyo Skytree. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan has ended their coronavirus state of emergency in the last remaining prefectures.

This was after 16,000 tested positive for the coronavirus and 800 deaths. They achieved this without any lockdowns. The United States could learn a lot from Japan.

The Japanese people practiced stay-at-home without threats and penalties, unlike places like New Mexico where the state government threatened people through tactics by the State Police that many called "Gestapo" and issued fines.

According to News On Japan:

The Japanese government has lifted the state of emergency in the last five of the country's 47 prefectures. 

The prime minister said it showed the strength of what he called "the Japan model," a reference to the public's adherence to stay-at-home policies without the threat of penalties. 

Abe Shinzo said on Monday, "Today the government will lift the state of emergency across the nation. We've set some of the most strict criteria in the world to lift the declaration, and we concluded that prefectures across the country have met that standard." 

The final five are Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures, as well as the northernmost island of Hokkaido. 

The state of emergency once covered the entire country. But it was scaled back in recent weeks, as the number of new infections declined. 

Abe said economic activity will restart in phases. He said he aims to create what he calls a 'new normal' in the country.

 To read more, go here.

Japan Set For Deep Recession

Above, the Wako department store at Ginza Crossing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Things aren't looking too good for the Japanese economy.

The coronavirus pandemic may send Japan into a deep recession.

According to the Nikkei Asian Review:

The declaration of a state of emergency in Japan has prompted economists to slash forecasts for three months from April to June. 

Analysts from domestic and international banks now all expect an annualized double-digit contraction in the second quarter, before the Japanese economy returns to a precrisis level. 

J.P. Morgan Securities forecasts the economy will shrink 17% in the quarter, BNP Paribas Securities sees a fall of 16%, and Dai-ichi Life Research Institute and Meiji Yasuda Research Institute project a contraction of more than 10%. Goldman Sachs is the most bearish, anticipating a 25% decline. 

The partial lockdown looks set to plunge Japan deep into a recession -- technically defined as two consecutive quarters of contraction.

To read more, go here.

Study: Mt. Fuji Ash Would Paralyze Tokyo

Above, a shinkansen view of Mount Fuji. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Coronavirus aside, here's something interesting from Japan.

If a major eruption of Mount Fuji should occur, it would paralyze Tokyo in just three hours. This is something that should be considered since several of Japan's volcanoes have erupted over the past several years.

According to News On Japan:

A Japanese government panel says Tokyo would become unable to function as the country's capital in about three hours if a large-scale eruption of Mount Fuji were to occur. 

When Mount Fuji last erupted in December 1707, it spewed ash for more than two weeks. Several centimeters accumulated in the city of Edo, which later became Tokyo. 

The government panel simulated what would happen if an eruption of that scale were to occur today, covering the greater Tokyo area with volcanic ash. 

It found that the ash would likely reach central Tokyo and the neighboring prefectures of Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama just three hours after the eruption.

To read more, go here. 

Fewer People On Japan's City Streets

Above, the Dotonbori section of Osaka usually sees hundreds of people during normal times. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In my most recent shopping trips into Gallup, New Mexico, I found far fewer cars on the streets and people walking around. We are under stay-at-home orders.

We're not alone.

There are far fewer people on the streets of Tokyo and other Japanese cities due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to News On Japan:

Far fewer people were on the streets of shopping areas in Tokyo and other cities in Japan on Saturday, after authorities issued stay-at-home requests in the wake of the rapid spread of the new coronavirus. 

For the second straight weekend, many people in Japan refrained from going out after the country's National Governors' Association on Thursday called on residents to avoid leaving their homes except for essential reasons. The number of temporarily closed stores and restaurants increased from the previous weekend. 

"As the vast majority of stores are shut, the number of people on the streets is only about 10 percent of normal times," said a 48-year-old shop employee in Tokyo's Omotesando shopping district. "I hardly see foreign tourists now these days." 

Besides Tokyo, where a surge in new cases has made the capital the worst-hit area in the country, stay-at-home requests have also been issued by prefectures including Osaka, Fukui, Fukuoka, Miyagi and Ibaraki.

To read more, go here. 

JR Central To Expand Online Shinkansen Booking

Above, a view of Mount Fuji from an Osaka-bound shinkansen. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

More foreign travelers to Japan will be able to book shinkansen train seats online as early as April of next year. 

News On Japan reported:

Central Japan Railway plans to expand its ticketless boarding service for the Tokyo-Osaka shinkansen bullet train line as early as April, allowing more foreign visitors to pay for seats in advance abroad. 

The smartEX app for online booking is now available only in eight countries and regions, including the U.S., Singapore and Hong Kong, owing to the need for trademark registration. JR Central will offer a website through which foreigners anywhere in the world can register their credit cards and reserve seats.

To read more, go here. 

New Food Service For Niigata and Yamagata Shinkansens

Above, a view of the countryside while en route to Niigata. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2010, I took a "little" side trip to Niigata on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu by Shinkansen.

Before boarding the train, I bought a bento box lunch at Tokyo Station. Now, the East Japan Railway company has a new food delivery service for travelers to Niigata and Yamagata Prefectures.

According to News On Japan:

A new food delivery service will be available to passengers traveling by Shinkansen bullet train to the Sea of Japan coast areas of Niigata and Yamagata prefectures. 

East Japan Railway Company on Monday introduced the new menu that will give Shinkansen passengers a taste of farm products from Niigata Prefecture.

To read more, go here. 

Itsukushima Shrine Undergoing Repairs

Above, the famous Itsukushima torii gate in 2004. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the stops we made during 2004's G-TOUR was the Itsukushima Shrine with its torii gate near Hiroshima.

For the first time in 70 years, the first "large-scale" repair work on the gate began on Monday.

According to News On Japan:

A major renovation project has begun at Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan. 

Last rebuilt in 1875, the shrine's grand torii gate has suffered damage from exposure to seawater and insects. Past inspections found cavities inside its pillars.

To read more, go here. 

CDs In Decline, Vinyl Records On The Rise

Above, an original Thunderball soundtrack album from 1965. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There is one trend in the music industry that I am pleased to see.

And that is the growth of vinyl records. The old analog records have been making a comeback for several years while CDs have been declining and music streaming has been growing.

Above, James Bond soundtrack 45 rpm singles. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Even in Japan, the growth of vinyl has prompted Tower Records in Tokyo's Shinjuku section to dedicate a floor to vinyl records.

News On Japan reported:

Tower Records opened Tower Vinyl on the 10th floor of its Shinjuku store on March 21. The space, once reserved for pop-up events, now houses 70,000 records, according to the company, with more than half being secondhand.

In the U.S., vinyl pressing companies are starting up (along with older pressing companies) and are struggling to meet the rising demand.

According to Arizona Public Media:

Last year, digital music hit a milestone. For the first time ever, it accounted for more than half of global music sales. Music streaming revenues rose more than 40 percent, while sales of physical recordings continued to sink. 

Yet a company in Northern Virginia has just started pressing vinyl records. 

Tucked away in an industrial park in Alexandria, Furnace Record Pressing is the country’s newest record manufacturing facility — and a seemingly batty business idea, if you haven’t paid attention to deeper trends in the music industry lately. 

Despite the overall downturn in physical recordings like CDs, vinyl sales have been on the rise for a decade now, as younger people have begun to discover the richer sound and collectable nature of old-fashioned records. But as the vinyl frenzy caught on, soaring demand quickly created a problem, says Furnace’s owner, Eric Astor. The world’s remaining pressing facilities couldn’t keep up with the crush of new business.

 To read more, go here.

All Mt. Fuji Hikers Have To Pay ¥1,000 This Summer

Above, a shinkansen view of Mount Fuji. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who plan to hike on Japan's Mount Fuji, but don't plan on going all the way to the summit, will still have to pay a ¥1,000 donation.

News On Japan reported:

Even hikers who have no intention of reaching the summit of Mount Fuji will be asked to make a donation of ¥1,000 for stepping foot on the country’s highest mountain from this summer, local prefectures said Thursday. 

Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, which the 3,776-meter-high volcanic mountain straddles, will aim to secure more income to help preserve the environment and fund trail safety measures at the UNESCO World Heritage site.

To read more, go here.

JR Yamanote Line's Last Train To Leave 27 Minutes Earlier

Above, the JR Yamanote Line train. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo's subway and train systems are second to none for public transportation, but late-night revelers are going to have to catch the last train of the JR Yamanote Line 27 minutes earlier.

News On Japan reported:

In Tokyo, the party can keep going all night, with bars, pubs, and clubs that stay open until the morning light. However, if you’ve got something else you’d like to do before sunrise, like, say, go home and get some sleep, you’ll want to keep the time of your last train in mind while you’re out partying. 

Sure, you could always grab a taxi, but cabs are already expensive in Japan, and they increase their rates for late-night rides (a 20-some-odd-minute taxi ride in nocturnal Tokyo can easily run you 5,000 yen, so the train really is your, and your wallet’s, friend. Unfortunately, the most important train line in Tokyo is about to move the time of its last train up by roughly 30 minutes.

To read more, go here.

Heavy Snow Forecast For Tokyo Region

Above, Keisei Line trains stuck at a train station in Chiba Prefecture due to snow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In February 2014, a big snowstorm and I arrived in the Kanto region at the same time.

Flights out of Narita were canceled and transit lines going to and from Narita International Airport where shut down. I should know, I spent about 22 hours in a train car in Chiba Prefecture (midway between Tokyo and Narita Airport) at a train station due to heavy snow. A second big snowstorm hit later that week. These were the heaviest snowstorms to hit the area in years.

This all may happen again this weekend.

News On Japan reported:

Weather forecasters in Japan are warning of possible heavy snowfall on Saturday in the Kanto region comprising Tokyo and surrounding prefectures. 

The Meteorological Agency says a strong cold air mass and passing low-pressure system are likely to bring snow to wide areas from morning to night. 

Snowfall through late Saturday afternoon may reach up to 10 centimeters in southern Kanto; eight centimeters in northern Kanto; and five centimeters in Tokyo's 23 wards. 

Forecasters say more snow may fall in the evening. They're urging people to watch out for icy roads and disruption to transportation services. Drivers are advised to use winter tires or snow chains. 

Airline companies have cancelled some flights for Saturday.

So, if you are heading into Tokyo this weekend, beware!

To read more, go here. 

7 Best Places In Japan For A Romantic Getaway

Above, a cruise boat on Lake Ashi in Hakone. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The article may be geared for Japan residents, but those couples who are planning a vacation or honeymoon trip to Japan can use the recommendations posted by News On Japan.

It is on seven best places in Japan for a romantic getaway.

They begin with:

Japan may have assimilated so many western cultural influences, yet it still remains exotic and enigmatic. 

So you met someone exciting and interesting on your favorite online dating site, and now you want to impress your new partner with a romantic getaway? Here are seven recommended places for you to visit.

To read more, go here.

Japan Visitor Growth In August In Single Digits

Above, a view of the Sumida River from the Tokyo Skytree. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the second month in a row, Japan saw monthly tourist increases in the single digits.

News On Japan reported:

The estimated number of visitors to Japan in August rose 4.1 pct from a year earlier to 2,577,800, marking single-digit growth for the second consecutive month due to recent disasters in the country, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Wednesday. 

A powerful earthquake in Osaka Prefecture in June and downpours that devastated other western parts of the country in July led to many Japan trip cancelations, the organization said.

To read more, go here. 

Foreign Visitors To Japan Reached 2.8 Million In July

Above, the Hachikō statue at Shibuya Station in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan saw a new record in foreign visitors to the country in July, according to an article in News On Japan.

The article, originating from NHK, reported:

The number of foreign visitors to Japan in July hit a record for the month, supported by growing ranks of individual travelers from China. 

The Japan National Tourism Organization says an estimated 2.8 million foreign nationals visited the country last month, up 5.6 percent from a year earlier. 

Officials say visitors from mainland China made up the largest group at 880,000.

To read more, go here.