February Foreign Visitors To Japan Hit Monthly Record

Above, the Saikai Bridge near Sasebo on Kyushu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan's economy is being driven by the surge of foreign tourists, according to CNBC.

This isn't surprising given the favorable foreign exchange rate in Tokyo between the U.S. dollar and other currencies against the Japanese yen.

February's number of foreign visitors hit a new record.

According to an article from Kyodo News:

The number of foreign visitors to Japan in February rose 16.9 percent from a year earlier to a record 3.26 million for the month, driven by strong demand for winter sports and the Chinese New Year holiday trailing into the month, government data showed Wednesday.

The figure topped 3 million for the first time in February, driven by a surge in visitors from Australia and the United States, the Japan National Tourism Organization said.

By country and region, South Korea led with 847,300 visitors, up 3.5 percent and a record for the month. China followed with 722,700 visitors, a 57.3 percent increase, driven in part by expanded flight connections between the two countries.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Reopens To Tourists

Above, the Saikai Bridge near Sasebo City on Kyushu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is finally fully open to foreign travelers.

It is hoped by the Japanese government that the influx of foreign tourists will help revive the economy and the Japanese yen. The current rate of exchange between the dollar and yen is ¥145.63.

According to CNA:

TOKYO: Japan reopened its doors to tourists on Tuesday (Oct 11) after two-and-a-half years of tough COVID-19 restrictions, with officials hoping an influx of travellers enticed by a weak yen will boost the economy.

By mid-morning, tourists from Israel, France and Britain were already pouring in.

"It's a long, long dream come true," said 69-year-old Adi Bromshtine, a retiree arriving at Tokyo's Haneda airport from Israel.

"We were planning before COVID-19 and waiting and waiting," she told AFP.

Itay Galili, a 22-year-old student also arriving from Israel, said he had been closely monitoring the news for word of the border reopening.

"As soon as I heard it's going to reopen on the 11th, I started planning. Tickets were expensive ... but no price (is) too heavy," he told AFP.

Japan slammed its borders shut early in the pandemic, at one point even barring foreign residents from returning, and has only recently begun cautiously reopening.

To read more, go here. 

Survey: 72% Say Border Controls Keeping Them From Visiting Japan

Above, the Saikai Bridge near Sasebo, Japan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan's current policy of only allowing group tours along with strict rules are not inviting to potential overseas tourists. At least not inviting enough to get them to come to Japan according to a July survey.

The Mainichi reported:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A survey released Tuesday by a Tokyo-based company that encourages tourism to Japan showed that 72 percent of respondents will not, or will probably not, visit the country if it continues with its current entry controls.

The D2C X Inc. survey also showed 91 percent of the 1,717 overseas respondents found the entry controls, which include COVID-19 testing within 72 hours of departure to Japan, too strict or rather strict, illustrating how the country's pandemic border measures have deterred visits from overseas.

The online survey, conducted in early July, was answered by people from across 52 countries and territories.

To read more, go here. 

Travel + Leisure's 50 Best Places To Travel In 2022

Above, the Saikai Bridge in Kyushu, Japan. Kyushu made the list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that we're in a new year, it is time to start thinking about where to go on vacation. Naturally, all this hinges on whether or not coronavirus and all of its variants will die off any leave us all alone.

Travel + Leisure has 50 best places to travel in 2022, internationally and domestically. Some of them I have been to already. There are some I am looking into.

They begin with:

Planning new adventures as a new year approaches is always a thrill, but finding the best places to visit in 2022 is unique. After two years of border closures, cruise cancellations, and travel restrictions galore, 2022 is the year we hope to get back out there, uninhibited (albeit vaccinated and COVID tested), return to our favorite destinations, and cross new ones off our lists.

Though the hospitality industry was hit hard by the pandemic, many properties used the forced downtime to renovate rooms, add new amenities, and expand outdoor spaces to offer even more once guests return. 2022 is when many travelers will venture further from home, and even overseas, for the first time since the start of the pandemic, finally reaping the benefits of these valiant efforts.

Although COVID variants remain, regulations are still evolving, and precautions must still be taken, many of the destinations we chose for 2022 offer what we believe travelers are looking for in a post-pandemic world, from hotels with private accommodations to destinations teeming with fresh-air activities. Others, like Las Vegas, are for those who are ready and raring to make up for all the social time they missed — with a few splashy headliners, including Adele and the Raiders, thrown in for good measure.  

To read more, go here. 

JNTO To Relaunch "Enjoy My Japan" Campaign

Above, the Saikai Bridge that was featured in Rodan (1956) in Kyushu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is still closed off to foreign visitors. But when the country does reopen to foreign visitor, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) will be ready. They hope.

JNTO is relaunching its "Enjoy my Japan" promotional campaign.

According to Japan Today:

TOKYO - While Japan has not yet re-opened its borders to overseas visitors, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and the country’s many local attractions are gearing up for the resumption of international travel.

JNTO has re-invigorated its global “Enjoy my Japan” campaign, originally launched in 2018, signaling Japan’s readiness to meet its ambitious goal of welcoming 60 million overseas visitors by 2030.

Promoting Japan as a destination that can be enjoyed by all travelers, the campaign highlights seven unique travel passions – Nature, Outdoors, Traditions, Cuisine, Art, Relaxation, and Cities. The key message is that Japan offers more than just iconic sites in Tokyo or Kyoto; there are a whole range of diverse destinations offering something for every traveler. Whether their dreams include exploring mystical waterfalls or immersing their bodies and minds in a high-tech museum, Japan will fulfill them.

The campaign theme “Enjoy my Japan” emphasizes the interaction between overseas visitors and local people. The goal is not only to motivate travelers to form deeper and more personal connections with Japan; the campaign also aims to encourage local Japanese to welcome visitors warmly and with open arms.

The updated campaign website is available in six languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Russian. The attention of visitors to the home page will immediately be drawn to the menu bar along the top, which offers routes to pages focusing on specific travel passions. Under each theme, they can find insightful history, useful travel tips, and vivid illustrations of the numerous destinations and activities.

To read more, go here. 

More Foreigners Venturing Out of Japan's Metropolitan Areas

Above, Nagasaki's Hypocenter Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It used to be that foreign visitors to Japan just confined their visits to metropolitan areas such as Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka.

That is now changing as more foreign visitors are venturing outside of metropolitan areas to see different places and experience different things.

Above, the Saikai Bridge in Kyushu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japan Times reported:

About 18 million foreign travelers visited regions outside of the Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka metropolitan areas in 2018, some 40 percent more than the number of travelers who visited only those metropolitan areas, an annual government report showed Friday. 

The figure marked steady growth from the 10.2 million visits logged in 2015, according to the 2019 white paper on tourism, which was adopted at a Cabinet meeting the same day. 

Of the 31.19 million foreign travelers to Japan last year, 57.7 percent visited regions outside of the three metropolitan areas, and they spent more than ¥1 trillion. 

The report found that foreign travelers seeking experiences, including skiing, visiting hot springs or engaging in nature tourism, have a strong tendency to visit nonmetropolitan areas. 

Such travelers also tend to spend more per head than those who do not engage in experience-based consumption.

 To read more, go here.

Visit Old Japanese Naval Port Towns of Maizuru, Kure and Sasebo

Above, the Hario Towers near Sasebo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2007, I took a trip down to Kyushu to visit several places of historical and kaiju history.

While there, I visited Kumamoto, Mount Aso Volcano National Park, Sasebo, Nagasaki and Fukuoka.

Tokyo Cheapo has an article on visiting Japan's old port towns, which includes Sasebo. In the Sasebo portion of their article, they focused on the Hario Towers, purportedly the towers that transmitted the signal to the Japanese fleet to attack Pearl Harbor. Near the towers, is the Saikai Bridge that was featured in Rodan (1956).

Above, the Saikai Bridge near Sasebo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you are a submarine fan, there is a port town (Kure) where submarines can be viewed and a museum dedicated to the Japanese battleship, Yamato.

They begin their article with:

Many visitors to Japan limit their sightseeing to the country’s major cities, like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. Beyond those hot spots, however, exists a wealth of history and culture in local areas that can offer unique tourist opportunities. Consider Maizuru, Kure and Sasebo—three old Japan port towns chock-full of natural beauty, historical attractions and nautical adventures.

To see the full article, go here.

Which JR Rail Pass To Choose

Above, the Saikai Bridge (that was blown down by Rodan) near Sasebo City in Kyushu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Regular readers of this blog are aware of the convenience and value of the JR Rail Passes available to foreign visitors to Japan. There are several different ones and it is often difficult to choose the right one.

Tokyo Cheapo has an article on which Japan Rail Pass to choose.

They begin with:

Japan Rail Passes are available to anyone visiting Japan on a short-term tourist visa. They provide a fantastic discount on regular rail travel, but if you don’t have experience with Japan’s rail transport system, it’s difficult to know a) if you need one, and b) which pass you should get. To add to the confusion, the various regional companies that constitute JR (JR East, JR West, JR Central, JR Hokkaido, JR Shikoku and JR Kyushu) all have their own passes! Each is priced differently and has different conditions. 

Japan Rail (JR) Pass Online Reservation: The main JR Pass is excellent value, and if you’re traveling to more than one major city within seven days (or three/four cities within 14 days), it’s very likely you’ll be saving money if you buy this pass (it opens up the whole of Japan). You can order it online here. 

If you’re not sure that’s the ticket for you, read on as we explain the exact conditions of the main JR Pass and those of the two biggest regional companies: JR East and JR West.

To read more, go here. 

Foreign Visitors To Japan Tops 10 Million In January-April

Above, the Saikai Bridge in Kyushu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

More visitors are heading into Japan at a faster pace.

The Mainichi Daily News reported:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan from January to April topped 10 million, reaching that level at the fastest pace on record, the Japan Tourism Agency said Thursday.

With the latest data, the annual number of overseas visitors to the country has now reached 10,519,300, up 15.4 percent from a year earlier and exceeding 10 million for the sixth straight year, the agency said. The previous record pace was set from January to May last year.

To read more, go here.

"Jurassic Island" To Open April 28 Near Sasebo

Above, the Saikai Bridge near Sasebo City in Nagasaki Prefecture. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's one thing about Japan, they seem to have new amusement park attractions opening annually.

A new one is set to open in April near Sasebo.

According to the Asahi Shimbun:

SASEBO, Nagasaki Prefecture--“Jurassic Park” will move one step closer to reality on an uninhabited island here, where an innovative theme park attraction will bring dinosaurs to life using augmented reality. 

Dutch theme park Huis Ten Bosch (HTB) here will open Jurassic Island from April 28, where Nagashima island and its woods will provide a stage for thrill-seekers to do battle with fierce “dinosaurs” in a realistic outdoor setting. 

The venue in Saikai, which occupies about 39,000 square meters in Omura Bay next to HTB, is about 6 kilometers from the main park. 

Willing “warriors” must first take a 40-minute ferry ride to embark on the adventure.

Fans of Japanese kaiju movies are familiar with Sasebo City. In the 1956 movie, Rodan, two flying giant monsters attack Sasebo and demolish the Saikai Bridge. I am curious if something involving Rodan will be included in the new park as a "hat tip".

To read more, go here.

Rodan's 60th Anniversary

Above, Rodan attacks Fukuoka. Toho Co,, Ltd.

Ever been in one of those moods where you didn't want to do anything in particular, but were bored stiff anyway? That happened to me this afternoon.

I mentioned this on Facebook and Neil Riebe made this suggestion in reply:

It's Rodan's 60th anniversary. Pop it into the DVD player and give it a watch.

I hadn't thought today being the 60th anniversary of Rodan. I checked and Neil was right. Rodan was released on December 26, 1956 in Japan by Toho.

Above, the Saikai Bridge. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I visited some Rodan locations in Kyushu in 2007. One was the Saikai Bridge near Sasebo City and another was the area in Fukuoka near Fukuoka Station.

Above, Rodan star Kenji Sahara and Armand in 2009 at G-FEST.

So, I took him up on his suggestion and popped it into my Blu-ray player. It has been a while since I last watched it.

Great idea, Neil! Thanks for the suggestion! 

Tourists Flocking To Japan's Dams and Bridges

Above, the Rainbow Bridge of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It appears that tours to bridges, dams and other infrastructures in Japan are gaining in popularity for tourists.

Those of us who are kaiju fans, already have reason to see some. The Saikai Bridge in Kyushu (near Sasebo City) was featured in Rodan (1956), the Kachidoki Bridge in Tokyo was featured in Godzilla (1954) and the Rainbow Bridge that spans across Tokyo Bay was featured in Godzilla x Megaguirus (2000), just to name a few. These are spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

According to an article in AsiaOne Travel:

"Infra-tourism," or sightseeing at large-scale infrastructure utilities such as dams, bridges and roads, is gaining popularity. Visitors can enjoy dynamic views such as the thunderous discharge of water at a dam, or a suspension bridge from high above, while also learning about the roles of utilities.

To read more, go here.

Go To Kyushu and Save Up To 70%

Above, the Saikai Bridge near Sasebo City, Kyushu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is about to enact a plan to lure more tourists to quake-ravaged Kyushu.

It was reported in News On Japan:

The Japanese government will launch a system to enable a discount in hotel and package tour fees of up to 70 pct for visitors to the earthquake-hit Kyushu region, it was learned Tuesday. 

Under the comprehensive program to support the recovery of tourism in the southwestern region suffering from cancellations of accommodation and other adverse effects of the series of powerful quakes in April, the government will provide necessary costs totaling 18 billion yen to affected prefectures.

To read more, go here.

Kyushu's Tourism Takes Big Hit

Above, the Saikai Bridge in Nagasaki Prefecture. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The recent earthquake activity on Kyushu has caused not only death and destruction, it has also damaged the Kyushu tourism industry. How long it will take to recover is anyone's guess.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) reported:

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The series of strong earthquakes that have caused damage mainly to Kumamoto and Oita prefectures has dealt a blow to tourism in other Kyushu southwestern prefectures, such as Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Saga and Miyazaki. 

“Ryokan” Japanese-style hotels in hot spring resort areas have received about 2,000 cancellations of reservations. Some hotels in Nagasaki, facing cancellations of trip plans, are willing to offer vacant rooms to people in need of long-term evacuation after the disasters.

To read more, go here. 

Japan To Push Bridges and Dams As Sightseeing Spots

Above, the Saikai Bridge in Kyushu that was
featured in Rodan (1956) Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan has many places and things for tourists to see already. But, they are looking to adding more places for tourists to see.

According to the Japan Times:

The land ministry will help promote sightseeing tours of public facilities with striking features, including large bridges and dams from which magnificent views can be had, officials said. 

The ministry will study successful cases and compile a book offering know-how for central and local government entities to turn their public facilities into sightseeing attractions, the officials said. Such development is possible in cooperation with tourist associations and nongovernmental organizations.

To read more, go here. S

Strong Dollar Promotes Japan Travel In 2015

Above, the Saikai Bridge in Kyushu near Sasebo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For quite some time, I have been beating the drums on visiting Japan now (while the U.S. dollar is strong against the Japanese yen).

eTurboNews has an article on how 2015 is the time to take a vacation in Japan.

They wrote:

JENKINTOWN, PA - For the first time in a long time the US dollar is strong, providing an enticing opportunity for travelers to visit Japan. This, combined with Japan having now fully recovered from the events of 2011, makes it an ideal time to experience this fascinating and diverse country more affordably. 

According to xe.com, the US dollar is achieving strength against the yen at a level not seen since 2007. Even in just the past year, the dollar has strengthened 16% against the yen, comparing favorably to the dollar’s increase against the euro at 21%. Also, according to Google Trends, interest in the search term “travel to Japan” has increased 55% from November 2014 to January 2015.

To read more, go here.

JR West Introducing New Travel Passes To Visit The "Land of Rodan"

Above, the Saikai Bridge near Sasebo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fans wanting to visit the "Land of Rodan" can do so more cheaply thanks to three new travel passes for foreigners from JR West.

According to Kyodo News:

West Japan Railway Co. said Wednesday it will expand its lineup of unlimited ride passes for foreign travelers from next March. 

By newly offering three area passes that can be used in western Japan, the company, better known as JR West, aims to explore new demand from foreign travelers in connection with next year's 40th anniversary of the Sanyo Shinkansen bullet train line between Osaka and Hakata in Fukuoka Prefecture.

Hakata Station is in Kyushu's largest city, Fukuoka. From there, visitors can travel to Mount Aso Volcano National Park and Sasebo City (and the nearby Saikai Bridge), where much of the action in Rodan (1956) took place.

To read more, go here. 

Dollar Briefly Reaches 114 Yen

Above, the Saikai Bridge in Kyushu near Sasebo in 2007. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The dollar rose to a new seven-year high against the Japanese yen today when it briefly crossed over the 114 yen mark in Tokyo trading.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The U.S. dollar held in the upper 113 yen zone in Tokyo on Tuesday morning, maintaining most of its gains from New York overnight when the U.S. currency rose above 114 yen for the first time since December 2007 on speculation Japanese and U.S. monetary policy are set to diverge further. 

At noon, the dollar fetched 113.70-71 yen compared with 113.99-114.09 yen in New York at 5 p.m. Monday. Financial markets in Tokyo were closed for a public holiday on Monday.

The dollar is coming close to the levels reached in April 2007 when I went to Japan and visited Kyushu's cities of Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kumamoto and Sasebo. On that trip, I received 116 yen per dollar exchanged.

This is excellent news as travel to Japan is even more inviting for American travelers.

To read more, go here. 

Stripes Japan Kaiju Pick-ups

For those in the service of our country in Japan (or the Pacific region) and their families, Stripes Japan is an online version of the Stripes Japan newspaper.

In case some of them happen to be kaiju fans, Stripes Japan picked up three kaiju-oriented articles during this past year for their readers. They were originally posted at JapanTravel.

Here's what Stripes Japan is about:

Japan.stripes.com is an interactive version of Stripes Japan, a newspaper serving the U.S. military community in mainland Japan with local, community-focused news and information on events, dining, activities, travel, and entertainment. Stripes Japan and Japan.stripes.com were established to meet the demand of the U.S. military community for local news and information in an easily accessible, English-language format. 

Stripes Japan is printed every week and is a product of Stars and Stripes Pacific. Stripes Japan and Stripes’ other community products are supplements of the daily Stars and Stripes newspaper and its corresponding website, stripes.com. Stars and Stripes is authorized for publication by the Department of Defense (DOD) for members of the U.S. military serving overseas. 

The contents of Stripes Japan and its corresponding website, Japan.stripes.com, are unofficial, and are not to be considered as the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, including the Department of Defense or the U.S. Pacific Command.

The three articles posted:

Rodan's Saikai Bridge

Tokyo Tower, The Monster Magnet

Yokosuka's Godzilla Slide

H.I.S. May Buy Island Near Theme Park For Casino Resort

Above, many islands dot the Kyushu coast and may be candidates for a casino resort. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Sasebo may be known more than just the Saikai Bridge and the Hario Towers (featured in Rodan (1956)) if casino resort developers have their way.

The Japan Times reported:

H.I.S. Co.’s Dutch-themed Huis Ten Bosch amusement park along the Nagasaki coast is considering buying a deserted offshore island in an expansion to boost its appeal as a possible site for a casino resort. 

“We are planning to buy new land to offer more games at the Huis Ten Bosch theme park,” Hideo Sawada, chairman of the Tokyo-based travel agency and park operator, said in an interview last week. “There are a lot of deserted islands nearby.” He said at least ¥100 billion is needed to fund a gambling resort at the park. 

Huis Ten Bosch and sites across Japan are preparing to compete for possible gambling resort developments before the nation ends a ban on casinos, with preliminary legislation expected to be passed in the coming months. Global operators from Las Vegas Sands Corp. to Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. have said they are prepared to invest billions of dollars should they win permits for casinos in the world’s third-largest economy. 

Japan’s casino market could eventually generate $40 billion in annual revenue, trailing only China’s Macau as a gambling hub, CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets estimates.

Above, the Shin-Saikai Bridge near Sasebo City. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Huis Ten Bosch is near Sasebo City (the train I rode on passed it while on the way to Sasebo in 2007) and is twice the size of Tokyo Disneyland, according to the article. There are many offshore islands near Sasebo, Nagasaki and Fukuoka, so any one of them could be a prime candidate for a casino resort.

To read more, go here.