McDonald's Japan To Raise Prices On Hamburgers and Other Items

Above, McDonald's signage in Shibuya, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the years, I've heard many stories of couples visiting Japan and one or the other does not like sushi or other Japanese delicacies and they opt instead for a McDonald's hamburger.

Well, those people will be paying a bit more for that hamburger as McDonald's Japan is going to raise prices.

According to the Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun):

McDonald’s Company (Japan) Ltd. said Friday it will raise prices on hamburgers and other menu items on March 14 from ¥10 to ¥20 to counter factors that include the rising cost of raw materials.

The hike is in response to soaring prices of wheat, beef and other raw materials, as well as increasing costs for labor and transportation.

It will be the first price hike on burgers for McDonald’s Japan since October 2019, when consumption tax went up to 10%.

 To read more, go here.

Japan Travel Plans Offered To The Vaccinated

Above, foreign visitors can visit Godzilla again soon, provided they got jabbed. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tourism to Japan is slowly creeping open to foreign visitors.

Several travel agencies are tailoring travel plans for visitors to Japan, but there's a hitch: they have to be vaccinated.

According to an article in The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun):

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — An increasing number of travel agencies and other businesses in Japan are adopting tourism plans targeted at those who have been fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.

In order to recover from the coronavirus crisis, companies are looking to meet demand while ensuring safe trips for customers by creating exclusive tours, distributing vouchers at lodging facilities and preparing special train services for people who have been vaccinated.

Travel agency Club Tourism International Inc. will begin offering tours later this month to people who complete their vaccinations no later than 14 days before departure.

An official at Club Tourism said that many reservations were coming in, thanks to the lifting of the state of emergency and pre-emergency measures at the end of September.

To read the full article, go here. 

¥1 Trillion Aid Package For Japan's Tourism Industry

Above, Osaka Castle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japanese government is planning to provide ¥1 trillion in aid to their tourism industry, which has been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

According to The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun):

The government has decided to include a ¥1 trillion aid package for the tourism industry in the emergency economic measures that will be compiled next week. 

The aid package is aimed at helping the recovery of the industry after the coronavirus outbreak ends, as tourist spots across the nation have been suffering from a sharp drop in the number of travelers from around the world due to the virus outbreak. 

A pillar of the package will be measures to stimulate tourism demand. The measures that will be implemented as a ¥1 trillion aid package will include subsidizing half the cost of accommodations in Japan, setting a ceiling of about ¥20,000 per night. Coupons that can be used at souvenir shops, restaurants and tourist facilities will also be distributed to promote consumption at tourist spots.

To read more, go here.

Kyoto To Curb New Hotel Construction

Above, the three-storey pagoda at Kiyomizu-dera. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The city of Kyoto has made an about-face on new hotel construction to meet the increased number of tourists.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) reported:

KYOTO — Kyoto Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa said at a regular press conference on Wednesday that the city will aim to curb construction of new accommodations in response to a sharp increase in the number of lodging facilities in the city. 

Due to problems such as some tourists’ poor manners and a lack of land, the city government has changed its conventional policy of aiming to attract more accomodation facilities.

When I was last in Kyoto in 2015, we stayed at hotel in nearby Osaka and took a commuter train to Kyoto for a day trip.

To read more, go here. 

Explore Setagaya On The Setagaya Line

Above, yours truly with some friends at the Godzilla statue at Toho Studios in 2014. 

One of the "must do" things Godzilla fans include in their itineraries while visiting Tokyo is to go to Toho Studios in Setagaya.

While the studio does not offer tours, visitors can see the studio lot from the outside along with the man-sized Godzilla statue and the Godzilla and Seven Samurai murals.

Above, the Seven Samurai mural at Toho Studios. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The most direct way of getting to Toho Studios is to take the Odakyu Line from Shibuya Station to Seijogakuen-mae Station. From there, one must either walk to Toho Studios (I've done it, both ways) or take a taxi.

There's a more roundabout way to get to Toho Studios, but even then, one must transfer to the Odakyu Line. That is the Setagaya Line. The nearest stations of the Odakyu Line to the Setagaya Line are the Kyodo and the Umegaoka Stations from the Setagaya Line's Yamashita Station. It will take a good walk or taxi ride to get to either station.

Above, the Toho Studios Godzilla mural. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

What sparked this blog post was an article in The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) on the Setagaya Line. For those adventurous, the article talks of exploring the Setagaya section of Tokyo via this line.

They begin it with:

Buying a one-day ticket for the Setagaya Line the other day reminded me of the excitement of visiting an amusement park in my childhood. Although Sangenjaya Station, the streetcar line’s terminal, is only two stops from Shibuya Station on the Den-en-toshi Line, the area along the line has a warm, nostalgic atmosphere that makes you forget you’re only three kilometers from the hustle and bustle of central Shibuya. Furthermore, with the one-day ticket in hand, you feel like an explorer. 

Whenever I travel by train in Japan and abroad, I feel the urge to choose my destinations in advance out of fear of getting lost. But the Setagaya Line allows for a carefree journey that can be done on the fly, since it covers a distance of only 5 kilometers and passes through 10 stations in about 18 minutes. What’s more, the one-day ticket is ¥340 for adults — about half the price of most one-day tickets sold by railway operators in Tokyo.

Above, the Setagaya Line (circle) and Toho Studios (arrow).

So, if one wants to visit Toho Studios but have plenty of time to explore the Setagaya section of Tokyo for the fun of it, this is an idea to consider.

To read more about the Setagaya Line, go here.

Japan Ranked 4th In Travel Report

Above, Nakamise Dori in the Asakusa section of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A new report on world tourism has placed Japan in fourth place in assessing counties competitiveness for travelers.

According to The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun):

LONDON (Jiji Press) — Japan came in fourth in the World Economic Forum’s latest Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report released Wednesday, unchanged from the previous survey in 2017. 

Japan was highly rated for its cultural assets and other features, but the report pointed out that improvements can be made with respect to the country’s development of tourism infrastructure and its use of natural resources. The top three countries were also unchanged, with Spain heading the overall rankings, followed by France and Germany. 

Visitors are attracted to Japan’s “unique cultural resources,” the report said. “However, Japan still has room to better utilize its promising natural resources.” 

The report covered 140 countries and regions, assessing their competitiveness in 14 fields including natural resources, cultural resources and air transport infrastructure.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Foreign Visitors Top 16 Million In January-June

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

The numbers of foreign visitors to Japan are breaking and setting new records.

Already, the number of foreign visitors to Japan have passed the 16 million mark.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) reported:

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The estimated number of visitors to Japan in January-June grew 4.6 percent from a year before to a record high of 16,633,600, topping the 16-million threshold for the first time on a first-half basis, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Wednesday. 

Visitors to Japan continued increasing thanks chiefly to a rise in the number of flights. 

But visitors from South Korea decreased 3.8 percent to 3,862,700 in the first half of 2019, apparently reflecting the deterioration in the bilateral relationship, partly over the issue of wartime labor. 

Total visitors from mainland China surged 11.7 percent to 4,532,500, accounting for the largest share by country or region. 

Visitors from the United States rose 13.1 percent to 875,200 and those from Australia increased 10.7 percent to 326,900. Visitors from Germany were up 11.7 percent at 118,500.

To read more, go here.

Japan See First Decline In Tourists In Five Years

Above, the Asahi Beer Hall in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is seeing a drop in foreign visitors for the first time in five years. Recent disasters a being blamed for the decline.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) reported:

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Japan saw the first decline in the number of visitors from abroad in five years and eight months in September, due to major natural disasters early in the month, government estimates showed on Tuesday. 

The number of inbound visitors in the month is estimated at 2,159,600, down 5.3 percent year on year, the Japan National Tourism Organization said. 

Many people in East Asia are believed to have canceled their planned visits to the country in the aftermath of Typhoon Jebi, which caused a temporary shutdown of Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture, as well as a powerful earthquake in Hokkaido.

To read more, go here. 

Tsukiji Fish Market Is Now History

Above, a worker prepares the day's catch for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The historic Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo has closed its doors for good. Today was its last day of operations before the big move to the new facility.

I visited the Tsukiji Fish Market in 2010 and now that it's history, I am especially glad I did.

Above, one of the vendor aisles. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) wrote:

The iconic Tsukiji market, part of the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market, marked its final day of operations in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, on Saturday, drawing the curtain on 83 years of history. 

The final auctions were held from the predawn hours of Saturday morning. By noon, the move to the Toyosu market had begun. The new wholesale market in the Toyosu district of Koto Ward, Tokyo, is scheduled to open early Thursday. Before then, an “unprecedented transfer operation” will have to be completed.

The Outer Market, where the restaurants and shops are located will remain open.

Above, yours truly with one of the workers at Sushizanmai at the Tsukiji Outer Market in 2010.

To read more, go here.

Giant Spider Gets Wool Sweater

Above, Maman without the sweater. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At the Roppongi Hills complex, there's a giant spider sculpture called "Maman".

Now through May 27, Maman will be sporting a colorful sweater.

According to The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun):

Colorful knitted wool has been wrapped around the enormous bronze spider sculpture in the Roppongi Hills complex in Minato Ward, Tokyo, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the opening of the popular complex. 

The 10-meter high spider, dubbed “Maman,” is the work of French-American sculptor Louise Bourgeois. American textile artist Magda Sayeg covered Maman’s eight legs with almost 600 pieces of knitting, taking 11 days to complete the project.

To see the knitting and to read more, go here. 

"Sayonara Tax" To Start In January

Above, the National Diet Building in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japanese Diet has enacted a new departure tax that will begin to be levied in January 2019.

According to an article in The Japan News:

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The Diet enacted on Wednesday a bill to introduce a departure tax of ¥1,000. 

The bill became law as the House of Councillors approved it by a majority vote of ruling coalition members and other lawmakers at a plenary session. 

From January 2019, the tax will be collected each time a person, regardless of nationality, leaves the country. Specifically, the levy will be added to airfares and ship fares. 

Revenue from the tax, estimated to amount to around ¥43 billion per fiscal year, will be used for measures to promote tourism to Japan, including improving multilingual guide services at national parks and cultural assets.

¥1,000 is roughly $10.00 U.S. (give or take).

To read more, go here. 

Japan Now No. 15 As World Tourism Draw

Above, Asakusa's Nakamise Street. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan's drive to be a more inviting destination for foreign tourists is paying off. The country is now number 15 in the world.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) reported:

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Japan ranked 15th in the world in terms of the number of visitors from abroad last year, a government white paper said Tuesday. 

The number of visitors to Japan grew 21.8 percent from the previous year to 24.04 million, according to the 2017 white paper on tourism. 

Nine of the country’s 10 regions saw an increase in the total number of foreign visitors who stayed at accommodation facilities. Notably, the Shikoku region had a sharp increase of 46 percent, led by visitors from Taiwan and Hong Kong. The Chubu region was the only region that saw the number fall.

To read more, go here. 

Mummy Burial Chamber Found In Egypt

Above, Boris Karloff in The Mummy (1932). Universal Pictures.

Almost as if the gods wanted to help revive Egypt's tourism industry, a burial chamber of mummies has been found.

According to The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun):

MINYA, Egypt (Reuters) — Egypt has unearthed an ancient burial site replete with at least 17 mummies, most fully intact, the latest in a string of discoveries that the country’s antiquities minister described as a helping hand from the crypt for its struggling tourism sector. 

The funerary site, uncovered eight meters below ground in Minya, a province about 250 km, south of Cairo, contained limestone and clay sarcophagi, animal coffins, and papyrus inscribed with Demotic script. 

The burial chamber was first detected last year by a team of Cairo University students using radar.

To read more, go here. 

5 Foreign Languages To Be Served In 119 Calls

Above, Asakusa's Nakamise Street. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

119, Japan's equivalent to our 911 emergency call number, will soon be available in other languages.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) reported:

In preparation for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency is planning to provide 24-hour foreign language services for 119 emergency calls nationwide. 

The Japanese government considers enabling rescue teams to respond to foreigners in need of medical attention due to sudden sickness or injury a form of omotenashi hospitality, providing travelers in Japan with an added sense of security. 

The fire agency, which is governed by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, is aiming to provide the services in at least five languages — English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Portuguese — with help from private businesses that offer interpretation services.

Other areas, depending upon their needs, will also have services in Russian, German or French.

To read more, go here.

Tatami Floors: Popular With Foreign Tourists

Above, a ryokan room with tatami floors in Atami. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Visitors to Japan should try out a Japanese style hotel room or stay at ryokan for a taste of the "Japanese experience".

Japanese style rooms or ryokans with tatami floors are currently in high demand by foreign tourists, even though the demand for tatami floors in Japanese homes has been "in the doldrums".

According to an article in The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun):

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Tatami straw mats, a key feature of traditional Japanese life, are attracting the attention of tourists from overseas, who are growing in number. 

To meet the newfound demand, lodgings, including high-end urban hotels, are publicizing Japanese-style rooms. 

At the Hotel Grand Ark Hanzomon, Japanese rooms overlooking the sprawling Imperial Palace in central Tokyo have seen growth in reservations from foreigners, a hotel official said. 

Tatami-floored rooms are cool in summer and warm in winter. The scent of rush, used for tatami, has a comforting, therapeutic effect, similar to forest bathing.

To read more, go here. 

Booking "Imperfect" Rooms In Japan Saves Money

Above, buildings block my hotel room's view of Nagasaki Harbor. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A new concept in cheaper hotels or ryokans is taking hold in Japan.

If an accommodation has rooms that have "imperfections", visitors booking them will find that they will save a lot of money if they don't mind the imperfection.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) wrote:

Low-priced accommodation plans offered by ryokan inns and hotels for rooms with imperfections such as poor views or limited space are becoming popular at tourist spots. 

Behind the popularity of such discounted accommodation plans is said to be a sharp rise in room charges due to an increase in the number of foreign visitors to Japan. Some travel booking websites with special sections for low-priced accommodation plans have seen a substantial rise in the number of reservations. 

Discounts on physical products with imperfections, such as oddly shaped food items, are well-known. This concept has now spread to the travel industry.

To read more, go here. 

Free Wi-Fi: User Beware!

More and more travelers are taking advantage of free Wi-Fi service. People are bringing with them their laptops, cell phones and tablet devices to stay in touch with friends and family back home.

While free Wi-Fi is convenient, it is also putting your information as risk by some less-than-honest people.

According to The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun):

The spread of free Wi-Fi (see below), a public wireless local area network (LAN) that gives users access to the internet, poses a security threat in which people’s information may be intercepted. 

Using free Wi-Fi services enables people to access the internet without worrying about how much data they use, but information transmitted by the services is not encoded in many cases. 

In June, Tokyo Metro Co. increased the number of stations where its free Wi-Fi service is available to 175. Users must first install an app on their smartphones, and enter their email address and other information. They can then access the internet. 

People can use the free Wi-Fi service for up to three hours per log-in, with no limit on the number of log-ins.

But there's a downside:

But users are cautioned that many of the free Wi-Fi services do not encode data, which makes transmitted data unreadable by third parties. Encoded data are decoded by putting in passwords and other means, and Wi-Fi routers in users’ homes prevent outsiders from reading data by using encoding and decoding processes.

To read more, go here. 

Japan To Open Tourist Information Centers At All Shinkansen Stations

Above, a tourist information center at Niigata Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As the 2020 Tokyo Olympics gets nearer, Japan is picking up the pace to make things easier for foreign tourists. 

Japan will be opening more tourist centers at shinkansen stations throughout the country.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) reported;

The transport ministry aims to make tourist information centers capable of assisting foreign tourists available at all Shinkansen stations nationwide by fiscal 2019, as part of efforts to boost the number of visitors from overseas. 

The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry plans to provide subsidies to local governments and other entities when the tourist information centers they operate meet certain criteria, such as always having English-speaking guides available. 

The ministry will request necessary funds in the government’s budget for fiscal 2017 for more than 100 Shinkansen stations to open tourist information centers or upgrade their current ones by fiscal 2019.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Sees Record High In Visitors For July

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

The number of foreign visitors to Japan set a record in July.

According to The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun):

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The estimated number of visitors to Japan in July jumped 19.7 percent from a year before to an all-time monthly high of 2.297 million, thanks in part to robust travel demand in the summer holiday season, data from a government agency showed Wednesday. 

The previous record high was 2.082 million in April this year.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Sees Record High In Foreign Visitors

Above, the Dotonbori district of Osaka. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While the strengthening yen may be putting the brakes on Japan tourism to a certain extent, particularly in regard to spending by tourists, 2016 still has broken records in the number of foreign tourists in the January through June period.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) reported:

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The estimated number of visitors to Japan in January-June grew 28.2 percent from a year before to a record 11,713,800, topping the 10-million threshold for the first time ever on a first-half basis, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Wednesday. 

The first-half visitor number rose for the fifth straight year, according to the JNTO. The increase was led by growth in the numbers of international flights and cruise ships to Japan.

To read more, go here.