10 Ways To Travel Responsibly In Tokyo

Above, a bird's eye view from the Tokyo Skytree. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

National Geographic posted paid content from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on ten ways to travel responsibly in Tokyo. Although paid content, I thought it worth sharing.

It begins with:

As one of the world’s biggest cities, Tokyo is a dazzling cosmopolitan center of innovation and international exchange. However, its roots are still steeped in ancient traditions that live on today. Immersion in the lifestyles and customs of Tokyo’s residents, the responsible traveler can benefit from a more insightful and rewarding visit.

To read more, go here.

Tokyo To Offer Virtual Travel Experience

Above, an early morning view of the Tokyo Skytree from Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is still closed off to foreign tourism due to the coronavirus, but that won't be a hinderance to people who want to see places in and around Tokyo.

Online tours will be offered by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

According to The Japan Times:

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will start offering online tours featuring sightseeing spots across the Japanese capital from this month, as a new way of traveling amid the coronavirus crisis.

Specialties from Tokyo will be sent to tour participants in advance to help them get a feel for their virtual destinations from home.

A total of 19 tours using the Zoom videoconference system will be organized between October and February next year. Each tour will feature different tourist spots, including those on Tokyo islands such as the island of Miyake in the Pacific island chain of Izu.

The tour itself is free but participants will be charged about ¥1,000 for the specialties.

To read more, go here. 

Tokyo Considering Convention Center At Former Tsukiji Fish Market Site

Above, the Tsukiji Fish Market in 2010. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that the closed Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo has been relocated to Toyosu, the Tokyo Metropolitan government is considering the future use of the former site.

The Japan Times reported:

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is considering building a complex including a convention center on the site of the closed Tsukiji fish market, a source close to the matter said Wednesday. 

On Jan. 25 the Tokyo authorities will outline a draft redevelopment plan for the 23-hectare site of the former fish market, which closed last October after 83 years of operation, the source said. The draft plan is expected to be finalized by the end of March. 

Tokyo has already decided to use the location temporarily as parking lots for athletes and staff during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

The city government is also considering opening a luxury hotel, hoping to attract more business people and foreign tourists by using the site that had become a popular tourist attraction. Plans for the redevelopment include leasing the site to private-sector entities.

To read more, go here. 

Tokyo Opens Free 24-Hour Tourist Call Center

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

If one is in Tokyo and are a "bit bewildered" due to the language barrier, there is a new multilingual call center available to help foreign tourists.

The Japan Times reported:

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government opened a call center Friday for foreign visitors to improve communication with businesses and other organizations of interest. 

The center, the first of its kind, will be open 24 hours a day and provide guidance and translation services in English, Chinese and Korean. 

It also provides information about tourist events and how to use public transport. Non-Japanese can even ask to have their inquiries interpreted at shops and restaurants. 

Furthermore, travelers can send pictures of brochures and signs to the center by email to have the text translated into one of the three languages. 

Calls to the center are toll-free and its services are free of charge, aside from internet access fees.

To read more, go here. 

Tokyo To Survey Foreign Tourists Nightlife Needs

Above, Shibuya Crossing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is about to survey foreign tourists about their nightlife preferences to get them to spend more.

According to the Japan Times:

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to survey foreign tourists on what they enjoy about the city’s nightlife to better cater to their interests while encouraging them to spend more, a source said Saturday. 

The central government, which is considering a similar survey, is joining Tokyo’s efforts to increase tourist spending. Despite the rapid increase in tourism, the average amount spent per traveler has declined in recent years.

To read more, go here. 

Tsukiji Fish Market To Move In September or October

Above, the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has finally been decided (at least for now) that the operations of the famed Tsukiji Fish Market will be moved in September or October of next year.

The Japan Times reported:

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has set the time for relocating the operations of the Tsukiji fish market to the nearby Toyosu waterfront area at September to October next year. 

The specific date will be discussed with industry groups, the metropolitan government said Monday. The announcement came after Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said in late August that the market, where daily fish auctions attract hordes of tourists, will be moved no earlier than next June. 

The metropolitan government wants to reach an agreement on the date this month at a council consisting of government officials and business representatives. It expects that additional safety measures to address soil contamination at the new site will be completed no later than next July.

To read more, go here. 

Tokyo To Promote Boat Tours

Above, a yakata-bune drinking and dining boat moored on the Sumida River. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In an effort to further promote Tokyo's charms, the Tokyo metropolitan government is going to promote boat tours and will be building new facilities to accommodate passenger traffic.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) reported:

With an eye on the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Tokyo metropolitan government will start promoting boat tours to attract foreign visitors in the new fiscal year, which begins on April 1. 

The metropolitan government will launch a portal website with information about boat transportation services in several languages and also develop a new route between Haneda Airport and the waterfront areas where several Olympic venues will be built. A boat terminal will be built in the space now occupied by the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market in Tsukiji, Chuo Ward, after the market is relocated. 

The metropolitan government is aiming to attract an increasing number of foreign tourists by conveying the capital’s new charms. 

Shinji Uchiyama, president of yakata-bune pleasure boat tour operator Galleon in Koto Ward, Tokyo, said his firm tends to rely on repeat customers or word of mouth. “More people will be interested in our tours if there is a portal website [to introduce our services],” he said.

According to the metropolitan government, there are a total of 13 regular routes connecting Haneda Airport, Odaiba, Asakusa and other locations in the capital, with about 60 services operated daily by four entities. Different tour boats and yakata-bune pleasure boats, on which passengers are able to enjoy eating and drinking, are also available.

Above, plans include a new boat terminal at the site of the Tsukiji Fish Market which is closing this year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

 To read more, go here.

Latest Blog Post Pick-ups

The good folks at The Japan Daily have picked up several of yesterday's blog posts for sharing with their readers.

They are:

To read The Japan Daily, go here.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Revamps Website

Above, a view of Tokyo from Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has revamped their foreign visitor website.

According to Japan Today:

TOKYO —With an eye toward attracting more foreign visitors to Tokyo in preparation for the 2020 Olympics, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has revamped its website (foreign language versions).

The foreign-language websites are:

English http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/
Chinese http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/CHINESE/
Korean http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/KOREAN/

They are compatible with smartphone and tablet devices.

To read more, go here.