Opposition To Mt. Fuji Railway Plan

Above, a view of Mt. Fuji from a passing Shinkansen. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2004, our G-TOUR tour group took a bus ride to one of the fifth Stations on the slopes of Mount Fuji in Japan. 

Now, one of the governing prefectures of the mountain is considering building a rail line to a fifth station. This plan is facing stiff opposition as Mount Fuji is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site and is seen as a "sacred mountain" by the Japanese. 

Above, the summit of Mt. Fuji during a stop while en route to a fifth station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) reported: 

With Thursday marking the 10th anniversary of Mt. Fuji’s designation as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, authorities are debating how to curb the number of tourists on Japan’s highest mountain and ease the environmental burden tourists create.

The government of Yamanashi Prefecture, which is located on the northern side of the 3,776-meter peak, is considering building a railway from Mt. Fuji’s foot to the fifth station on the existing Fuji Subaru Line toll road.

Although the prefecture plans to start technical surveys soon, some parties have expressed opposition, arguing that the mountain’s designation as a World Heritage site emphasizes its significance as a “sacred mountain.”

Yamanashi Prefecture is considering running a light rail transit (LRT) system on tracks to be laid on a 28-kilometer section of the Fuji Subaru Line toll road. An LRT is a low trolley with limited noise and shaking.

To read more, go here. 

Osaka Castle, Osaka's Civic Symbol

Above, Osaka Castle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

What Japanese castle was demolished in the second Godzilla movie?

For a G-fan that answer is easy. It was Osaka Castle in (where else?) the city of Osaka in Godzilla's Counterattack (or Godzilla Raids Again) in 1955. It got demolished during the battle between Godzilla and Anguirus.

The current Osaka Castle was built in 1931 and has now served as a symbol of Osaka for over 90 years. I first visited the Castle in 2004 during G-TOUR and then in 2015.

The Japan News has posted and article on Osaka Castle with some interesting history on the structure.

It begins with: 

OSAKA — Ask a child, “Who built Osaka Castle?” and the answer you’ll probably get is, “Carpenters!” Yet people who know their history are just as likely to say “Toyotomi Hideyoshi.” Turns out, both answers are correct.

Hideyoshi was a powerful warlord who unified Japan in the late 16th century before the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate. He is especially popular in Osaka as a historical figure who rose to power from a peasant background.

However, when it comes to the current Osaka Castle tower that has been transformed into a modern museum with the appearance of a keep, the “carpenters” answer to the riddle is still correct. The castle tower was built by major construction company Obayashi Corp.

The eight-story structure with reinforced concrete was built in 1931 as part of a project to commemorate the accession of Emperor Showa to the throne five years earlier. Since then, it has served as a landmark as well as a symbol of Osaka for more than 90 years.

To read more, go here. 

Kinkakuji Admission Fees To Be Raised In April

Above, Kinkakuji "Golden Pavilion" in Kyoto, Japan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The last time admission fees were raised for the Kinkakuji "Golden Pavilion" in Kyoto, Japan was in 1993. The first time I visited it was in 2004 with G-TOUR. I was last there in 2015.

This coming April, admission fees will be raised.

According to The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun): 

KYOTO (Jiji Press) — Kinkakuji, an iconic temple in the western Japan city of Kyoto, will raise admission fees for the first time in 30 years in April, as it is struggling with higher maintenance costs and a drop in the number of visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The temple, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, will raise the admission fee for adults and high school students to ¥500 from ¥400 on April 1.

“It was a tough decision made to protect (the temple) forever,” a Kinkakuji official said of the fee increase. “We have a mission to keep Kinkakuji beautiful for good and want visitors to view (the temple) in good condition,” the official said.

Ryoanji, another Kyoto temple on the UNESCO heritage list, will increase the admission fee for adults by ¥100 to ¥600 on April 1. The temple, known for its rock garden, has been visited by a number of dignitaries including the late British Queen Elizabeth II.

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. 

Double-decker Shinkansen Cars To Be Retired

Above, a cleaning crew waits to be given the go-ahead to clean the Joetsu Shinkansen
double-decker train in the background at Tokyo Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my 2010 trip to Japan, I took an excursion to Niigata to see the Sea of Japan side of Honshu for the fun of it.

I rode the Joetsu Shinkansen to Niigata. It was a double-decker train.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) reports that the double-decker Shinkansen cars will be retired October 1.

They wrote:

The E4 series of Shinkansen trains — known for their Max Toki and Max Tanigawa services on the Joetsu Shinkansen line — will retire after their final run on Oct. 1.

The E4 are the only double-decker Shinkansen trains in Japan. Social media accounts operated by East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) have been flooded with messages from passengers and fans, describing their memories of trips and expressing their appreciation.

JR East is planning events and selling commemorative goods on an unusually large scale. Fans and the railway company are united in their desire to send the trains off in style.

The E4 series Shinkansen trains were first introduced to the Tohoku Shinkansen line in 1997 and to the Joetsu Shinkansen line in 2001. The 16-car trains had a seating capacity of 1,634, the most of any high-speed train in the world.

Age and speed were cited as the reasons for retiring the double-decker cars.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Government Extends State of Emergency

Above, Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto during normal times. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We may complain about the measures taken in the U.S. during the pandemic, but at least we're not in Japan.

Several prefectures in Japan have been under a state of emergency for weeks precipitated by surges in coronavirus infections. Getting the Japanese citizenry vaccinated has been lagging. All this has been going on with the postponed Tokyo Summer Olympics only weeks away. This has led the Asahi Shimbun to call for the cancelation of the Olympics.

Now, the government has extended the state of emergency for another month.

According to The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun):

The government announced its decision on Friday to extend the state of emergency for nine prefectures including Tokyo and Osaka through June 20.

The decision was reached on Friday evening at a meeting of the government’s COVID-19 task force led by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, after the subcommittee on basic coronavirus measures approved the decision in a morning meeting.

“Areas subject to the state of emergency have remained in Stage 4,” Yasutoshi Nishimura, the minister in charge of coronavirus measures, said at the subcommittee meeting, referring to the most serious level. “The number of seriously ill patients has been around 1,400 nationwide. The health care system is facing a severe situation.”

The state of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Kyoto and Okayama was scheduled to end May 31.

It will be some time before things in Japan return to "normal" so that foreign visitors can go there.

To read more, go here.

90% of Vaccinated People Developed Antibodies Against Coronavirus Variants

Above, shoppers at Asakusa's Nakamise Dori during normal times. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The following article originates from Japan, but it does apply here for those of us who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer vaccine.

I have been fortunate to have been vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine back in February.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) reported: 

About 90% of Japanese people who received two doses of Pfizer Inc.’s vaccine against COVID-19 developed antibodies that could prevent the onset of the disease from novel coronavirus variants as well as the original virus, a study by Yokohama City University has found.

As coronavirus variants are spreading in Japan, the research highlights the importance of promoting the ongoing vaccination program.

In the study, blood samples were collected from 105 doctors and nurses, aged 24 to 62, who were vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine in March and April. The vaccine is normally given in two doses on two separate occasions. The samples were taken before and after the inoculations.

Examination of the antibodies contained in blood a week after the second inoculation showed that 99% of the participants had developed antibodies that are likely to have a sufficient preventive effect against the original form of the novel coronavirus. High efficacy was confirmed for variants as well, with 94% of the participants found to have developed antibodies effective against the British variant that is spreading in the nation, 90% for the South African variant and 97% for the Indian variant.

 To read more, go here.

Ten Years Since 2010 Japan Trip

Above, at the Godzilla statue at Toho Studios.

While going through my Japan photos yesterday to use in a blog post on Kyoto's Kiyumizu-dera temple, I found that I went to Japan for a combined business and pleasure trip ten years ago today. Man, ten years sure did whisk by fast!

Another reason for going was that my mother passed away in January and the upcoming Christmas would be the first without any living parents. I figured that the trip to Japan would be a needed lift for me. It worked!

The business end was to promote the newly-published The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. It included some interviews and a photo shoot at the Godzilla statue in Hibiya by the Yomiuri Shimbun. I came armed with plenty of copies of the travel guide.

I also went to Toho Studios in Setagaya and had some photos taken with the Godzilla statue while holding a copy of the travel guide.

Above, an article and photo at the Godzilla statue by the Yomiuri Shibun.

While I spent most of the trip in Tokyo, I did manage to take a Shinkansen trip to Niigata, which is on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu. I stayed at the Dormy Inn. One morning, I went to the hotel's restaurant for breakfast and saw (and heard) first-hand Japanese businessmen slurping their soba noodles. The slurping was quite loud in the small dining room. It was rather amusing. 

While I was in Tokyo, I set my clock to 4:00 in the morning to pay an early morning visit to the Tsukiji Fish Market. But an aftershock from a recent earthquake off the coast of Japan got me up at 3:20. I took a taxi to the fish market as trains and subways weren't in operation until a little later.

Above, at one of the restaurants at the Outer Market of the Tsukiji Fish Market.

The Tsukiji Fish Market was interesting to see. I had a plate of tuna sushi for breakfast at the fish market's Outer Market (where shops and restaurants were clustered). It was the best sushi I ever had. While there, I had some photos taken by and with some of the restaurateurs. 

Also, while in Tokyo, I went to see the new movie, Space Battleship Yamato in Hibiya. It was an enjoyable movie, even though I don't understand Japanese.

Above, the Wako Dept. Store clock tower with its winter decorations. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo's Ginza shopping district was decorated for the Christmas holiday season, although they refer to them as "winter" decorations. 

All in all, it was a good trip and got a lot accomplished. I was thinking about going this year, but the coronavirus pandemic put a stop to that idea. Maybe next year.

¥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. 

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.