Japan Visitors Top Over 30 Million

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

It is funny how Japan had pushed for more tourism in recent years and the result in many areas is overtourism. It seems Japan is the "victim" of their own success.

Kyoto, for example, is hiking its hotel room taxes to supposedly fight overtourism. 

This year, foreign tourism has topped over 30 million visitors, the fastest pace ever. 

According to the Japan Times:

The number of foreign visitors to Japan in January to September exceeded 30 million, passing the line at the fastest pace ever, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Wednesday.

The figure jumped 17.7% from the same period last year to a little over 31.6 million.

It crossed the 30-million mark one month earlier than in the previous year, when the annual total hit a record high of 36.87 million, according to the JNTO

This year, the figure may exceed 40 million for the first time, with the autumn foliage season and winter holidays coming up.

To read more, go here. 

Traveling to Japan This Summer Just Got Easier

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

Tourism to Japan has been booming since the restrictions on travel there during the pandemic were lifted.

This boom has been fed in part by the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen.

According to Travel + Leisure, travel to Japan will be getting easier this summer.  

They posted:

Japan Airlines is dramatically increasing flight connections to the U.S. for the summer, which means getting to Japan will be easier than ever. 

Starting May 31, 2025, Japan Airlines will launch a direct flight connecting Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD). This will be a codeshare flight with Oneworld Alliance partner American Airlines. Tickets go on sale on February 12, and the flight is expected to last roughly 12 hours. 

To help meet demand between Japan and North America, Japan Airlines is ramping up connectivity to several West Coast hubs throughout the summer: 

• Tokyo Narita (NRT) to San Diego (SAN): Daily from March 30 to October 25
• Osaka (KIX) to Los Angeles (LAX): Daily from July 18 to October 25
• Osaka (KIX) to Honolulu (HNL): Daily from July 18 to October 25
• Nagoya (NGO) to Honolulu (HNL): Daily from July 18 to October 15
• Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Honolulu (HNL): Twice-daily during July

To read more, go here.

Foreign Visitors To Japan Top 3 Million For 3rd Straight Month

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

It looks like the tourism industry in Japan has recovered, and then some.

For the third straight month, three million foreign visitors came to Japan.

According to Kyodo News:

TOKYO - The number of foreign visitors to Japan totaled 3.04 million in May, up 60.1 percent from a year earlier and exceeding the 3 million mark for the third consecutive month, boosted by the weak yen, government data showed.

The Japan National Tourism Organization attributed the strong tourist arrivals to China's holiday season and an increased number of flights and ships coming from East Asia.

The number of visitors from more than a dozen countries and regions, including South Korea and the United States, reached record highs for the month.

To read more, go here. 

March Foreign Entries To Japan Number 1.8 Million

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

Incoming foreign tourist numbers to Japan has reached around 65% of pre-pandemic levels in March. Much of it was due to cherry blossom season.

According to the Japan Times:

Japan saw an estimated 1,817,500 foreign visitors in March, equivalent to 65.8% of the level seen in March 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic, government data showed Wednesday.

The total was the highest since the country lifted its pandemic-prompted ban on individual, non-prearranged trips last October, it said.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Visitor Numbers Drop 99.9% For 4th Straight Month

Above, Toho Studios during much better times in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

By now, the 2020 Olympics in Japan should have been over and done with. But that pesky virus forced the games to be moved to next year and hardly anyone is vacationing in the country, for the fourth consecutive month.

From Kyodo News:

TOKY0 - Japan received an estimated 3,800 foreign travelers in July, posting a year-on-year plunge of 99.9 percent for the fourth consecutive month amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, government data showed Friday. 

As the country continues to implement strict border controls to prevent the spread of the virus, banning in principle the entry of foreign nationals from 146 countries and regions, it is set to be some time before tourists can return. 

Japan received 2,600 overseas visitors in June, 1,663 in May and 2,917 in April, according to the Japan Tourism Agency.

To read more, go here. 

Dollar vs. Yen In Tokyo Now

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

It is probably pointless to see how the U.S. dollar is faring against the Japanese yen in Tokyo trading since nobody can go there, thanks to a little virus.

Then again, it is useful to see what the exchange rate is at the present time to get an idea where it may at when the country does eventually open up for tourism.

According to Jiji Press:

Tokyo, Aug. 13 (Jiji Press)--The dollar moved tightly around 106.70 yen for the majority of Tokyo trading Thursday, with very few trading incentives in sight. 

At 5 p.m., the dollar stood at 106.64-64 yen, down from 106.78-78 yen at the same time on Wednesday.

To read more, go here.

Standin' On A Corner In Winslow, Arizona Today

Above, tourists at the Standin' On A Corner park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, I'm a-runnin' down the road, tryin' to loosen my load  

I've got seven women on my mind  

Four that want to own me, two that want to stone me 

One said she's a friend of mine 

Take it easy, take it easy 

Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy 

Lighten up while you still canDon't even try to understand 

Just find a place to make your stand 

Take it easy 

Now I'm a-standin' on the corner in Winslow, Arizona 

With such a fine sight to see  

It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford Slowin' down to have a look at me 

Come on, baby, don't say maybe 

I've got to know if your sweet love is gonna save me 

We may lose and we may win 

But we will never be here again 

Open up, I'm climbin' in to take it easy 

Well, I'm a-runnin' down… 

- Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey

Above, the official Route 66 Roadside Attraction sign. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, Russell Azbill, a friend from Jamestown, New Mexico, and I headed to Winslow, Arizona to get haircuts since all of New Mexico's barber shops are closed by order of the state's governor.

We headed out this morning in The Beast. We had 10:30 appointments at Shades n Fades in Winslow.

Above, yours truly with the guitar guy statue. 

On the way, we stopped for coffee and munchies at the Hopi Travel Center near Holbrook, Arizona. From there, we headed off to Winslow.

Above, there is a campaign to restore the mural at the park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At Shades n Fades, a fellow former alumnus, Maria Wooton (Class of 1986), cut Russell's hair.

When we finished at Shades n Fades, we headed a few blocks in downtown Winslow to see the "Standin' On A Corner" park, a tribute to the town's place in music history in the Eagles' song, "Take It Easy". We stopped to take some photos at the park. There were about a half dozen other people checking out the park while we were there.

Above, a flatbed Ford truck was there, but no girl. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At the corner, a red Ford flatbed truck was parked. Unfortunately, there was no girl inside taking a look.

A foundation has been formed to restore the mural at the park. So far, they have raised over half of the needed funds for the restoration.

Above, the staute of Eagles member Glenn Frey was unveiled in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After taking photos at the park, we headed out of Winslow to go back to Jamestown. Along the way we stopped at Jack Rabbit Trading Post in St. Joseph, Arizona. Russell had never been there before. He had a good time there and he left the store with several purchases.

All in all, it was a fun little trip.

Foreign Tourism To Japan Drops 58%

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

Not since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake hit has Japan seen such a major drop in foreign tourism.

The coronavirus has caused a big hit upon Japan's tourism industry.

The Mainichi reported:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The number of foreign visitors to Japan posted the largest drop in nearly nine years in February with a 58.3 percent plunge, dented by travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, government data showed Thursday. 

An estimated 1.09 million foreigners visited Japan last month, down sharply from 2.60 million a year earlier, after China banned all outbound group travel in late January. Chinese travelers accounted for 30 percent of all overseas visitors in 2019, the biggest among other countries and regions. 

The drop in February was the fifth straight month of decline and the biggest since April 2011 when the figure plummeted 62.5 percent after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit northeastern Japan the previous month, causing the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.

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.

Godzilla 65 Years

Above, the "Godzilla Month" proclamation scroll from the L.A. County Board of
Supervisors celebrating Godzilla's 50th Anniversary. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In many respects, it doesn't seem that long ago that we gathered in Hollywood to celebrate Godzilla's induction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Godzilla Final Wars float in the Hollywood Christmas Parade, the premiere of Godzilla Final Wars at Grauman's Chinese Theater and, especially, the 50th anniversary of Godzilla. But it has been almost 15 years since all that!

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

Now, with Godzilla: King of the Monsters by Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. set to open late next month, we're now celebrating 65 years of Godzilla. Nothing like being reminded of my age since I was also born in 1954.

Daikaiju TV has come up with a cool video celebrating Godzilla's 65 years of destruction. To see it, go here.

BBC: Why Is "Seven Samurai" So Good?

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

Okay, movie fans! Here's one for you.

Many Japanese kaiju fans have broadened their movie-watching interests into other genres with some focus on prominent Japanese movie directors. Akira Kurosawa is one of them. Many Japanese movie fans have enjoyed a long list of Kurosawa movies, most prominently is Seven Samurai (1954). This includes me. I have a copy of Seven Samurai.

The BBC has an interesting article on Seven Samurai, "Why is Seven Samurai so good?"

It begins with:

Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (1954) is a three-and-a half-hour-long black-and-white epic set in war-torn, 16th-Century Japan. As elevator pitches go, it’s hardly ideal, yet not only did Seven Samurai take first place in BBC Culture’s 100 greatest foreign-language film poll, with 41 critics (20 per cent of the total) voting for it, Kurosawa was one of the most popular directors overall, with three of his other films (Rashomon, Ikiru and Ran) all making the top 100. Tellingly, though, Kurosawa’s global appeal didn’t reach as far as the Japanese critics who took part; not one of them voted for Seven Samurai, or any other Kurosawa film, preferring the subtler homegrown talents of Yasujirô Ozu and Kenji Mizoguchi. But perhaps that’s what we should have expected. Even during his most successful film-making years, Kurosawa was often held in higher esteem abroad than in his own country.

The article is an interesting read. I recommend it!

Interestingly, Seven Samurai and Godzilla were both boxoffice hits in 1954 and both are honored with murals at the main entrance to Toho Studios in the Setagaya ward of Tokyo.

To read the full article, go here. 

Visitor Numbers To Japan Up 15.6% In 1st Half of 2018

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

The numbers of foreign visitors to Japan are increasing year-by-year. 2018 is continuing with that trend.

The Mainichi reported:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan in January to June rose 15.6 percent from a year earlier to 15.89 million, a record for the six-month period, the Japan Tourism Agency said Wednesday. 

If the pace of increase is maintained, the annual figure will top 30 million for the first time. The government aims to attract 40 million foreign visitors in 2020 when Tokyo hosts the Olympics and Paralympics.

To read more, go here.

Japan Not A Top Destination For Westerners

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

A recent survey found that Japan is a popular tourist destination for people of other Asian nations, but as far as Westerners are concerned, not so popular.

According to Japan Today:

TOKYO - Japan’s alluring contrast of tradition and contemporary has made it a fantastic getaway destination for travelers looking to immerse themselves in country known worldwide for anime, video games and cuisine. 

And thanks to the 2020 Olympic Games looming on the horizon, the country attracted a record number of tourists in 2017, totaling a whopping 28.69 million people. Chinese (7.35 million) and South Korean (7.14 million) travelers claimed the top spots, but according to the survey, only a paltry 3 million tourists hailed from Western countries.

There are reasons, more like misperceptions, for this:

They’ve found that several factors could have contributed to the apparent lack of visitors from Western countries, including long travel distances and the general perception that Japan is an expensive country to visit. 

Nevertheless, those reasons pale in comparison to what is probably the biggest obstacle preventing Westerners from enjoying Japan to its fullest: the language.

To read more (the article has a nighttime photo of the Godzilla head in Shinjuku), go here. 

Superman Mural Up For Auction

Above, the Superman mural last November. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The giant Superman mural mounted on the outside of the Super Museum in Metropolis, Illinois is up for auction at eBay. It will be auctioned in three sections. The first section to be auctioned is the panel featuring Dean Cain and George Reeves.

According to Morgan Siebert on Facebook:

Our old mural is up on ebay, we started each panel at $1. We are using whatever funds we raise from these auctions to help cover museum renovation from the storm damage from March. There are 3 panels so 3 chances to own a part of Super Museum history. Happy bidding!! This one features Dean Cain and George Reeves.

Above, the mural (left) on the Super Museum wall facing the Superman Statue across the square. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The mural's eBay page reads:

Up for Auction!

Once in a lifetime chance to own a piece of the Super Museum in Metropolis IL!

This Mural was used on the side of the Super Museum in Metropolis for 10 years!

Countless numbers of people have had their photo taken with this sign!

Chances are you know someone who has a picture of this sign!

We are selling this sign because it has begun to show signs of age and heavy wear, there is some damage on the corners of these panels from removal.

and to help pay for the replacement which we have already bought and hung up in its place.

These signs will be ending on June 7th 2017

The afternoon before the start of annual "Superman Celebration"

It is made out of 3 Panels of Alucobond that is 1/2" Thick 

This first panel is110.4"x60" 

This panel Features Dean Cain and George Reeves! 

The top of the panel has the word STOP

The bottom part of the panel says 

"Rican Hero"

This was the end panel on the right

Panel #3 of #3

We are starting this panel at $1 and just see where it goes!

There is no shipping on these panels.

They are local-pickup only

To bid, go here (4 days left).

Godzilla Still Fueled By Japan's Anxieties

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

The box office numbers for Shin Godzilla in Japan are the best the giant beast has seen since the Heisei Series (or Series 2) of the 1990s. Godzilla is well on the way to reclaiming his (or its) box office champion crown.

A new article on Godzilla by the Japan Times has been posted. They refer to the King of the Monsters as being in "middle age", which is nice, considering Godzilla and I both arrived on the scene in 1954. It is preferable than saying "old".

The article begins with:

Within one month of its July release, Toho’s “Shin Gojira” (“Godzilla Resurgence”) attracted more than 3.6 million viewers. Box-office takings are already estimated to have surpassed ¥5.3 billion, putting the film more than halfway toward the seldom-attained figure of ¥10 billion. Toho has great expectations it will eclipse the success of “Bayside Shakedown,” the film spinoff of Fuji TV’s series, and reestablish the “King of the Monsters” as the top domestic film earner. 

That’s all pretty impressive, considering this is the 29th Godzilla film produced by Toho since its smashing debut 62 years ago. What’s more, the series’ basic plot is so simple, it can be digested into a 17-syllable haiku, thus: 

Godzilla attacks 

Japanese scream and panic 

Please pass the popcorn

But, wait! There's a lot more in the article that fans won't want to miss reading!

To read more, go here. 

Tokyo Saw Record 10 Million Foreign Tourists In 2015

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

The focus on Japan's inbound foreign tourist numbers has been on the country as a whole. But, the city of Tokyo has also reached a big milestone in the numbers of foreign tourists.

NHK reported:

The number of international visitors to Tokyo exceeded 10 million last year for the first time. 

The Tokyo Metropolitan government conducted a survey of hotels and other accommodation facilities. 

It shows 11 million 890 thousand people came to Tokyo from abroad on business or for sightseeing last year.

To read more, go here. 

52% More Foreign Tourists Came To Japan In January From A Year Earlier

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

It appears that the surge in foreign tourists to Japan has not abated. In fact, it has increased over a year ago.

The Japan Times reported:

An estimated 1.85 million foreign visitors came to Japan in January, up 52 percent from a year earlier and the second-biggest total for a month ever, government data showed Tuesday. 

The figure points to strong demand for tourism on the back of the weaker yen and relaxed visa requirements, even as worries linger over China’s economic slowdown and whether it will keep people away.

Maybe this is an indication that Japan will reach 20 million foreign tourists in 2016. They almost accomplished that last year.

To read more, go here.

New Warner Bros. Mural

The Batman: Brave & The Bold mural is gone from the soundstage at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California and has been replaced by a Be Cool, Scooby Doo mural (pictured above).

Be Cool, Scooby Doo is an upcoming animated television series from Warner Bros. Animation.

Here's the old Batman: Brave & The Bold Mural:

Warner Bros. Removing Batman: Brave and the Bold Mural

Above, the mural in its full glory. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A familiar landmark is currently being removed from Warner Bros. Studios.

The Batman: Brave and the Bold mural on one of the studio's sound stage buildings* is being removed. For what? Who knows?

This was reported yesterday at the Bat-Blog. The blog includes a photo of the partially-removed mural.

Farewell!

*There is some debate as to which building it is. The initial report at Bat-Blog says it is the animation building. Then actor Jim Beaver says it is Stage 3. I looked at it last night and on the opposite end, the building says Stage 1. So, I changed the wording above to be a little more vague.