Tag - tourism

 
 

TOURISM

Recognized as a tangible cultural property in 2003, the former residence of the Iizuka family is now a boutique hotel in Nakagawa, Tochigi Prefecture.
LIFE / Travel
Apr 13, 2026
Inside Iizukatei, a 200-year-old home turned boutique hotel in Tochigi
The dwelling stands as the first tangible cultural property in eastern Japan to be transformed into a hotel.
The Taiwan tourism event "Taiyukan 2026" plans to attract many visitors to Tokyo's Akihabara district on Saturday.
JAPAN
Apr 12, 2026
Taiwan tourism promotion event opens in Tokyo’s Akihabara
The two-day event, called “Taiyukan 2026,” is being held at Akiba Square, an event space near JR Akihabara Station.
Alipay has been mentioned by legislators in discussions about the use of foreign payment apps in Japan.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 10, 2026
Chinese payment apps raise questions in Japan
Legislators and regulators wonder if the apps are being used to bypass the domestic financial system.
Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, is known for its traditional townscape, including shrines and stone-paved streets, but turning this heritage into a stronger draw for tourists had long been a challenge.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 10, 2026
Financial support program for community-focused startups draws growing interest
The continuation rate for supported projects is high, and the program has received positive reviews from communities for providing tangible benefits.
Decorations celebrating Tokyo DisneySea’s 25th anniversary, on Wednesday in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture
JAPAN
Apr 8, 2026
Tokyo DisneySea to celebrate its 25th anniversary as a ‘Sparkling Jubilee’
The event, dubbed the “Sparkline Jubilee,” will feature park-wide decorations in an ocean-blue theme color and run from April 15 until March of next year.
Otobaco, a new gondola equipped with a surround sound system, is shown to the media in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Monday.
JAPAN
Apr 8, 2026
Odakyu to launch special Hakone gondola service with surround sound
The gondola is equipped with a Dolby Atmos system, creating a theater-like surround sound experience.
An airplane of VietJet Airline taxis in front of the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines airplane, at Noi Bai International Airport, in Hanoi on May 28.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 7, 2026
Asian airlines trim schedules and carry extra fuel as supplies tighten
European carriers are bracing for similar disruption after Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz cut off nearly 21% of global seaborne jet fuel supply.
The Iran war has shuttered airspaces, grounded planes and left regional airlines in disarray.
BUSINESS
Apr 4, 2026
The Iran war is reshaping global aviation
Executives of Western airlines have sensed an opportunity to take advantage and regain ground, adding alternative routes to steal away business.
New and old long-distance hiking trails hope to draw tourists from crowded cities to unhurried rural regions.
LIFE / Travel
Apr 4, 2026
‘If you walk, you will see’: National parks bet on trekking tourists
Multiday hikes through Japan’s most rural stretches aim to benefit locals and visitors alike.
Save for a handful of themed suites, most rooms at The Royal Park Hotel Maihama Resort Tokyo-Bay offer straightforward decor.
LIFE / Travel
Apr 4, 2026
A smarter stay near Tokyo Disneyland — if you don’t need the extras
Opened on Feb. 13, the budget-friendly Royal Park Hotel Maihama Resort Tokyo-Bay opts for theme park-focused performance over luxury bells and whistles.
A man looks at the preserved Atomic Bomb Dome from an observation point near the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park last year.
JAPAN
Apr 3, 2026
Hiroshima’s A-bomb museum draws record visitors for third straight year
The tally for the year that ended Tuesday was up 14% from the previous year, the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation said.
A JTB survey shows outbound travel from Japan during Golden Week will rise 8.5% to 572,000 people.
JAPAN
Apr 3, 2026
Some 570,000 Japanese plan to travel abroad during Golden Week
The average spending per person on overseas trips during the April 25 to May 7 period is estimated at ¥329,000, the highest figure since comparable data became available in 1996.
After studying cultural anthropology in London, Nina Otsubo Cataldo (left) started a consulting business in Niigata Prefecture that helps bridge the gap between foreign and local residents.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Apr 3, 2026
In rural Japan, a consultant code-switches and connects
A cultural consultant is combining academic and personal passions in Niigata Prefecture while maintaining an online community for women of similar biracial backgrounds.
The Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo. Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings saw duty-free sales rise 5.4% in March, in line with a 5.5% increase in overall sales.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 1, 2026
Japan’s department store duty-free sales rebound as China-driven slump eases
The gains mark a shift for the stores, which had endured consecutive months of declining duty-free sales amid lingering tensions with China.
A Japan Airlines airplane flies past an oil refinery as it approaches to land at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, as seen from a park in the Keihin Industrial Zone in Kawasaki, on March 17.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 1, 2026
Japan’s international flights to get pricier due to hike in fuel surcharge
Fuel surcharges are expected to rise up to double their current rates due to the ongoing Iran conflict.
The Sphere lights up in Las Vegas. SBI Holdings is exploring plans to build a Tokyo arena modeled on the iconic immersive venue.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 1, 2026
SBI Holdings eyes Sphere arena in new Tokyo entertainment push
The Tokyo-based financial group is considering the Odaiba waterfront district as a potential site for the project.
Rusutsu lift pass police check that companies guiding and teaching on their resort have a corporate pass.
JAPAN / Society / FOCUS
Apr 1, 2026
Foreign ski instructors and guides operating illegally in Japan spark concerns
Officials and businesses in major winter destinations warn that such illicit operations could disrupt public order, create unfair competition and raise safety concerns.
The opening of Narita International Airport’s third runway is expected to be delayed beyond March 2029 due to difficulties in land acquisition, sources have said.
JAPAN
Mar 31, 2026
Opening of third runway at Narita Airport to be delayed due to land issues
Work on the 3,500-meter runway, currently under construction, has been pushed back due to difficulties acquiring the planned site.
Ise-Shima National Park in Mie Prefecture
JAPAN
Mar 31, 2026
Japan moves to attract more foreign visitors to national parks
The Environment Ministry will work on improving accessibility and multilingual support to hit its target.
Zhao Bin, a Chinese business traveler, speaks to the media after checking in for a flight to Pyongyang on Monday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Mar 30, 2026
Why are Chinese flights to North Korea resuming now?
Before both countries closed their borders due to COVID-19, North Korea received an estimated 300,000 foreign visitors in 2019, 90% of them Chinese.

Longform

The Terasaka Rice Terraces are seen with Mount Buko in the background.
What Yokoze can teach Japan about rural revival