Metropolis

At the risk of sounding like a trainspotter, Doai station on the Joetsu Line just outside Minakami is a breathtaking spot to visit. Coming from Niigata back to Yubiso/Minakami the platform is where you would expect it to be; set against a beautiful natural backdrop at the foot of Mount Tanigawa. It is the northbound platform heading across the border into Niigata and towards Echigo Yuzawa...

Feb 22, 2013 | One Comment | 3,008 views

Enrique Balducci

More airlines have announced plans to operate in and out of Haneda from later in the year. Most of the new services will start with the opening of the airport’s fourth runway on October 31. Hawaiian Airlines will fly to and from Honolulu, American Airlines from New York’s JFK, and Delta Air Lines will connect Haneda with Los Angeles and Detroit. Those aren’t the only companies getting in on the act, though. All Nippon Airways Co will start flying to Los Angeles, Honolulu, Singapore, Bangkok and Taipei; JAL to San Francisco, Honolulu, Paris, Taipei, Bangkok and Singapore; and Thai Airways to Bangkok. Speaking of Thai Airways, the airline is going to do something unusual from October: its advertised airfares will start including the fuel surcharge. Wiwat Piyawiroj, the airline’s general manager for Japan, said that the new policy comes in response to complaints from customers who felt they were being ripped off when they were asked to pay more than the fare originally advertised.

(July 22nd, 2010)

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Shiroyama

If you find Mt. Takao a bit too crowded and are looking for somewhere to enjoy nature without having to battle with hordes of daytrippers, Shiroyama might just do the trick. Though the mountain is home to the ruins of Hachioji Castle, a historical landmark and one of Japan’s top 100 castles, it keeps a [...]

Jul 22, 2010 | One Comment | 5,669 views

Cape Soya

With coordinates of 45 degrees, 31 minutes, and 14 seconds North, Cape Soya in Hokkaido is the northernmost point of Japan. and the journey to the top is a long one: an early flight from Tokyo to Sapporo, and from there an eight-hour drive to Wakkanai. Make that 10 hours if you make a wrong turn or two. It’s a long, scenic road trip across...

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Guide

Boutique city guides are all the rage these days, promising an eclectic overview of popular destinations without the headache of trying to be comprehensive. À La Carte produces a range of hand-drawn maps printed on heavy-duty paper, accompanied by basic touring info and tips from the locals. My Tokyo À La Carte makes the city’s spaghetti road map look deceptively simple, but doesn’t skimp on...

Jun 24, 2010 | No Comments | 3,657 views