Economy | ANALYSIS
Households to take hit from tax hike
by Tomoko Otake
The consumption tax increase will hit every household in Japan hard, with many people’s financial future hanging on whether their wages rise enough to offset the hike's impact.
Travel | HOTELS & RESTAURANTS Jul 25, 2013
Westin Tokyo's sweet summer plan; ANA Crowne Plaza Kobe's offer for drivers; Conrad Tokyo's new French restaurant
Westin Tokyo special summer plan The Westin Tokyo hotel has an accommodation plan that includes a special parfait to help you cool down in the summer heat, through Aug. 31. There are five kinds of parfait to choose from: peach, chocolate banana, matcha green ...
Travel | TRAVEL INSIDER Jul 23, 2013
HKG-TYO premium economy on Cathay; SAS direct to Bergen campaign; China Airlines JCB card
Cathay premium offer Cathay Pacific will offer its premium economy service on select Tokyo flights from Aug. 1. The airline will begin the service on regional flights and reservations for premium economy seats are now available for Hong Kong-Tokyo Haneda and select Hong Kong-Tokyo ...
Travel Jul 20, 2013
Theaters of war and peace in Kumamoto
by Mandy Bartok
The pamphlet tells me this is a “castle” — but the structure in front of me defies that description. Granted, my frame of reference is greatly informed by the impressive edifices of Kumamoto, Himeji and Matsumoto that date back to the gory Sengoku (Warring ...
Travel | HOTELS & RESTAURANTS Jul 18, 2013
Ruffino wine dinner at Shangri-La
On July 26, the Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo will hold a special gala dinner featuring Ruffino’s exclusive wines at the hotel’s Italian restaurant, Piacere. Ruffino is a wine producer based in the Tuscany region of Italy, founded in 1877 by Illario and Leopoldo Ruffino to ...
Travel Jul 13, 2013
Hot weather's cold comfort for eels
by Hillel Wright
In March this year, I spent a week in Taiwan as a guest of the Taiwan Fisheries Agency. My hosts had laid on a relentless daily schedule that took in a complete circuit of the island nation, visiting nearly all the major commercial fishing ...
Travel | HOTELS & RESTAURANTS Jul 11, 2013
Craft beer special at Park Hyatt; Imperial Hotel favorites for takeout; Grand Hyatt's new executive chef
The Grand Hyatt Tokyo in Roppongi has announced that, since June, Stephane Foucher has been the hotel’s new executive chef.
Travel | TRAVEL INSIDER Jul 9, 2013
American Airlines celebrity poll; Cathay's Change for Good results; Jetstar available at Lawson
AA celebrity poll Marilyn Monroe has been selected the most ideal flight attendant from movie stars during the “golden age” of Hollywood, followed by Audrey Hepburn, according to a survey conducted by American Airlines. Monroe garnered 22 percent of the vote for which the ...
Travel Jul 6, 2013
Hats off to Chiyoda's rice-field rites
by Steve John Powell
I can’t quite believe we’re getting up just after dawn on a Sunday morning for an event that doesn’t start till lunchtime. But our Japanese friends all assured us we’d regret it if we didn’t arrive early. After all, this is no run-of-the-mill event: ...
Travel | HOTELS & RESTAURANTS Jul 4, 2013
Tokyo Station Hotel summer fair; Cerulean Tower Tokyu special gala dinner
Tokyo Station Hotel summer specials The Tokyo Station Hotel has begun a Summer Night Fair, with special offers of various plans to enjoy this season. The fair includes the Precious Stay plan, which includes a dinner buffet, available from Aug. 10 to 16. The ...
Travel | BACKSTREET STORIES Jun 30, 2013
Blazing a woodland trail through Shin Kiba
by Kit Nagamura
Even if you can’t read the kanji for Shin Kiba, you’ll sniff out its meaning of “new wood place” the moment you arrive. The Yurakucho subway line’s terminus there in eastern Tokyo smells like a cedar closet. Inside the station, a display of Japanese ...
Travel Jun 30, 2013
Delving into Ethiopia's ancient past and present
by Lesley Downer
I’m edging my way through a long tunnel in pitch darkness, feeling for the roof so I don’t hit my head, waving my trusty flashlight around to scan the walls and sandy floor and check for any unwelcome wildlife. I feel like Indiana Jones ...
Travel Jun 30, 2013
A cup of coffee in cheerful ceremonial style
by Lesley Downer
Ethiopia has no tea ceremony, but it does have a coffee ceremony all its own. Walking down the road you will often come across a young woman sitting under a leafy roof with a tray of small handleless cups like Japanese teacups in front ...