NEWSWORTHY
Government downgrades view on Japanese economy for first time in three years amid China slowdown
The government downgraded its headline assessment of Japan's economy for the first time in three years on Wednesday, citing a slowdown in exports to China, but denied the economy had fallen into recession. In the March edition of its monthly economic report, the Cabinet Office ...
If you want to fix the problem of over-tourism then just look overseas
I was speaking with a woman the other day who had recently been to Japan. She acknowledged that Japan is the "in" place to travel to and, as if to qualify this fact, complained that "Kyoto was so crowded, I couldn't even get a ...
Number of foreign visitors to Japan rises 3.8% on year in February, as arrivals from China dip
The estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan in February rose 3.8 percent from a year earlier to a record 2,604,300, but the growth in Chinese tourists slowed significantly compared with the previous month, the government said Tuesday. By country and region, the highest number ...
Don't take this North Korea guidebook with you, warns publisher
A French publisher has produced a rare guide to North Korea, highlighting its history, cultural wealth and beautiful landscapes but advising tourists not to take the politically sensitive book with them. Tourism is one of the few remaining reliable sources of foreign income for North ...
Lose your wallet or cash in Okinawa? It's more than likely you'll get them back, police data shows
Lost wallets or hard cash reported to the Okinawa Prefectural Police last year had a higher chance of being returned than in the preceding four years, earning praise from foreign tourists who got their money back. The police said that ¥203.7 million in lost cash ...
Tohoku tours shed light on life in the aftermath of the 3/11 tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster
This is the second in a series examining how the northeast and the nation are progressing with efforts to deal with the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis. For the disaster-hit coastal areas of Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate prefectures, tourism is more than just ...
Japan to pull a U-turn on ride-sharing ban in bid to fill transport gaps in rural areas, Abe says
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the government plans to promote ride-sharing services that are currently banned in most areas to help improve the availability of transportation in rural areas. "It is necessary to review the current system from the standpoint of (transportation service) users," Abe ...
Even Mount Fuji climbers who don't plan to push for the summit will be asked to pay up
Even hikers who have no intention of reaching the summit of Mount Fuji will be asked to make a donation of ¥1,000 for stepping foot on the country's highest mountain from this summer, local prefectures said Thursday. Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, which the 3,776-meter-high volcanic ...
Japan getting more Muslim prayer rooms, but some are seeing only limited use
With an increase in Muslim visitors to Japan, more prayer rooms are being installed in commercial facilities across the country, but the number of users remains limited due to reasons such as lack of awareness and difficulty of access. The prayer rooms are often equipped ...
Hawaii eyes tourism jump from Japan's longer Golden Week holiday
The tourism industry in Hawaii is anticipating a boost from a stretch of Japanese holidays known as Golden Week that has been extended this year. The four national holidays typically held over seven days are a popular time for Japanese tourists to visit Hawaii, the ...
Skating star Alina Zagitova helps Japan showcase its regional specialties in Moscow
A Japanese festival in Moscow showcased regional specialties from across the country such as food, artisanal goods and tourism spots, with the participation of Russian figure skating star Alina Zagitova. Zagitova, who won gold at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea last year, appeared ...
Saudi Cabinet gives green light for electronic tourism visas for foreign travelers
Saudi Arabia's Cabinet has approved electronic visas for foreign visitors to attend sporting events and concerts, local media reported, as the world's top oil exporter tries to diversify its economy and open up its society. The conservative Muslim country has previously restricted visas to resident ...
