by admin | Jan 22, 2020
TOKYO
Uncertainty over Russia’s participation for the third consecutive Olympics and concerns over the heat hang heavy over Tokyo 2020 preparations, with only six months until the opening ceremony.
The Japanese capital has avoided many of the crises that dogged previous Games — International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Thomas Bach said the city is the best prepared host city he has seen, with facilities complete well ahead of schedule and tickets massively oversubscribed.
But elements largely out of organizers’ control have overshadowed the run-up to the 2020 Games, the second time they will have been held in Tokyo after 1964, when a post-war Japan wowed the world with its technological prowess and economic “miracle”.
Chief among these is whether Russian athletes will compete after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) imposed a four-year ban from international sporting events over what it views as a state-sponsored doping scheme.
Moscow has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but sources have told AFP a decision is not expected before May, just weeks before the Games open on July 24.
Bach has urged CAS, the world’s highest sports court, to give a decision that “does not leave room for any kind of interpretation”, warning of “real, total confusion” if the ruling is not watertight.
Russia’s up-in-the-air participation follows confusion at the Rio Games, where the IOC allowed individual federations to decide whether to permit athletes to compete.
Read more…
by admin | Jan 22, 2020
TOKYO
If you are ever in South Korea and fancy a leisurely trip to Japan, then hopping onto a ferry might be one of the cheapest options available. But if speed and cost are more important factors for you, then South Korean budget carrier Air Seoul’s newest deal may be a lot more enticing.
At an amazing low cost of 299,000 won (U.S.$250), holders of the Mint Pass J19 will be entitled to unlimited round trip flights from Incheon International Airport in Seoul to 11 destinations in Japan, valid between June 1 and July 19.
Considering that a return trip between Incheon and Narita ($190 at the cheapest) costs nearly the price of a Mint Pass J19, two trips are all that is needed to recover your money’s worth and more.
A few caveats must be kept in mind to fully utilize this incredible deal, the first being that all flights must be round trips originating from Incheon. It seems then that the Mint Pass J19 is most suitable for tourists already in Korea who wish to add Japan into their itinerary.
The second is that the ticket cannot be used on arriving and departing flights on June 6 and July 15. Flights arriving in Seoul on Sundays are also off limits.
Last is that the Mint Pass J19 does not cover fuel surcharges or airport fees, which can amount to an additional $30 to $40 per trip, a nominal price to pay for quick visits to many parts of Japan.
Read more…
by admin | Jun 1, 2019
The Japan National Tourism Organisation has announced that more than 30 million overseas travellers visited Japan in 2018, an all-time record and an 8.7 per cent increase over 2017 (the previous record year).
“Tourism to Japan from the United States – about five per cent of the total – soared 11 per cent,” said Naohito Ise, executive director of the Japan National Tourism Organisation in New York, “with more and more Americans seeking beyond the classic tourism destinations of Tokyo and Kyoto to discover lesser-known parts of the country.”
“American tourism to Japan is expected to continue to rise in 2019 as the country builds up to host major international sporting events,” continued Ise, “with a host of prestigious American media including Japan in their much-valued annual lists of the most recommended places to visit in the coming year.”
Read more…
by admin | Jun 1, 2019
Tokyo DisneySea has begun its largest expansion project ever.
The operator, Oriental Land, started construction on a 100,000-square meter parking lot for the 2.3 billion dollar project.The new area will be called Fantasy Springs and consist of three areas inspired by the Disney films “Frozen,” “Tangled,” and “Peter Pan.”
It will include four attractions, a hotel, and restaurants, and is scheduled to open by March 2023.
At a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, Oriental Land Chairman and CEO Toshio Kagami said he aims to make the resort the only one of its kind.
Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO Robert Iger also attended the event and expressed support for the project.
A record of more than 32 million people visited the Tokyo Disney Resort in fiscal 2018. But it continues to face tough competition from Universal Studios Japan and others.
Read more…
by admin | Jun 1, 2019
Israeli airliner El Al has announced that it will launch its first ever direct flights between Narita Airport near Tokyo and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport.
El Al Israel Airlines says it will operate three round trips a week from March 2020 connecting the two cities. The flight time will be about 12.5 hours.
The announcement comes as the two countries increase exchange of goods and services.
Bilateral trade rose 30 percent over the past five years to about 3.7 billion dollars.
More than 20,000 people in Japan visited Israel last year as the country has grown to become a hub for high tech companies.
40,000, mainly tourists, came to Japan from Israel during the same period.
Read More…
Foreign Embassies in Japan