Travel
Sakura City’s Tulip Festa is back with more than 300,000 tulips in full bloom
The sakura season of 2021 may be coming to a bittersweet ending, but it’s a never ending cycle of floral fun in Japan as the tulips pick up the crown and begin their reign as the flower champions of the season. Head on over to Sakura City in Chiba Prefecture… Read
Ashikaga Flower Park’s wisterias bloom early
If you are a flower buff, you probably know that the sakura season is just one small part of Japan’s ongoing cycle of flower festivals. Sure, the pretty pink petals of March and April may disappear almost as soon as they bloom, but that doesn’t mean the floral fun has… Read
Miyazaki: Mountains and mangos in southeastern Kyushu
A consistently warm climate makes Miyazaki Prefecture a perfect year-round getaway. The prefecture also has its prefectural take on Japanese food, as well as locally grown mango. Drive down the Nichinan coastline for great sun, sea and surfing plus a few ancient shrines for good measure, or travel inland to the misty… Read
World’s second-oldest hotel offers new self-service stays to cope during pandemic
Japan is home to a large number of long-established businesses, including two of the oldest hotels in the world: Yamanashi Prefecture’s Keiunkan and Ishikawa’s Houshi Ryokan. Houshi Ryokan held the Guinness World Record title for the world’s oldest hotel until 2011, when Keiunkan pipped it at the post, taking the title after its opening date… Read
All aboard! Next stop space...
Several hundred people have already booked their tickets and begun training for a spectacular voyage: a few minutes, or perhaps days, in the weightlessness of space. The mainly wealthy first-time space travelers are getting ready to take part in one of several private missions which are preparing to launch. The… Read
Singapore to accept IATA Travel Pass from May 1
IATA has welcomed Singapore’s acceptance of pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test results on the IATA Travel Pass. From May 1, passengers traveling to Singapore will be able to use the IATA Travel Pass to share their pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test results upon check-in with their airline, as well as on-arrival at… Read
Amazing photos of off-the-beaten-path Japanese castles to add to your travel wish list
When traveling in Japan, there are three castles that are particularly likely to have a spot on people’s itineraries. Kyoto’s opulent Nijo Castle often gets folded in with other historical sights on tours of the city. Osaka Castle is likely an easy destination to include while checking out the more modern attractions… Read
Airlines: A path back to profitability
Accelya has published "Airlines: A Path Back to Profitability" – a research-based assessment and report of commerce and retailing challenges and opportunities facing airlines today. The report is the culmination of a study conducted by Atmosphere Research Group – an independent, strategic market research and advisory firm focused on the… Read
Norwegian Cruises asks CDC to allow trips from U.S. in July
The Norwegian Cruise Line is seeking permission to resume trips from U.S. ports on July 4, requiring passengers and crew members to be vaccinated against COVID-19 at least two weeks before the trip. The Miami company said its precautions go well beyond steps taken by others in the travel and… Read
United Airlines to increase flights in May
United Airlines' May 2021 schedule includes the addition of 26 new nonstop routes between Midwest cities such as Cleveland, Cincinnati and Milwaukee and popular vacation destinations such as Hilton Head, Pensacola and Portland, Maine. The airline also plans to resume more than 20 domestic routes and will start a new… Read
