Whereas I might take issue with Japanese rail bureaucracy, Japan is still one of a handful of countries where I consider it a pleasure to travel by train. Whether it’s the 15-car trains running every two minutes during Tokyo’s rush hour, the tracks running right along the sea, or the peculiarly named stations, one could […]
Asia (Non-Middle East)
Japan Airlines Restarts Tokyo Narita to Chicago
That didn’t take long. Coming this spring, Japan Airlines restarts Tokyo Narita to Chicago. In fact, it was only in 2023 that this route was axed, leaving Chicago O’Hare to be connected with only Tokyo Haneda for a spell. However convenient Haneda is for passengers going to downtown Tokyo, or for connecting to domestic flights, […]
Hokkaido Introducing Lodging Tax
Starting next year, expect a Hokkaido lodging tax to be added to your bill. he government of Japan’s northernmost prefecture, and second-largest Japanese island, is planning for the Hokkaido lodging tax to be implemented from April 2026. But don’t fret; it is only expected to go up to ¥500 per night. As of today, 20 […]
Five New Fifth Freedom Routes of 2025
If you’ve been feverishly roaming the interwebs for some new fifth freedom routes of 2025, I’m here to help. Fifth freedoms are a common theme among travel websites, but I still want to provide a quick backgrounder. Created in 1944 by the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention for short), and now managed by […]
Tokyo Luggage Storage Hack
Let’s say you’re at Tokyo Station, and you’ve got some time to tour around. You’re either coming from, or eventually heading to Narita Airport. There’s not quite enough time to snatch a hotel room, but too much to haul around your luggage in one of the world’s biggest cities. Maybe this Tokyo luggage storage hack […]
Raffles Sentosa Singapore, an All-Villa Resort
What do you do when your country’s best tourist attraction is its airport? For starters, try to tempt visitors to leave it. To wit, Singapore’s first all-villa resort, Raffles Sentosa Singapore, is opening soon. Even though its opening date is slated for 1 March, bookings have already opened for Raffles’ second property in its home […]
JR EAST PASS Nagano Niigata area
Late last month in Japan, I was able to test out the last of the major JR East rail passes, the JR EAST PASS Nagano Niigata area. Outside of the Tokyo metro area, this particular pass could be a hit for outdoorsy visitors, including hikers and skiers. However, there were a couple of bureaucratic hiccups […]
Sands Macao Restaurant Reviews: Chiado and Jiang Nan
Disclaimer: I was invited by Sands Macao to enjoy one night at Conrad Macao, as well as dine at the Portuguese restaurant Chiado, and the Chinese restaurant Jiang Nan. Following a nice Cantonese meal earlier this year at The Venetian Macao, I was looking forward to seeing what else the massive Sands Macao development — […]
