One night earlier, I had a very nice dinner at The Dining, the only restaurant at Shiba Park Hotel, sister property to Park Hotel Tokyo. But whereas The Dining was open for various meals throughout the day, Park Hotel Tokyo’s Hanasanshou is only open for dinner, from 17:30 to 22:30. Hanasanshou, which translates as “flower […]
Japan
Restaurant Review: The Dining at Shiba Park Hotel
Late last year, I had the pleasure of staying at Tokyo’s Shiba Park Hotel. However, due to my always being busy in the Japanese capital, I rarely have the time to sit down for dinner. Fortunately, I had a rare few days of break on my most recent Tokyo visit, so I was able to […]
JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
Ever since my first trip to Tohoku two years ago, I’ve been yearning to visit more of that northern Japanese region. What better better way to do so than with the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass? Meanwhile, for a quick refresher on what constitutes the Tohoku region, here’s a map, with each prefecture’s most important […]
Hotel Review: Imperial Hotel Tokyo
Even if you weren’t specifically interested in architecture or history, you’d be in for a treat at Imperial Hotel Tokyo. Location & Access The Imperial Hotel Tokyo, close to the Imperial Palace, Ginza, and Hibiya Park, also has very good rail connections. In addition to being a hop and a skip from Hibiya metro station, […]
Japanese Theme Trains
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
