I’ve written a lot about Japanese rail passes, but never about one in the Kansai region, which includes Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara. A short visit last month helped change that– let’s take a look at the JR West Kansai Area Rail Pass. I want to skip the JR backgrounder, and go right to the […]
Japan
The World’s Smallest Escalator
After all, the world’s smallest escalator still involves travel. As usual, there’s an unrelated backstory involved. While studying abroad in Hong Kong in 2005, I used to walk around Kowloon Walled City Park. The park was built on the foundation of the infamous Kowloon Walled City, which was entirely demolished in 1994. Then, after having […]
Retro Milk Stand at Akihabara Train Station (Tokyo)
There’s more to Akihabara train station than bags of electronics on their way to be resold abroad. But to enjoy this post, you will first need to get a train ticket.* *Well, I should clarify that requirement. In Japan, there’s something called a platform ticket (入場券 にゅうじょうけん nyuujouken) that you can buy, allowing you to […]
Plaza Premium to Debut Lounge in Downtown Osaka
Tourism to Japan is booming, so why not get creative? That’s where the Plaza Premium lounge downtown Osaka comes into play. Having only entered the Japanese market last year, at Nagoya’s Chubu International Airport (NGO), the Hong Kong-based airport lounge operator will be presenting its new urban lounge concept at some point this summer. The […]
JR Tokyo Wide Pass
Are you a big fan of Tokyo, but want to get away from the unabashedly urban side of things? Then the JR Tokyo Wide Pass might have your name on it. Might.* Who Can Buy the Pass? Just like the JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido, and the JR East (Tohoku Area), rail passes, this one can only […]
JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
Ever since my first trip to Tohoku last year, I’ve been yearning to visit more of that northern Japanese region. For a quick refresher on what constitutes the Tohoku region, here’s a map: In addition to including Tohoku, there’s a clear bonus for this rail pass: parts of Hokkaido are included! That’s right, Japan’s big […]
Air Canada Testing Out a Seasonal Osaka Flight to Toronto
Because Kyoto and Nara lack an airport, the next best thing is a seasonal Osaka flight. But Osaka has its fans, too. That’s right, in late spring, Air Canada will be starting seasonal flights from Toronto YYZ to Osaka KIX. On second thought, make that restarting, since Air Canada last flew this route from 1997-2000. The […]
Japanese Preclearance Being Trialed in Taiwan
It’s more like Japanese preclearance light. For the entire month of February, Japan will be trialing its own flavor of overseas immigration checks at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE). But don’t get your hopes up too much. Here’s why– Firstly, there will only be 10 airports in which this Japanese preclearance applies. All are located […]