The Olympic Games cast an enormous spotlight on host cities, but that attention doesn’t always result in large numbers of overseas visitors.
25.07.2024 - 09:23 / nytimes.com
Japanese cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, are traditionally known for shrines, temples and historic cultural sites. But as the birthplace of anime, manga and, of course, Pokémon, Japan is also a pop culture powerhouse and a hotbed of kid-friendly activities, from practicing ninja skills to spending time with Snorlax.
For a family trip, “the beauty of Japan is you can walk five steps and easily attract the attention of a child,” said Ramesh Krishan, who goes by the name RamKy and whose company, Japan Unfiltered, specializes in candid tours of Tokyo, Mount Fuji and other destinations. “It could be a capsule toy-dispensing machine, a karaoke bar with interesting desserts on display, or even the peppy music heard playing inside train stations.”
Here are six stops on a family-oriented tour of the country’s most-visited cities.
Securing reservations at this wildly popular concept cafe at the base of the Tokyo Skytree can feel more difficult than scoring front row seats to a Taylor Swift concert, but fans of Kirby, the lovable pink blob that first appeared on the Nintendo Game Boy in 1992, keep trying. Reservations for the next month are released online on the 10th day of the month at 6 p.m. Japan Standard Time. Even if you get the timing right, the site routinely crashes. But you can skip the red tape and grab a table using the Kirby Café Bot, an online service that scores reservations for $7.50 per person for up to eight guests. Once in the door you’ll be treated to food, décor and all things Kirby: Eat Kirby burgers sandwiched between smiling pink buns, playful pizzas topped with star-shaped fried eggs, and Whispy Woods feast plates featuring Kirby’s enemy, an apple tree, whose trunk doubles as a ramekin containing potato salad. Tip: Pair your meal with a visit to the Skytree — at 2,080 feet, it’s the world’s tallest free-standing tower and offers unending 360-degree views of Tokyo from its glassed-in observation deck.
Of Tokyo’s four Pokémon Centers, this one in the Nihonboshi business district is one of the biggest, but the main draw is the Pokémon Café, yet another concept cafe for which it’s nearly impossible to get reservations. For this one you have to go online 31 days before your visit precisely at 6 p.m. Japan Standard Time. Or you can just pay: A service called Reserve Japan will do the heavy lifting for a whopping $24.90 per guest (your kids will thank you). At the cafe you can drink yellow-tinted, Pikachu-themed lemon soda floats and frothy lattes served in red and white pokéball cups before digging into dishes like Snorlax’s Full-Belly Naptime Lunch Plate, featuring a shrimp rice pilaf inside a dish that resembles the fat, sleepy Pokémon (also served with grilled chicken, fried potato and a salad
The Olympic Games cast an enormous spotlight on host cities, but that attention doesn’t always result in large numbers of overseas visitors.
In a shift in global mobility rankings, Singapore has claimed the top spot in the 2024 Henley Passport Index released on Wednesday, granting its citizens visa-free access to 195 countries.
Taiwan is set to join the growing list of East Asian countries offering digital nomad visas.
I'm an independent traveler who likes making my own arrangements. (Or, to rephrase that for the people who know me and will want me to tell you the truth: I'm a travel obsessive with a need to usually control every aspect of a trip.)
United Airlines will have one less pin on its route map later this year.
India’s rising middle class and higher disposable income have boosted spending on discretionary services, while the growing lower middle class has bolstered domestic travel, said Rajesh Magow, group CEO of MakeMyTrip, during an earnings call on Tuesday.
Solo female travellers are a growing and very attractive market; in fact, 14% of women travel without the company of family, friends or a partner, which translates into habits, needs and expectations, as well as specific tourist services and products. Mabrian and The Data Appeal Company-Almawave Group, analysed the female solo traveller demand worldwide* to identify five key factors that outline the profile of this segment.
Japan is bracing for a tourism boom like never before. With a record 35 million foreign visitors expected this year and tourism spending projected to hit an unprecedented JPY 8 trillion ($51 billion), the country is seeing a surge driven by a weak yen.
Qatar Airways was declared the best airline in the world at the 2024 Airline Awards in London on June 24. Qatar beat out Singapore Airlines, last year’s winner, who slipped to the number two spot this year. Emirates, ANA All Nippon Airways, and Cathay Pacific Airways completed the top five. No North American airline made the top twenty, with Delta narrowly missing out at 21. Other North American airlines that made the top 50 are Air Canada (29) and United Airlines (42). In fact, those three airlines are the only North American airlines to receive any Airline Awards. Other popular North American airlines like American, JetBlue, and Southwest failed to even be mentioned for any individual award.
The dream of free night awards at luxury hotels: It’s the carrot-on-a-stick that drives many of us to get into credit card points in the first place. One sure-fire way to earn these perks is through co-branded hotel credit cards that run sign-up bonuses or annual free night awards. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless offers three free nights when you open a new card and meet certain spending requirements. The Hilton Surpass is also currently running a promo for an additional free night, and all the major brands offer free nights to celebrate cardmember anniversaries for having cards like the IHG One Rewards Premier.
Frasers Hospitality, a strategic business unit of Frasers Property, is fortifying its international expansion through collaborations with capital partners and third-party hotel operators that complement its operational excellence within the extended stay segment. This business transformation strengthens the position of Frasers Hospitality as an investor and operator of choice within the long-stay lodging segment.
International air travel from China is recovering, but set to remain at a fraction of what it was in 2019, according to data platform OAG.