Japan’s Cherry Blossom Boom Forces Tour Operators to Adjust

The U.S., Britain, and other Western destinations are still waiting for Chinese group tours to return to their pre-pandemic levels. Canada, however, has been adapting to the continued absence of Chinese groups. The country has sought other sources of tourism growth, such as through its new fund to attract business events and its plans to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With the recent release of the acclaimed Hulu historic epic TV miniseries Shogun, travelers are itching to explore firsthand the land of samurais, geishas, picturesque villages and urban centers throughout Japan that epitomize the thrilling spirit of Shogun. Based on James Clavell’s 1970s novel, Shogun is the story of William Adams, better known as Anjin-san, who rose to become the top advisor to Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu in feudal Japan in the early 17th century.

Educational travel and voluntourism often serve as a conduit for experiential learning. An educational vacation or community service travel can enrich knowledge of places and customs in ways that can’t be taught via textbooks, especially for younger kids who tend to soak up hands-on lessons like a sponge. Through cultural exploration and immersion, students become enriched as global citizens, while developing a stronger knowledge of language and geography as well as an increased confidence and problem solving skills.

Last year, my husband and I splurged on round-trip first-class tickets on Japan Airlines from San Francisco to Tokyo for $13,474 each. We reserved them in February for an October flight through American Express Travel. On the same day, I also bought business class tickets for a couple who was traveling with us at $8,429 apiece. In September, Amex notified me that we had been downgraded to business class for the return flight. JAL’s conditions state that we would receive “the difference between the normal fare amount of original class of service and for the normal fare of lower class of service.” To me that means that since the difference between our first class seats and our friends’ business seats was $5,045 each, we should be refunded about half of that — around $2,522 per person — for the second leg. But we got only $941 each. I contested this with Amex Travel, but they rejected our claim. Can you help?

Despite being hit with a 7.4 magnitude earthquake Wednesday morning, travel is largely operating normally throughout Taiwan at the time of publication.

Japan’s public transportation is known for its punctuality, efficiency and high-quality service, which means train travel is a great way to see the countryside and to experience Japanese culture — even if you’re squeezed into Tokyo’s crowded Yamanote line at rush hour or experiencing the popular high-speed Shinkansen bullet train.

Wherever you are in Japan, it seems you're never far from a great meal. Restaurants often specialize in just one dish – perhaps having spent generations perfecting it – and pay close attention to every stage, from sourcing the freshest, local ingredients to assembling the dish attractively. And, as you'll quickly discover, Japanese cuisine has great regional variations, a point of pride among its people.

Want to take a deep dive into Tokyo’s famous (and famously amazing) dining scene, but worried about committing some unforgivable gaffe? Here's all you need to know to eat like a local. Hint: it’s not as hard as you might have feared. In fact, once you nail the logic of eating in Tokyo, it all makes a lot of sense.  

The latest cultural adventure from InsideJapan Tours, Hidden Zen, has gone live for bookings this week. Offering travelers an insightful self-guided tour product made possible via the recently opened Hokuriku shinkansen line between Kanazawa and Tsuruga, the new Hidden Zen journey from InsideJapan also includes unique accommodations and experiences that have opened post-pandemic.

Washington, DC, is one of the best places in the US to see cherry blossoms in the spring.

Shohei Ohtani is possibly MLB’s biggest star and Japan’s most popular athlete: He’s twice been the American League’s MVP and has now moved to the Los Angeles Dodgers, one of MLB’s biggest brands and most valuable franchises.

If you are looking for a unique luxury resort in Japan, Enowa may be the one.