Japan Travel Guide

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Watch Out, EVA Air; Japan Airlines Has a 'Hello Kitty' Plane Too

Where: Japan
January 16, 2012 at 10:09 AM | by | Comments (0)

The carriers over in Japan just can’t get enough of wacky airplane liveries and specialty paint jobs, and that’s fine with us because we can’t stop talking about them. Japan Airlines is the latest to reveal a fresh look, and it’s a brand new tribute to the Hello Kitty empire.

It’s not just all fun either, as this latest color scheme (for this plane only) is hanging around to bring recognition and awareness about cervical cancer. Japan Airlines, TOKYO FM, and Sanrio are all joining forces as part of the "Hellosmile Project." The plan is to support prevention programs with the plane—it’s a Boeing 777 with the registration number JA8941—as it flies in and around Japan and the globe for the next year or so.

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2012 is Totally Japan's Year...for Aviation

Where: Japan
January 3, 2012 at 11:26 AM | by | Comments (0)

2011 wasn't a banner year for Japan, not to mention for any industry in the country. We saw the ripple effects of natural disasters throughout the aviation world with the Japanese earthquake and resulting tsunami topping the list. What can be more indicative of Japanese pride, but to quickly rebuild stronger and better? Fortunately for us, airlines are towards the top of the progress.

· Peachy Keen
Last year we talked about the introduction of ANA's budget carrier based out of Osaka, Peach. With only 3 destinations, the airline will draw business passengers, eventually moving into the leisure market. Flights are taking off in March and tickets are already to purchase.

Happy Peach Fares have no baggage allowance or advanced seat selection but are quite affordable at around $175 return to Sapporo. If you need the sweet little perks, cough up about $75 more. Happy Peach Plus fares allow you to pick where you park yourself on the plane and some space in the belly for your luggage. With a bright purple livery and cabin, Peach is on our short list!

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Check Out ANA's Spiffy New Dreamliner Livery

Where: Japan
January 2, 2012 at 11:15 AM | by | Comments (0)


The first livery for the 787s. Not the new stuff.

Japan's All Nippon Airways has been quick to create some fancy new liveries and paint jobs for their fleet of brandy new Boeing 787 Dreamliners. However, the painters and workers in the hangars are still hard at work, as it looks like they’ll be using yet another special paint scheme for their latest deliveries.

As ANA gets some more and more new planes they’ll mix up the liveries just a little bit. The fresh batch of Dreamliners—these are the ones that will likely be the first to hit the nifty fifty—will still have “787” scrolled across the side, but the colors will be more aligned with the traditional ANA designs. This will also be the more permanent look, so expect this color scheme to be around for quite some time.

Here it is:

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Japanese Manga Will Be Yours for the Reading Aboard JAL's 787s

Where: Japan
December 13, 2011 at 9:20 AM | by | Comments (0)

We were certainly all pumped up over the arrival of the very first Boeing 787 to All Nippon Airways, but now we’re getting just as enthused over the offerings arriving aboard Japan Airlines’ new bird.

To get everyone in the mood for a little slice of Japan the airline is planning to roll-out in-flight manga—like Japanese comic books—on all 787 flights. There’s going to be like 30 different comics from which to choose, and they’ll all be there for your reading pleasure right in the seatback entertainment screen. The airline is partnering up with Japanese publisher Shogakukan Inc and eBook Initiative Japan Co—just in case those names sound familiar to you.

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ANA is Keen to Launch New Budget Airline, 'Peach'

Where: Japan
November 14, 2011 at 9:50 AM | by | Comment (1)

In case you were wondering where all the airline action is these days (you probably aren't, but we're going to tell you anyway)...it's in Asia. New airlines are popping up like pimples on prom night. AirAsia's got AirAsia Japan and Caterham Jet, Qantas is toying with RedQ and Singapore wants to Scoot. Oh, ANA (aka home of the first 787s) wants in one the game too, and they're launched a cute little airline called "Peach."

Peach is really happening, as they've just taken delivery of their first actual plane, a leased Airbus A320 painted in some hot pink and fuchsia livery. March 2012 is the projected go-time for Peach, which is based at Osaka's Kansai International Airport and planning to fly from KIX to domestic spots like Fukuoka and Sapporo, with international routes to follow.

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In-Flight Cocktail of the Month: ANA's 'Aromatic Kabosu'

Where: Japan
November 4, 2011 at 2:17 PM | by | Comments (0)

As many already know, we have a serious obsession with airline cocktails, and so much is our passion that we've created a whole first-Friday-of-the-month feature called In-Flight Cocktail of the Month, which highlights the special concoctions that flight attendants whip up with only a cocktail shaker, some tiny liquor bottles and a whole lot of hope that it won't make you drunk and unruly.

Now that the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner is finally up in the air and regularly flying passengers around Japan with All Nippon Airways, it's time to start thinking about making the trip. When you do, it's not only a unique experience because of the chance to fly the latest in commercial aviation technology, but also because ANA features little details in their in-flight service you don't find on other airlines.

For one, ANA still gives out metal utensils (stamped with the ANA logo) to first, business and economy passengers at mealtimes. For another, they have their own special non-alcoholic drink called "Aromatic Kabosu."

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Inside the United Business Class Lounge at Tokyo-Narita Airport

Where: Narita International Airport, Tokyo, Japan
October 28, 2011 at 4:27 PM | by | Comments (0)

Everybody's talking Tokyo, and with good reason. The country is psyched to begin restarting tourism, autumn over there is magical, and the ANA 787 Dreamliner just completed her maiden revenue flight out of the city. So when you do take that dive and head to Japan, you'll likely spend some time in Narita International Airport. If you're flying United and holding a Business Class, ticket or Star Alliance status, then you'll want to know about the United Business Lounge.

We recently spent some time here after bumping ourselves up to Biz, and gave the sizeable lounge a good once-over:

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Inside a Day Room at Tokyo's Narita International Airport

Where: Tokyo-Narita International Airport, Tokyo, Japan
October 21, 2011 at 12:05 PM | by | Comment (1)

You've had a long flight, or maybe you're about to have a long flight, or maybe—horror of horrors—both. You've got some sizeable layover time at Tokyo-Narita Airport and you're desperate to have a shower, take a nap or work in peace and comfort—or all three things. If you're flying economy you don't have the option to crash in a lounge, but luckily Narita is a large (and awesome) enough airport to offer Shower rooms and Day Rooms, and we just tried them out!

Our story involved a long flight to NRT from Bangkok, an 8-hour layover and another long flight back to the States in economy. Typically we'd enjoy the airport like an amusement park, but we were under the weather and sleepy. Although the day rooms may be reserved online up to one month in advance, we just walked in and plonked down our credit card for five hours in a single room.

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Got $1,500? Then You've Got the First Boeing 787 Dreamliner Long-Haul Tickets

Where: Japan
October 14, 2011 at 9:46 AM | by | Comments (0)

With the new year comes new beginnings, and though it may still be a little early to think about what you're up to next week let alone January 2012, you better if you want to score a seat on the first international long-haul route of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

ANA, launch airline of the Dreamliner who'll put their first one into regular domestic service as soon as the end of this month, have just released tickets for the 787's Tokyo-Haneda to Frankfurt International route, which will begin flying as NH 203 and NH 204 on Saturday, January 21. It's only a thrice-weekly service, so no flying there and right back to experience it; you've actually got to stay a bit in Germany and have a pretzel or two.

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This Should Be Enough Reason to Hightail It to Tokyo

Where: Tokyo, Japan
October 13, 2011 at 2:05 PM | by | Comments (0)

Everyone and their moms are talking about Japan's big plan to give away 10,000 roundtrip plane tickets to international tourists willing to visit (and blog and tweet) about Tokyo. It hasn't been approved yet, but that doesn't mean anxious travelers around the world are going to stop daydreaming about cherry blossoms, gadgets, cosplay and, of course, fresh sushi.

We're disappointed that Japan needs to resort to nearly dragging tourists to visit when there's so many reasons to skip a vacay in Mexico or the Caribbean and hightail it instead to the Land of the Rising Sun. Our favorite impetus to up and go? It's got to be the food, specifically the stand-up sushi counters found around the city, but most easily located in Shibuya.

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Foreign Grocery Friday: The Pancake-Flavor Pretz Sticks of Japan

Where: Japan
September 30, 2011 at 12:32 PM | by | Comment (1)

When we travel, one of our favorite things to do is to pop into a local grocery store and check out the food products and candies we'd never find anywhere else. So we're trying out this new feature, Foreign Grocery Friday, where each week we'll feature some of our (and your) favorite overseas treats. Got a recommendation? Let us know!

This won't be the first time we feature the tasty little pretzel sticks beloved by all of Asia, and available in as many flavors as to give everyone a favorite. They are Pretz, the savory brother of the sweet treat Pocky, which is a miniscule breadstick dipped in chocolate or fruit-flavored white chocolate.

Pretz, instead, are not dipped but covered in salt or flavoring. Hong Kong has a thing for Shark's Fin Soup and Abalone Pretz, but Japan keeps it classier with options like "Salad," "Butter," and...what we've deemed the creme de la creme: Pancake Syrup Pretz.

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Foreign Grocery Friday: Japan's Beloved Okonomiyaki

Where: Tokyo, Japan
August 26, 2011 at 10:00 AM | by | Comments (0)

When we travel, one of our favorite things to do is to pop into a local grocery store and check out the food products and candies we'd never find anywhere else. So we're trying out this new feature, Foreign Grocery Friday, where each week we'll feature some of our (and your) favorite overseas treats. Got a recommendation? Let us know!

You like pancakes, right? Who doesn't like pancakes?! That's what we thought. No one. Everyone likes pancakes, but this love can be tested on a visit to Japan when confronted with a specialty called Okonomiyaki. Not only is it a quirky word that's fun to say, it's also a quirky meal that's fun to make...on a personal tabletop grill.

Okonomiyaki is a seafood pancake, prepared with batter mixed with a variety of seafood, which is then grilled right before you at a traditional okonomiyaki-specializing restaurant. There's a whole street in Tokyo—Monja-dori in Tsukishima—dedicated to both this and the non-egg-based similar pancake called Monjayaki. For our visit, our sights were clearly set on a heaping helping of okonomiyaki with a tall, frosty glass of Kirin beer.

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