Japan's obviously been trying to brainstorm ways to drum up more tourists. Plan A, the "Welcome to Japan bra" that greets tourists in three languages, must not be working, because it's resorting to plan B: making Osaka a medical tourism center.

The country adopted a new growth strategy in June that includes promoting medical tourism. The Raffles Medical Group of Singapore, which will set up shop in Osaka, just might be the botox shot the city needed to become a top medical tourism destination.]]> Jennifer Kester 2011-01-26T09:36:14-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/9/14/123719/914

Uh oh! Today, Japanese magazine Spa! reported that back in July, Apple CEO Steve Jobs attempted to board his private plane at Kansai International Airport in Osaka for a return to the United States after a family vacation in Kyoto. All was well until...airport security discovered ninja throwing stars in Jobs' luggage, and would not allow him to take them home...yes, even aboard his private plane.

As a result of this ruling, Jobs allegedly declared that he'd "never visit Japan again," which is a tall statement coming from the head of the world's most influential technology companies. Spa! notes that Jobs "said it wouldn’t make sense for a person to try to hijack his own plane," which is totally true, but still. Throwing stars are legally weapons. A report was filed on the incident and Apple declines to comment. ]]> JetSetCD 2010-09-14T13:10:00-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/9/9/175820/0674

The news out of Japan today is quite earthshaking for Asia travel: Japanese airline ANA is planning on starting Japan's first low-cost carrier. What does this mean? Well, Japan doesn't have domestic airlines that skimp on the small stuff and offer cheap fares like you find in America, Europe and Southeast Asia, so an LCC is bound to be big news.

As it stands right now, ANA's plan is to have the new airline based at Kansai International Airport, in Osaka. For it to successfully launch, many factors—like fuel prices and governmental cooperation—must fall into place and the Wall Street Journal argues that it is unlikely for this to occur anytime soon. ]]> JetSetCD 2010-09-09T17:58:20-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/27/134230/350

In an effort to keep underage kids from buying, new cigarette vending machines in Osaka have facial recognition cameras. The scanners look for wrinkles and other signs of age before greenlighting the purchase of a pack.

But some crafty kids in Japan have come up with a work-around: They simply hold up a magazine photo of someone older and the machine gives them the OK.

The manufacturer of the machines says a new system that can't be fooled will be ready to go soon. Funny thing is, there's already something more effective: Japan's Taspo program--RFID cards used for age verification--will be installed on machines nationwide by next month.

Related Stories:
· Taspo [Official Site]
· Magazine Photos Fool Age-Verification Cameras [Pink Tenticle, via]
· Osaka Field Trip [Jaunted]
· Osaka coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: PT]]]> pbb 2008-06-27T13:45:07-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/3/14/6199/05207

The cherry blossom viewing in Japan might have been delayed this year, but the Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka has gone ahead. The early rounds started up this week, but there are still nine days of intense, fat-man-wearing-nappy action to come.

If you're in Osaka or heading there, tickets are still available for every day except the grand final (March 23). For some tournament days you can still get same-day, general admission tickets--you can buy them from 8.00am--for the very reasonable price of 2000 yen (under US$20).

We were inspired to look up the sumo tournaments again after we read a new beginner's guide to sumo--in which you get to imagine David Beckham as a sumo wrestler. That's a weird thought that probably needs to be washed down with some good sake.

Related Stories:
· Beginner's Guide to Sumo Wrestling [GoNomad]
· Blossom Gazing and Sake Drinking Delayed [Jaunted]
· Fat Guys Keep Fighting in 2007 [Jaunted]

[Photo: Smeerch]
]]> amandak 2008-03-14T09:16:10-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/1/6/224522/3686

Chasing Racers is back, with a brand new Amazing Race 12 mashup. This map will update the morning after every new episode. Send along tips, rumors, gossip, locations and spoilers to our map editors, become a member and comment on the stories below and add to the Jaunted-Flickr photo pool to get in on the fray.

Remember to zoom in, out and around on the map--with so much happening in each episode, it's easy to miss a map point.

This week, the race is down to four remaining teams, and unfortunately for us, none of them are terribly interesting. However, we'll soldier on and see who makes it to the end of this thing, anyway. Will Grandpa Don become too much of a burden for Nick, or will he keep pace with the younger crowd? Will Jennifer and Nate manage to get through one leg without scratching each others eyes out? Can TK and Rachel hold onto their lead heading into the final three?

Find out, as we head to Osaka!]]> Todd 2008-01-07T08:50:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/10/5/8597/13660

Jaunted's embed AJ McGuire just got back from Osaka, and he has some final thoughts on traveling Japan.

Back home now in a jet-lag haze, I'm trying to distill a place that takes up so much of my heart into a few quick hits of information. This video should give a brief taste of how it feels. And here are a few end notes on experiencing Osaka yourself.

· What separates a tourist from a traveler is contact with the locals. Learn a bit of the language and talk to people. Don't stay in your bubble snapping pictures. Osaka has more characters per capita than most cities and is a hell of a lot more welcoming than its straight-laced cousin Tokyo.

· Eat everything. Buck up and slurp down a tentacle. Sure, there's some kind of fish in everything, but one of those bites is going to be the best you've had in your life.

· Relax like the locals. Take a hike through the mountains. Lose a few hundred yen at an old school Smartball joint in Shin Sekei. Hit an onsen (natural hot spring) and soak yourself with a dozen naked strangers.

· Osaka is much more than a list of sights to hit. I still have never been to the Sky Tower or Ebisu Plaza or the six hour puppet show that is Bunraku. Just never got around to it. Pace yourself with the sightseeing and just relax in the izakayas. See the city, not the sights.

Go straight to our Osaka Embed Map.

Related Stories:
· Embedded Travel Guides coverage [Jaunted]
· Osaka Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Osaka Hotels [HotelChatter]]]> Judson 2007-10-05T12:15:01-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/