Tag: japan travel

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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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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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Even More Photos of EVA Air's Three New 'Hello Kitty' Airplanes

November 2, 2011 at 8:52 AM | by | Comments (0)

Last week, in a frenzy of excitement, we broke the news (for English-language press, at least) that Taiwan's EVA Air would celebrate their 20th Anniversary by bringing back the old, immensely successful Hello Kitty-painted airplane. Instead of only one as before, however, there'd be three A330s, each with a unique paintjob and the full treatment of Hello Kitty-ization on the inside and out.

That alone was awesome news, and now we have more. Although the Hello Kitty plane routes only operate from Taipei-Taoyuan International to Tokyo, Fukuoka, Hokkaido, Seoul and Hong Kong, EVA Air has just begun long-haul flights from New York-JFK to Taipei. Switching operations from Newark to JFK means it's now that much easier for American travelers to hop an EVA flight and connect at TPE to one of the Hello Kitty jets.

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OMG OMG. The EVA Air Hello Kitty Airplanes are Back!

October 28, 2011 at 10:26 AM | by | Comment (1)

If you've ever considered a getaway to Taiwan, now is the time because on this upcoming Monday, Taiwanese airline EVA Air will launch three—count 'em—three Airbus A330s each painted with a unique Hello Kitty design.

This will be the second time EVA makes a splash with the Sanrio character as they previously had two planes bearing the cartoon kitty-cat, but retired that livery back in 2009. See a picture of the old design here. This year, however, the airline has added a third plane and freshened up the entire look, which includes everything from the flight attendant aprons to the sugar packets onboard, all Hello Kitty-themed.

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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: 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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Get Your Butt to Tokyo for This Fall's Very First Flights of ANA's Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Where: Tokyo, Japan
August 24, 2011 at 8:15 AM | by | Comments (0)

DRUMROLL PLEASE! The first destination to get regular, scheduled service on the very first Boeing 787 Dreamliner will be...Okayama, Japan! Why Okayama? Well, the airline with the pleasure of introducing the 787 to the traveling public is Japanese airline ANA, and after a few fun flights to show off the shiny new plane, she'll be put into domestic service between Tokyo-Haneda and Okayama.

Okay so this is literally yesterday's news, but we got a little wrapped up in the East Coast Earthquake drama, so chillax.

Finally, some dates: the very first scheduled flight will happen on November 1, to be immediately followed by the start of Tokyo-Haneda to Hiroshima service on the 787. Want to go international? You've got to wait a tad bit longer, but Tokyo-Haneda to Beijing begins as soon as December, with Tokyo-Haneda to Frankfurt kicking off the long-haul routes in January, 2012.

Here's the official schedule, straight from ANA:

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Visiting the Rockabilly Gangs of Tokyo's Yoyogi Park

Where: Tokyo, Japan
August 22, 2011 at 6:03 PM | by | Comments (0)

Harajuku. What does that word conjure up in your mind? Chances are it's Gwen Stefani, or girls dressed as Gothic Lolitas, but the correct answer is an area of Tokyo, in which cosplay is smiled upon and the Rockabillies rule the roost.

Make sure your trip to Tokyo includes a wide-open Sunday, and pray the weather is nice. Walk towards the entrance to Tokyo's famous Yoyogi Park and the Meiji Jingu shrine near Harajuku Station, and you'll encounter a plaza dominated by three distinct gangs, each dressed as if they just stepped out of the film Grease. They have 1950s poodle skirt and greaser Americana nailed down to the last detail, from the brands of handkerchief they stick in their Levi's pockets to the way they comb back their hair. It's all so cool.

The Rockabilly gangs don't just stand around and hang out, either. They each have their own stereos and CDs mixed with vintage tunes for dancing—some of it choreographed and much of it polished from countless hours of studying old American films. All in all, this is a scene that goes on for hours (we stayed for nearly three, taking 100s of photos) and which you won't find anywhere else in the world.

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