Nov 26, 2011

(New York, NY, November 3, 2011) – Japan’s recent new tourism landmarks will signify Japan’s cultural and industrial richness.  Cherishing the unique history as well as advancing the efficient technology, the new facilities showcase Japan’s both past and future.   Dutch Trading House Museum Nagasaki opened the 400 years old warehouse that was

Nov 15, 2011

(New York, NY, November 9, 2011) – With large varieties of cultural attractions, Japan awaits family travelers.  There will be more facilities opening in Japan in the coming year that will entertain both young and old. CMAGLEV and Railway Park Known as the country connected by the high-tech and efficient railway system, the Central Japan Railway Company

Sep 25, 2011

(New York, NY, September 22, 2011) – Japan’s capital city never stops in fall and winter.  Tokyo, where old and new cohabits, evolves with more innovative, cultural and creative facilities. Be Magical at the Tokyo DisneySea: The Tokyo DisneySea ® Park, a part of the Tokyo Disney Resort just outside of Tokyo, celebrates the 10th anniversary of its

Jul 23, 2011

New York, NY, July 20, 2011: Thanks to its rich history and nature, Japan has already been recognized as a country with many UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites with 14 designated destinations.  Additional two locations came into the international spotlight as added to the list in this June. Hiraizumi, a Northern Metropolis Hiraizumi may seem one of the many

Jun 18, 2011

Dear Friends, It gives me great pleasure to send you the message from Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara, explaining the current situation in Tokyo three months after the tragedy of the Great East Japan Earthquake. The Governor of Tokyo delivered a message to welcome friends from all over the world (June 15, 2011)(PDF:33KB) Tokyo is quite the way it was before

May 24, 2011

New York, NY (May 23, 2011)— A trip to Japan is more affordable than ever!  After the unprecedented support from friends in the United States, major Japanese travel agencies unite to represent Japan’s indescribable appreciation, by offering amazing travel deals.  The tourism industry has been facing challenges to convey the amazing amount of recovery

Apr 19, 2011

New York City, NY– The first month after its major earthquake has been an important recovery time for Japan, despite international media releasing floods of extensive coverage on the post-catastrophe situation. Thanks to international relief and Japan’s resilience, the country has been able to recover infrastructure and commercial activities at a

Mar 18, 2011

New York, NY, March 15, 2011– We are grateful for the warm support and thoughts from many people after the historic earthquake in Japan on March 11. While painstaking rescue and recovery efforts continue in the severely struck Tohoku region, the capital city Tokyo has been recovering from a strong shock, and the western Japan is unharmed. Both Narita

Sep 23, 2010

In Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine, I stood in contemplation before a squat, impeccably groomed bonsai tree that was approximately 180 years my senior. Far more than a “pretty little plant,” the tree inspired in me a sense of reverence and awe at what humans and the natural world are capable of. Perhaps I was just thinking too much, but the buildings and grounds of

Sep 10, 2010

In spite of a woefully light wallet, I ate like a king during my time in Japan. When conventional wisdom dictated that I would be subsisting on dehydrated noodles and vending machine sodas, I said “balderdash,” and took to the streets in search of cost-effective meals. Thankfully, the timid folk behind that wisdom were less subject to wanderlust than I am,

Another element of composition sometimes used in photography is called Framing. Frames come in all sizes, shapes and designs when you go looking for them in stores. I’ve seen standard horizontal and vertical ones, triangular, circular, ovals and even some heart, keyhole or cloud-shaped picture frames. With a little imagination and some patience, you can find

For starters, Chopstix is the name of my favorite fast food restaurant in Los Angeles, which offers tasty food that resembles nothing I have ever eaten in Asia. As for the real chopsticks, the wooden sticks that are held between the thumb and fingers (minus the pinkie) are used for eating in most Asian nations. I have seen these gentle pieces of wood strike fear

How strange to be so far from home, so very far, and yet, at this moment, it feels like I am blocks away. “It was so easy and the words so sweet,” Regina Spektor sings as her video plays on the television. My phone charger plugs into the wall without an adapter. I am outside of Tokyo, Japan. But in the Radisson Hotel Narita, a convenient to and from

Here is the third installment of In The Know’s quest in understanding Japanese culture. I had been wandering in Kyoto when it first happened — probably not, but the first time I noticed. Mother, daughter and baby all wearing surgical masks. Since then I have seen tons of people wearing them. However, I have never seen them being worn outside of a

The floor of my room is covered in tatami mats. There is almost no furniture, no bed. There is a very low table where tea is served upon your arrival. Sadly, I came too late in the day and too close to dinner to partake.  At night, house keeping lays out a futon mattress on the floor and a heavy goose down filled duvet to sleep under. The room has a small sun