TRAVEL

Cherry trees came into bloom Wednesday in the southwestern prefecture of Nagasaki, the first blooming of the “Somei Yoshino” variety in Japan this spring, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. (Japan Today)

One of the most unusual stations in the whole country is now open and ready for business. (soranews24.com)

An amusement park themed on the world of Finland’s Moomin fairytale characters opened Saturday in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo, aiming to attract 1 million visitors a year. (Kyodo)

With so many maid cafes in Tokyo it can be hard to pick just one to visit if you’re pressed for time and on a tight itinerary.
(soranews24.com)

Japan has temporarily banned all flights of Boeing 737 Max aircraft in the country’s airspace.
(NHK)

Japanese Highway Service Areas or Rest Stops are quite amazing and in this episode we’ll look at one of them that has a food challenge! Tomobe SA in Ibaraki Prefecture has a restaurant that has taken the highest mountain in the area and turned it into a dish. (ONLY in JAPAN)

In Tokyo, the party can keep going all night, with bars, pubs, and clubs that stay open until the morning light. However, if you’ve got something else you’d like to do before sunrise, like, say, go home and get some sleep, you’ll want to keep the time of your last train in mind while you’re out partying. (Japan Today)

Even hikers who have no intention of reaching the summit of Mount Fuji will be asked to make a donation of ¥1,000 for stepping foot on the country’s highest mountain from this summer, local prefectures said Thursday. (Japan Times)

An amusement park themed on the world of Finland’s Moomin fairytale characters will open on March 16 in Saitama Prefecture, its operator said Tuesday. (Japan Today)

Japan’s transport ministry has installed a body scanner at a subway station in Tokyo on a trial basis to check for dangerous objects.
(NHK)