TRAVEL NEWS

Pull back the curtain on Kamiyama, a mountain village in Tokushima Prefecture undergoing a quiet transformation as a hub for technology companies, sanctuary for traditional performing arts, living workspace for international artists and checkpoint for religious pilgrims. (NHK WORLD-JAPAN)

Data from mobile phones show that during a three-day holiday through Monday, bigger crowds were seen at some tourist destinations near Tokyo than before the coronavirus outbreak. (NHK)

Japan will exclude Sapporo and Osaka from its domestic travel subsidy campaign for three weeks due to a recent resurgence in coronavirus cases in the two popular tourist destinations, senior government officials said Tuesday. (Kyodo)

Hokkaido and its capital are making preparations to suspend new bookings for Sapporo under the state-run Go To Travel subsidy program given the high number of coronavirus cases there, local government sources said Monday. (Japan Today)

On this a three-day holiday weekend here in Japan, plenty of people have been venturing out and traveling, despite the risks of coronavirus infection. (NHK)

Japanese Capsule Hotels are an experience everyone needs to have. (Only once). (Abroad in Japan)

Take in the rugged beauty of Aomori Prefecture's Hakkoda mountains, an endless winter landscape blanketed in powdery white snow, making it a haven for backcountry skiing. See why travelers from around the world have fallen under the spell of this awe-inspiring area. (NHK WORLD-JAPAN)

The Resort Shirakami runs on the Gono line through the stunning seaside scenery of Shirakami-Sanchi, a World Heritage Site. (ONLY in JAPAN * GO)

The Japanese unit of Malaysia's budget airline AirAsia Group said Tuesday it has filed for bankruptcy due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on travel demand, with a lawyer saying the unit is unable to refund around 23,000 air tickets. (Kyodo)

Soak up the warm atmosphere of Beppu, Oita Prefecture’s renowned hot spring town shrouded in steam and overflowing with hospitality. Discover the healing properties of onsen that go beyond the physical benefits of bathing in mineral-enriched water. (NHK WORLD-JAPAN)

Officials at Japan's main international gateway are preparing to take delivery of some eagerly awaited cargo. (NHK)

Discover some of the traditional sweet treats enjoyed in Kyoto, the former ancient capital of Japan. (NHK WORLD-JAPAN)

East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) said Tuesday that it will run a reward point program for a year from next spring to further promote staggered commuting. (Japan Times)

As coronavirus cases surge in a number of places in Japan, most notably Hokkaido in the far north and Tokyo, the government’s task force on the pandemic has warned that more needs to be done to head off a deeper crisis in the coming winter months. (scmp.com)

JR East has a new pass! It’s saved me $500 so far on Shinkansen travel and it’s available for non-Japanese passport holders living in Japan! (ONLY in JAPAN)

We went to Japanese traditional market to buy the good luck charm for coming year! I hope you enjoy it as if you were there with us. (Kimono Mom)

Japan's Bullet Trains (Shinkansen) are a joy to travel on. (Abroad in Japan)

Japan and China have basically agreed to resume business travel between the two countries as early as mid-November, a government source said Friday, in a step to revive Asia's two key, interdependent economies hit by the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo)

Haneda Airport is Tokyo’s major hub for flights domestically and terminal 2 for ANA has a very interesting set of vending machines I think you’ll love! (ONLY in JAPAN)

A wintertime illumination event has started in Kabukicho, a nightlife district in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward that was hit hard by the economic impact of the coronavirus. (NHK)