Push to Make Japan More Tourist Freindly

Photo by lestaylorphoto.

Just came across this article published by the Yomiuri Shimbun on how Japan wants to put a greater effort into promoting tourism. Of course the devastating tsunami and resulting nuclear scare has certainly effected the tourism numbers, I had no idea how low they actually were.

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Mount Fuji Set to Receive UNESCO Status

Photo by Jokin Sukuntza on Flickr

To be honest I had no idea that Mount Fuji wasn’t listed among the United Nations cultural sites already. But thanks to the BBC article Stacey just sent me, I’ve been set straight.

A formal decision is expected when Unesco’s World Heritage Committee meets in Cambodia in June.

This would make Mount Fuji the seventeenth world heritage site in Japan. So we’ll see what happens in June :)

Free WiFi Hotspots in Tokyo

Photo by Davezilla on Flickr

Finding WiFi spots in any major city can sometimes be a royal pain. I’ve spent much time wandering through Osaka and Tokyo looking for a place to connect. Well the good news is that it has got a little easier to find Internet access in Tokyo, at least in the major tourist areas. I just came across this new initiative by NTTEast for offering some free WiFi hotspots to visitors to Tokyo.

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“Gold” is Kanji of the Year

With 2013 upon us, the 2012 kanji of the year is out. Thanks to Kirai for the story:

At the end of every year the Japanese people choose a kanji character that represents the sentiment of their society during the year that is coming to an end. The most voted character this year has been 金 (kin, きん) which means “gold”. It has been chosen because 2012 has been an olympic year, the year of a total solar eclipse and also in honour of Shinya Yamanaka, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine.

Check out Skeptikai for more details.

Gangnam Style Not Impressing the Japanese

With the way the Japanese go crazy over most things coming out of Korea, it seemed like a no-brainer that Japanese would get a kick out of Psy’s Gangnam Style. Strangely enough the collective *yawn* from the Japanese is resounding.

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We’re Back in our House

Photo by Coal and Ice on Flickr

Over the past couple of months we’ve been having some house construction done. It’s meant lifting and moving our house off its foundation, building a new basement and then moving the house back on top again. I’m happy to announce that this week we are back in!

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Japan Envisions Automatic Driving by 2020

Photo by Daily Yomiuri

I’ve been super excited by cars that drive themselves ever since I found out Google was working on them. Turns out Japan plans to introduce “driverless” systems by 2020. Check out this article called – Driverless driving’ envisioned for early 2020s.

The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry will soon embark on a project to realize an “autopilot system” for automatic driving, a system for guiding motor vehicles on expressways without human assistance.

Now what will happen if you fall asleep and miss your turn off? :)

Japanese Bridge Washes up in Oregon

Photo by Associated Press

Stacey just sent me this link to a BBC news report on a Japanese bridge that after being washed away by the tsunami last year has finally made its great ocean voyage and has shown up in Oregon.

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Tokyo Art Events in June 2012

Photo from LIXIL

Tokyo is the arts destination for anyone traveling throughout the country of Japan. Although there are events taking place throughout the year, you can find some of the best displays, showcases and exhibitions during the summer months, with June possibly proving the most promising. With many exciting events highlight the month of June, there is something for very one, so whether you enjoy art or are just looking for something to do, you need to check out the upcoming local events.

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Fukushima Radiation Levels “Low”

Photo by IAEA Imagebank on Flickr

Stacey just sent me a link to a BBC article that reports that the area around the Fukushima Plant can now be considered close to normal as far as radiation levels are concerned.

Two areas near the plant have relatively higher levels of radiation, but radiation levels in surrounding countries are close to normal.

Fukushima Prefecture has some beautiful areas that really deserve a visit. It would be nice if they can get a bit of our tourism boost now.

I find it funny, however, that the article mentions that six workers have died already, although the deaths had absolutely nothing to do with the radiation disaster (!!). It’s a little taste of fear, uncertainty and doubt with your morning coffee :)