Travel

Big Winter Ahead for Zao Ski Resort

YAMAGATA, Dec 12 (News On Japan) - A strong winter cold front has blanketed Japan, bringing snow to eagerly awaited regions. At the Zao Onsen Ski Resort, located at an altitude of about 1,300 meters, snow continues to fall daily after significant snowfall last weekend.

The resort opened a week early on December 7th, attracting about 200 skiers and snowboarders on weekdays. Zao Central Ropeway Station Chief Takayoshi Abe expressed his delight, noting the positive response to the snowfall, which is especially welcome after last year’s snow shortages.

Hotels in snow-covered areas are seeing a surge in demand. For instance, Lake Hibara’s surrounding hotels are experiencing increased reservations, especially from international tourists. Foreign staff members are helping accommodate the influx. The Rikugawa Lake Resort reported a 20–30% increase in bookings for the year-end and New Year period, thanks to inbound tourism and the long nine-day holiday.

The hotel, typically fully booked from New Year's Eve to January 2nd, will be almost fully booked from December 27th to January 4th this year. Guests can enjoy snow views, nearby ski resorts, and the scenic Goshikinuma ponds, where clear weather reveals breathtaking blue or emerald green water surfaces.

Source: ANN

Flights Between US and Japan Face Disruption After Air Traffic System Failure

Flights between the United States and Japan face possible delays and cancellations over the weekend after a major failure of America's air traffic control communications system forced authorities to temporarily suspend departures nationwide on November 13, disrupting thousands of flights and leaving airlines struggling to restore normal operations.

Nara's Famous Deer Turn Dangerous as Tourists

The number of people taken to hospital after being injured by deer in and around Nara Park has reached a record high in 2026, with foreign tourists accounting for more than 70% of cases, prompting warnings about the dangers of approaching the wild animals during their autumn mating season.

Japan's Largest Daikoku Statue Cleaned by Drone

A shrine in Gunma Prefecture has used a high-pressure cleaning drone to wash Japan's largest statue of Daikoku, cutting a maintenance job that previously took two to three weeks to just one day while reducing costs to around one-tenth of the conventional method.

Japan Faces Economic Fallout From Nvidia Leadership Crisis

The resignation of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on November 12 following allegations involving a woman suspected of links to Chinese intelligence has raised concerns in Japan over the potential impact on semiconductor investment, financial markets and the yen, as uncertainty surrounding the American AI chipmaker threatens to disrupt the global technology industry.

Major Earthquake Could Strike Japan at Any Time

Japan launched a new national disaster management agency on November 2nd to strengthen its response to major emergencies, just days before a powerful earthquake struck Aichi Prefecture, injuring 24 people and renewing concerns over the possibility of a catastrophic Nankai Trough earthquake.

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Touch-Free Ticket Gates Coming to Tokyo's Yamanote Line

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