Travel

Kobe Airport Launches First International Flights to Five Asian Cities

KOBE, Apr 19 (News On Japan) - Kobe Airport has launched its first regular international charter flights since opening in 2006, connecting the city with five major Asian destinations—Incheon in South Korea, Taipei and Taichung in Taiwan, and Shanghai and Nanjing in China—with a total of 40 round-trip flights per week.

While the move is expected to bring significant economic benefits—an estimated 10.4 billion yen—the expansion has also highlighted a longstanding issue: access to the airport.

Currently, the only rail connection to Kobe Airport is the Port Liner, which takes 18 minutes from Sannomiya Station. However, during rush hour, the trains are already heavily crowded.

A reporter at the station described the scene: "The train has arrived, and passengers are squeezing in. It's packed to the limit."

The influx of international travelers carrying large suitcases during peak commuting hours could add to the congestion. Although a dedicated airport bus service exists as a congestion countermeasure, its low public awareness remains a concern.

Source: KTV NEWS

Family Demands Full Disclosure of 295 Hours of Detention Footage

Four years ago, a Sri Lankan woman named Wishma died after repeatedly complaining of illness while detained at a Nagoya immigration facility. The government has admitted to possessing 295 hours of video footage documenting her condition leading up to her death—but has only disclosed five hours of it to the bereaved family.

Tokyo to Make Water Free for All Households

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has decided to waive basic water charges for all ordinary households in the city this summer, covering approximately 8 million households.

Crack Down on Abusive Male Hosts Gains Momentum

Following a wave of disturbing cases in which women were emotionally manipulated into debt and coerced into prostitution through exploitative tactics used by hosts, the revised Entertainment Business Act aimed at cracking down on abusive host club practices passed Japan's Lower House on Tuesday.

Teen Suspect in Fatal Stabbing Bought Deadly Monkshood Seeds

A 15-year-old junior high school student arrested for fatally stabbing an 84-year-old woman on a street in Chiba City was found to have purchased 'monkshood' seeds of the highly toxic plant aconite before the incident, according to police.

Elderly Man Falls from High-Rise, Kills Cyclist Below

A 70-year-old man fell from a high-rise apartment building in Osaka and struck a cyclist on the sidewalk below, resulting in the deaths of both men.

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MORE Travel NEWS

Ainu Perform Traditional Dances at Expo

A group of around 220 Ainu from across and beyond Hokkaido performed traditional dances at the Osaka-Kansai Expo on May 17th, conveying the Ainu spirit of mutual support and the importance of diversity and coexistence.

Harajuku Street Becomes Hub for Animal Cafes

In Harajuku, Tokyo’s trendsetting district, animal cafes are rapidly multiplying along the bustling Takeshita Street, drawing large crowds of foreign tourists.

Sapporo Snow Festival Faces Cut in Giant Sculptures

Starting in 2027, the number of giant snow sculptures produced by Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) for the Sapporo Snow Festival will be reduced from two to one, due to increasing demands on personnel for disaster response and winter training.

Adventure Rafting Season Begins on Kitayama River

Rafting season has begun on the Kitayama River, which flows along the borders of Wakayama, Mie, and Nara prefectures, drawing tourists eager to experience its thrilling rapids.

Why Visiting Japan Changes You

Japan doesn’t just offer a glimpse of its own culture, it holds up a mirror to ours - subtly exposing how much we long for coherence, respect, and a sense of shared responsibility. (Retro Japan)

UK Tourists in Shorts Stranded on Snowy Hokkaido Peak Rescued by Helicopter

Two foreign tourists were rescued by helicopter on May 13th after becoming stranded due to the cold on Mt. Yotei in Kutchan, Hokkaido’s Shiribeshi region, where snow still remains at higher elevations.

JR Launches Remote Support System at Unstaffed Stations in Shizuoka

JR Central will launch a new remote customer assistance service at eight stations on the Tokaido Line in Shizuoka Prefecture starting June 1st. This initiative aims to support passengers at stations that are unstaffed during early morning and late-night hours, improving convenience for travelers.

Spectators Soak Up Rainy Sanja Festival

The Sanja Festival at Asakusa Shrine in Tokyo, a signature early-summer tradition of the downtown area, reached its peak on Saturday as groups of local carried mikoshi through the streets in the main 'Rengo Togyo' procession despite the rain.

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