Travel

Cooling Off Ideas for the Scorching Holiday Weekend

CHIBA, Sep 13 (News On Japan) - As the intense late-summer heat lingers, Kamogawa Sea World in Chiba Prefecture is drawing attention for extending its popular “Summer Splash” event until October 1st.

Known for its thrilling killer whale performances, the marine park originally scheduled the splash-heavy attraction only through August. But with temperatures remaining high, the show—where orcas drench the audience with massive sprays from their tail fins—will now continue into early autumn, allowing visitors to enjoy a dramatic and refreshing experience longer than expected.

The extension comes just in time for the three-day weekend starting September 13th, when scorching temperatures are expected to return. At Kamogawa Sea World, visitors responded with enthusiasm: “Got totally soaked! It was freezing,” “I’m drenched,” and “It’s so fun because even adults can go wild—adults don’t usually get this wet!”

Kamogawa Sea World General Manager Kenji Nakahashi explained, “Since the intense late-summer heat is expected to continue through September, we’ve decided to extend the event through our anniversary on October 1st to help guests stay cool.”

For those seeking a more traditional way to enjoy the season while staying comfortable, the “Katsuura Great Harvest Festival” is another recommended outing. Held over four days starting September 12th, the festival originated in the late Edo period as a prayer for a bountiful catch and features lively mikoshi (portable shrine) parades through the streets.

To help visitors beat the heat while enjoying the festivities, organizers are offering a GPS-based web service called “Matsuri NOW.” The tool shows the real-time location of the mikoshi, allowing festival-goers to plan their movements and avoid waiting in the sun.

One attendee remarked, “Wow, I had no idea! It’s super convenient since once I go home, I never know where the mikoshi are.”

With a hot three-day holiday approaching, destinations like Kamogawa and Katsuura are adapting to ensure visitors can enjoy Japan’s lingering summer in comfort.

Source: FNN

Massive Fire Ravages Oita

A large-scale fire in Oita continues to burn out of control on Wednesday night, forcing residents in the Saganoseki area of Oita City to evacuate. Video recorded by an evacuee showed flames spreading across the darkness as the sound of strong winds echoed in the background.

Japan Expecting Warm Three-Day Weekend

The three-day weekend beginning on November 22nd is expected to bring mostly clear skies across much of the country as Japan comes under the influence of a high-pressure system, with cooler air affecting only the northern regions on the first day and comfortable conditions likely to continue in eastern and western Japan.

Chinese State Media Attack Japan as Flight Cancellations Surge

China’s Communist Party–affiliated Global Times reported on its front page this morning that it had “demanded a clear explanation from the Japanese side” regarding the discussions held on the previous day, underscoring Beijing’s position that Tokyo must address the issue directly.

Japan Is Facing an Unprecedented Surge in Bear Attacks

A reporting team found itself face to face with a bear while investigating the sharp rise in bear-related incidents that has left 13 people dead this year.

Sakurajima Erupts, Sending Plume 4,400 Meters High and Disrupting Flights

Sakurajima erupted in the early hours on October (date not provided in source), sending a plume of ash soaring to 4,400 meters above the crater, the first time it has exceeded 4,000 meters since October last year, with volcanic rocks reaching as far as the sixth station on the mountainside as the volcano continued erupting intermittently throughout the morning and caused ash to fall over Kagoshima Airport, where a thin layer accumulated on aircraft.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Kyoto Cuts Bamboo in Arashiyama to Curb Vandalism

Workers began cutting bamboo along the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto on November 19th as the city moved to halt a surge in graffiti damage that has spread across the popular tourist path, where at least 350 stalks have already been defaced.

Okinawa’s First Postwar Building Listed as Cultural Property Receives Plaque

Okinawa Hotel in Naha received a commemorative bronze plaque from the Agency for Cultural Affairs after being designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property by the national government.

Osaka Approves Proposal to Halt New Applications for Minpaku

Osaka City’s proposal to halt new applications for so-called special-zone minpaku at the end of May next year has been approved by the government as noise, waste management issues, and other disturbances continue to draw complaints from local communities.

Northern Japan Warned of Heavy Snow and Blizzards

A strong winter-pattern pressure system drove the season’s coldest air across the country on November 18th, making snow and rain more likely along the Japan Sea coast while bringing heavy snow and blizzard conditions to parts of northern Japan, with temperatures falling sharply nationwide and even areas that see sunshine experiencing a biting northerly wind.

Aomori Issues Season’s First Heavy Snow Warning

Aomori Prefecture was hit by intensifying snowfall on November 18th as the country’s first heavy snow warning of the season was issued, with the hot spring district of Sukayu reporting more than one meter of snow amid rapidly worsening conditions.

Foreign Luxury Hotels Rapidly Adopt Japan’s Kumiko Woodwork

Foreign luxury hotels are increasingly incorporating kumiko, a traditional Japanese woodworking technique, into their interiors, with the Four Seasons Hotel Osaka drawing particular attention from overseas visitors for its striking geometric patterns crafted without the use of nails.

Japan’s Best Autumn Hot Spots Reach Their Peak

Autumn seems to be passing quickly this year, with peak foliage arriving almost before many have had time to notice. To help readers avoid missing the season’s highlights, reporters visited some of the best spots now at their most vibrant.

JTB Continues to Reshape Japan’s Travel Landscape

JTB’s domestic travel and inbound tourism demand have rebounded sharply as the company’s annual revenue has surpassed 1 trillion yen, and it is now taking on a major transformation of Japan’s travel industry through a series of unconventional strategies.

< 2 3 4 5 >