TRAVEL NEWS

Nature lovers on Tuesday morning took in the brilliant red foliage reflected in Tsutanuma pond, a famed spot to view fall colors in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Aomori, under restricted conditions to prevent crowds amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo)

The complete renovation of Kansai International Airport in western Japan will be delayed by more than a year but the facility is still on track to expand its annual passenger capacity by over 30 percent to around 44 million a year in time for the 2025 Osaka Exposition, the airport operator said Monday. (Kyodo)

Cruise ships are resuming domestic operations after long service suspensions caused by the novel coronavirus crisis. (Japan Times)

I’m on my way to Kochi and I thought I’d take you from departures to the gate! (ONLY in JAPAN)

Japan Airlines Co. began offering discounted coronavirus tests to travelers Friday after teaming up with a medical institution in Tokyo, in a bid to ease concerns about infections and encourage customers to travel amid the pandemic. (Kyodo)

The pass costs 12,000 Yen and is valid for 3 consecutive days. Children 6 to 12 are half price. (ONLY in JAPAN)

When a train crossing meets an 18 meter tall Buddha statue 150 meters away, the scene comes together to make a very unique image. (ONLY in JAPAN)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government launched its own travel subsidy program Friday, offering Tokyoites discounts of Y5,000 per person for a one-night stay costing ¥6,000 or more at hotels and inns in the capital. ()

The Japanese government is considering an exemption of coronavirus-related quarantine requirements for business travelers entering the country for short stays of up to 72 hours. (NHK)

A coronavirus testing center will open next month at Narita Airport near Tokyo, enabling departing travelers to obtain a negative test result certificate within two hours, the operators said Thursday. (Japan Times)

The mayor of Tokyo's Shibuya Ward has asked people to refrain from coming to the district to celebrate Halloween this year, to prevent spreading of the coronavirus. (NHK)

East Japan Railway Co. said Wednesday it will bring forward last train departure times on 17 lines in the Tokyo metropolitan area by up to some 40 minutes from next spring, as late-night passengers continue to decline amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo)

More than 10,000 foreigners were denied entry to Japan last year. It was the first time in 12 years that the number has exceeded this figure. (NHK)

Japan is an incomprehensible country for European minds. Even those who have lived there for more than a dozen years cannot solve all its secrets. ( Top10 videosworld)

The Japanese government's "Go To Travel" subsidy campaign covered 25.18 million domestic overnight stays for about two months since its launch through the end of September, the tourist ministry's preliminary figures showed Tuesday. (Kyodo)

The annual Sanja Matsuri festival linked to Asakusa Shrine in central Tokyo was held on a smaller scale on Saturday and Sunday after being postponed since May due to the pandemic. (NHK)

Starting on Oct. 1, the government re-included Tokyo in its Go To Travel campaign, a program subsidizing domestic travel that aims to encourage spending and boost an economy suffering the effects of a global pandemic. (Japan Times)

Ameyoko is Tokyo’s most vibrant market dating back to its black market days following the war. (ONLY in JAPAN)

Renovated sections of Tokyo Metro Co's Ginza Station in the capital's high-end shopping district opened to the public Friday after roughly three years of work, with new features to showcase the luxury and elegance associated with the area. (Japan Today)

A Japanese tourist left stranded for over 200 days at the foot of the ancient Inca ruins of Machu Picchu due to the coronavirus pandemic had the site all to himself when he was finally able to visit this month. (Kyodo)