Japan will soon be welcoming tourists back for the first time since the pandemic began…but only 50 of them. Japan Will Reopen Borders – But Only 50 Tourists (Total) Will Be Allowed In a move that can only be...
I Flew From Los Angeles To Tokyo For Lunch
I took frequent day trips to New York during the pandemic, taking advantage of low fares and easy upgrades to enjoy hours of uninterrupted time to work and reflect. I’ve also done some crazy mileage runs, including to Sydney....
Japan Orders Airlines To Stop Selling Flights To Japan, Then Rescinds Policy
In a surprising move, the government of Japan told airlines to close reservations for inbound fights to Japan for the next month due to growing concerns over the omicron COVID-19 variant. But after facing pushback from returning Japanese citizens,...
How I Spent My 20-Hour Layover In Tokyo Haneda Airport (I Was Denied Lounge Access)
I arrived into Tokyo Haneda (also known as Tokyo International Airport) at 3:30pm and my connection would not leave until 11:00am the following morning. That left me with a nearly 20-hour layover in HND, most of it spent in...
Basic Business Class Expansion a Welcome Sight
ZIPAIR, a new Japanese carrier owned by Japan Airlines, is offering Basic Business Class and it’s a great solution to a problem many travellers face. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click...
Why I Question The Logic Of DOT Tokyo Haneda Slot Awards
I’m eating a little humble pie today…or at least humble mochi. My aviation predictions tend to be accurate, but not on the recent slot awards for Haneda Airport in Tokyo. Still, I question the logic of the DOT. Late...
“Mexican” + Persian Food in Tokyo
In my ongoing series on “Mexican” food in foreign lands, I cannot help but to add a Tokyo installment. This one’s a stretch, though. It was my business partner’s first time in Tokyo and I wanted to show him...
Introduction: A Whirlwind Week in Asia
I spent last week in Asia, splitting the time between Singapore and Tokyo. This will be a brief trip report featuring a pair of hotel reviews, flight reviews, and a quartet of lounge reviews. My transpacific flights were on...
Japan Airlines Will Create Low-Cost Carrier
Recognizing a changing market, Japan Airlines will launch a low-cost airline for medium- and long-haul flights. While low-cost carriers have gained traction around the world, Japan has been a holdout. It’s not that there are no low-cost options in...
The Time to Visit Japan is Now
I had a wonderful, albeit brief, stay in Japan and feel the obligation to provide the following observation: Above all else, my trip to Japan demonstrated that the media shamelessly blows stories out of proportion. Remember all the talk about...
Trip to Japan Postponed – I’m Coming Home!
When disaster struck Japan, I waivered over whether to take my planned trip to Tokyo next week. Despite dire warnings of radiation contamination, empty shelves at grocery stores, and rolling blackouts, I determined that media reports were overblown (to...
My Japan Dilemma – To Go or Not to Go?
To be clear, compared to what the Japanese people are going through right now, my dilemma is quite unsubstantial, but because this is my travel blog, I trust you won’t find it in poor taste to speculate about my...
Japan Devesated by Earthquake…Flights Halted
All Nippon Airways, a leading Japanese airline and member of Star Alliance, has been in touch with my office in Frankfurt all day concerning the massive 8.9 earthquake that struck Japan late this afternoon. Over 100 deaths are already...
ANA to Launch Low-Cost Airline
Taking advantage of JAL’s financial woes and a continuing growth in the China market, All Nippon Airways announced plans to launch a low-cost carrier by the second half of next year. What’s driving this demand for more low-cost travel?...
