Japan
Today, while most countries continue to honor New Year's Day on January 1st, each country's traditions couldn't be more different.
Do I have to sleep on the floor? Is there only one bathtub for all the guests? What's with all the different slippers? These were just some of the questions I had about staying in Japanese ryokan before a recent trip. Minshuku are similar accommodations, offering tatami mat rooms with futons, but these traditional inns are often family-run with simple amenities, like shared toilets and bathing areas. It turns out that staying in Japanese-style lodging unveiled the delightful hospitality of my hosts, introduced me to all kinds of new foods, and offered more luxury than I expected.
From botanical gardens to open-air museums with reconstructed villages, amusement parks have long been part of the mantra, ‘work hard, play hard’. They have been a place to escape the toils and responsibilities of everyday life (a sorely tempting offer, right now). The latest addition is Ghibli Park, scheduled to open in November 2022.
Tokyo is keeping pace with the rising popularity of ecotourism. A fabulous new eco-friendly park was opened recently and its reputation is growing.
At the end of my backpacking trip through Japan, I had three days to spare with no idea what to do. I had already explored the very south (Hiroshima) as well as all major landmarks around the central part of this beautiful Asian country (Mount Fuji, Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo).
Yokai can be summarized as Japanese spirits or spectres, deeply rooted in historical Japanese mythology yet still depicted in art and culture today.
Bathing and onsen culture in Japan is a unique aspect to Japan’s heritage that can be easily enjoyed by both visitors and residents.
Everything appeared as expected while boarding the train into Tokyo, from the tidy train station and orderly ticket booth cues to the clasped hands of prim passengers patiently awaiting the train. As I boarded and claimed a seat by the window, I felt suddenly overwhelmed — I had 36 hours to explore Tokyo and had arrived without a plan!
Japan has been in the news frequently regarding its battle with the coronavirus, culminating in the postponement of the 2020 Olympic Games. But what is really happening in Japan? How do the Japanese feel about all the recent events?
For many countries, street food is a must, but should a person who buys their food on the street be able to walk the streets while eating it? This is a question officials in Japan are trying to answer, especially for the tourist hot spots such as Kamakura in the Kanagawa prefecture.
When we think of Japan we generally recall the unique Manga culture, cherry blossoms, bonsais, sushi and the list goes on. However, Japan’s samurai castles are unique architectural treasures that should not be overlooked and must be preserved for historic value.
This broadcast is a favorite legacy show that we produced under our old name Travel'n On and before re-branding as WORLD FOOTPRINTS. We'll discuss the Airline Passengers Bill of Rights Act, author Libby's new book and life in Japan. Kate Hanni, Founder of the Coalition for an Airline Passengers Bill of Rights, returns to Travel'n On Radio to talk about the latest incidents on the tarmac and shall provide a legislative update on the proposed Airline Passengers Bill of Rights Act. Increased recompense for passengers and defense against excessive airline costs are goals of the proposed Airline Passengers Bill of Rights Act. Airlines would have to automatically repay customers in the event that their luggage is damaged, lost, or delayed. To ensure passenger safety, the Bill also addresses the problem of legroom and seat size that are constantly diminishing. Then, Libby Gill, author, business coach, and former SVP of Universal [...]
