Latest news with #JapanTimes
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Former Princess Mako Welcomes Her First Child
Mako Komuro, formerly Princess Mako, gave up her royal status to marry Kei Komuro, a commoner. After their wedding, the couple moved to New York City, where Kei works as a lawyer and Mako reportedly spent time interning at the Met Museum. Now, the couple are new parents, as confirmed by Japan's Imperial Household Agency. The baby, whose name and gender have notbeen disclosed, is the first grandchild for the Crown Prince of Japan and Crown Princess. If Prince Akishino ascends to the Chrysanthemum Throne, the baby will become the grandchild of the Japanese Emperor. 'This is a matter for a person who has left the Imperial Family, and we had hoped that she would spend her time in a quiet environment,' Naomasa Yoshida, grand master of the Crown Prince's Household, said in a press conference, per Japan Times. 'We decided to make the announcement, however, in light of some media reports.' Mako and Kei, both 33, met as students at the International Christian University in Tokyo. Paparazzi photos published by a Japan paper show the couple pushing a stroller in a suburb of Manhattan. 'We found out she was pregnant around fall of last year, and from then on, we started planning the move at a rapid pace,' a friend of the Komuro family told Josei Seven. 'Kei searched for a property in the midst of his busy schedule, hoping to fulfill Mako's wish that they should raise their child in a detached house, and finally found their ideal home. This time, they decided not to rent, but to buy so that they could live together as a family for a long time.' You Might Also Like 12 Weekend Getaway Spas For Every Type of Occasion 13 Beauty Tools to Up Your At-Home Facial Game
Newsweek
24-04-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Tourist Policy in Japan Is Changing This Year: What to Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. As the number of international travelers to Japan continues to climb, parts of the country are implementing new pricing strategies at major tourist destinations in an effort to tackle the challenges of overtourism and maintain infrastructure. Why It Matters Japan welcomed nearly 37 million international visitors in 2024, according to Travel and Tour World, as cited by MassLive. This tourism boom has boosted the economy but overwhelmed local communities, especially in areas like Mount Fuji, Nara, and Kyoto. By adjusting prices specifically for foreign tourists, officials hope to manage crowds and protect cultural landmarks. This general view shows the Keihin Industrial Zone with Mount Fuji in the background, Japan's highest mountain at 3,776 meters (12,388 feet), in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture on February 9, 2025. This general view shows the Keihin Industrial Zone with Mount Fuji in the background, Japan's highest mountain at 3,776 meters (12,388 feet), in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture on February 9, 2025. YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty Images What to Know Beginning in July 2025, hikers on the popular Yoshida Trail up Mount Fuji will be charged 4,000 yen (about US $28) for a climbing permit—double the fee from previous years, according to the Japan Times. Japanese residents are exempt from this fee, which is part of a broader initiative to reduce environmental strain on the mountain. "I'm happy there are so many visitors to Japan, but I'm agonizing every day," Tokyo-based business owner Yoshiki Kojima told the Japan Times, describing difficulties finding affordable accommodations for his employees. In western Japan, Himeji Castle is preparing to implement a dual-rate admission policy. Starting in March 2026, local residents will continue paying 1,000 yen for entry, while visitors from outside the region will be charged between 2,000 and 3,000 yen, according to Time Out. One restaurant in Tokyo has also started giving discounts to Japanese residents. The owner, Shogo Yonemitsu, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, that the increased cost for tourists accounts for him having to hire English-speaking staff at higher wages and the "extra labour of teaching foreigners the right manners at Japanese restaurants." Further south, Junglia Okinawa, a jungle-themed amusement park opening this summer, has adopted a similar pricing model. Tourists will pay 8,800 yen (roughly $58), compared to 6,390 yen for Japanese residents, according to Kyodo News. What People Are Saying Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "Japan has become a hot international destination for travelers over the last two years, which has presented a great boom for their tourism industry. At the same point, the country isn't accustomed to this strain on its hospitality industry, which has produced more limited space for hotels and tourism sites. Trying to head that off with a tourism tax and other initiatives aren't being done to punish travelers, but rather mitigate the strain on the resources of the country." Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "Tourists should expect to pay a little more in the form of a tourism tax. This is becoming more common globally, especially in countries with weakening currencies. As their currency drops in value, it makes travel cheaper for foreigners, which boosts tourism. The tax helps those countries recoup some of that influx in a way that supports their economy." Gearoid Reidy, a Bloomberg opinion columnist, wrote in a column: "There's a way to charge tourists more, but a municipality-by-municipality scattershot approach isn't it. If the country can make clear who pays what, and how, there will likely be few objections. Himeji Castle is easily worth four times the cost." What's Next A nationwide survey by Loyalty Marketing Inc. found that over 60 percent of Japanese residents support the move to charge tourists more. "It may not be fun for incoming travelers to pay higher prices, but it will ultimately produce more availability and fewer crowds," Beene said. Thompson said long term, the price uptick could cause a slight drop in tourism, however. "That's the gamble countries take with these kinds of taxes, however, for people who genuinely want to visit Japan, an extra fee likely won't be a dealbreaker," Thompson said.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Japan imposes tourist tax to tackle overtourism
Faced with surging crowds, Japan is set to impose new tourist taxes, joining countries like the United States, Mexico and Spain in a global trend. In recent years, Japan has become a hugely popular travel destination, welcoming 36.8 million tourists in 2024,, according to Travel and Tour World. But this influx has strained sites like Mount Fuji, Nara and Kyoto. 'I'm happy there are so many visitors to Japan, but I'm agonizing every day,' Yoshiki Kojima, who owns an IT company, told the Japan Times in January, adding that he struggles to find affordable hotel rooms for his employees when they travel to Tokyo. The initial step in this process is a fee increase for hikers on Mount Fuji, beginning in May 2025. The new fee for international travelers will be 4,000 yen (approximately $27), which is double the previous amount. Japanese residents are exempt from this fee, Travel and Tour World wrote. Japan isn't alone in implementing tourist taxes. The United States, Mexico, Canada, Iceland, France, Spain and Thailand also have similar policies. While the United States does not have a federal tourist tax, many states and cities levy extensive hotel and lodging taxes, according to Travel and Tour World. The cost for tourists varies by location. For instance, hotel rooms in New York City were subject to a 14.75% occupancy tax plus a nightly fee of $3.50 in 2024, according to Equity. In Los Angeles, visitors faced charges of roughly 15.5% to cover occupancy and tourism taxes. 'Tourist taxes can play a significant role in how destinations manage tourism flows,' UN Tourism Executive Director Natalia Bayona told The Mirror. 'But the implementation of these fees is also designed to deliver more of the economic benefits that tourism offers back to the host communities.' A short movie filming on Cape Cod is looking for actor for the lead role Recall: Portable charger sold on Amazon linked to fire, burn injuries This newly found green comet may not have survived its trek past the sun Playground, restrooms envisioned at Feeding Hills park Fans breach security barriers after country singer's invite to dance closer
Japan Times
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Chinese Navy says Philippine warship illegally entered Scarborough Shoal waters
China's military said late Sunday that a Philippine naval vessel had 'illegally entered' the claimed territorial waters of Scarborough Shoal, a key flash point in the disputed South China Sea. The Chinese military's Southern Theater Command said it had organized navy vessels to track, monitor, warn and drive away the Philippine vessel, which it identified as the Apolinario Mabini corvette. The two countries have repeatedly butted heads over the South China Sea, usually with their respective coast guards. But Sunday's incident was a rare instance involving the militaries of both countries, and it came amid fears that a clash or accident could erupt into a full-blown conflict. Southern Theater Command spokesperson Zhao Zhiwei said in a statement that the actions by the Philippine side 'seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty.' "We warn the Philippine side to immediately cease its provocative actions; otherwise, the Philippine side will bear all consequences," Zhao said. "The troops of the theater command maintain a high alert level at all times, resolutely defending national sovereignty and security and firmly upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea region." A spokesperson for the Philippine Navy on Monday said the Chinese side's claims were 'part of shaping or malign info operations more likely for their internal audience.' 'Only the Philippine Navy and other Philippine flagged law enforcement ships have the authority and legal bases to challenge any ship within maritime zones,' local media quoted spokesperson Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad as saying. Disputed by the two countries for decades, Scarborough Shoal is an atoll located some 125 nautical miles (about 230 kilometers) west of the Philippine island of Luzon. Although Manila claims it as part of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the uninhabited feature is effectively controlled by Beijing, which has maintained a constant coast guard presence there since 2012. The waters around, and skies above, the shoal have been the scene of several close encounters in recent years, including a Chinese military helicopter flight in February that came as close as 3 meters to a Philippine government plane on patrol while carrying a Japan Times reporter. The Feb. 18 incident was one of the countries' closest encounters ever in the skies above the disputed waterway — and one that could well have ended in disaster. Late last month, satellite images also showed that China had deployed two long-range H-6 bombers around the shoal — a move that came ahead of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's visit to the Philippines. Under what it calls the "nine-dash line," Beijing maintains a claim to some 90% of the resource-rich South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade flow every year, overlapping with the EEZs of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. China has, at the same time, hardened its position on the strategic waterway, which flies in the face of a July 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidating most of its claims in the South China Sea, prompting pushback from other claimants.
CBC
20-04-2025
- CBC
Japan, amid an unprecedented travel boom, is starting to charge tourists more to visit
There's a meme circulating that the average millennial midlife crisis unfolds like this: Take up running. Make house plants your entire personality. Buy an air fryer. Start planning a trip to Japan. First of all, ouch. But second of all, the accuracy. The allure of Japan has called to travellers (young and old, for the record) for years, but especially since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. The unique mix of cultural traditions and cutting-edge modernity, its emphasis on wellness and aesthetic of comfort, and its natural landscapes and popular attractions are just part of what makes Japan so appealing to many. Last year, Japan was named the best country to visit in the world by the Conde Nast Readers' Choice Awards. And now, bolstered by a weak yen, it's also more affordable, leading to an unprecedented travel boom that saw the country cross the 10-million visitor mark at its fastest-ever pace this year. For many, it's a welcome boost, after tourism to Japan was all but halted for more than two years during the pandemic, as the country put up some of the world's strictest border controls. But now as Japan grapples with the surge, it has a new problem: overtourism, with crowds affecting everything from some of its most sacred traditions to increasing housing and hotel prices. "I'm happy there are so many visitors to Japan, but I'm agonizing every day," Yoshiki Kojima, who owns an IT company, told the Japan Times in January about his struggles to find affordable hotel rooms for his employees when they travel to Tokyo. "I've already given up," Natsuki Sato, a mother who realized she could not afford to buy a home because she lives near a popular ski resort where tourism has driven up property prices, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on April 12. And now, to help cope, some of Japan's most popular tourism destinations are reportedly rolling out a two-tier pricing system on everything from restaurants to theme parks. WATCH | There's a global matcha boom: Global matcha boom driving a shortage in Japan, impacting Vancouver businesses 6 days ago Duration 2:20 Global demand for matcha is skyrocketing, but experts say Japan's limited production and declining number of tea farmers are causing supply shortages. As Leanne Yu reports, some Vancouver businesses hope by directly sourcing from matcha farms, it will help lessen the impact. Canadian visits on the rise Arrivals of foreign visitors for business and leisure reached 3.5 million last month, bringing the total through the first quarter to 10.54 million, data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) showed. Last year, Japan reached 10 million visitors in April. For the whole of 2025, tourist arrivals are on pace to eclipse last year's all-time level of 36.87 million. The nation's famed cherry blossom season helped boost demand in March, which saw record arrivals for any single month among travellers from the United States and Canada, the JNTO said. And Canada was among the top 20 countries whose residents have visited Japan recently, with 44,500 visits from Canadians recorded in February alone, up 31 per cent from last February. Over 550,000 Canadian tourists visited last year, up 37 per cent from the year before. Right now, $1 Cdn gets you about 103 yen — or in other words, a bowl of ramen can cost about $5, and a standard hotel room about $200 a night. The weakness of the yen against the Canadian dollar is a big draw right now, says Aaron Petrowitsch, 32, a Calgarian who travelled to Tokyo and Kyoto for his honeymoon in February. "A lot of people don't want to travel to the States right now, and fair enough," Petrowitsch told CBC News. "But looking at other places where your money goes a long way, Japan is definitely one of those places." He and his wife Sarah had originally planned a trip to Japan in 2020, which they had to cancel due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. When they rebooked for their honeymoon, Petrowitsch says he was pleasantly surprised that the trip would be more affordable than it would have been five years ago. "It's getting more and more popular, that's for sure," Petrowitsch said, adding that about two weeks after he got back to Calgary, a colleague of his travelled to Japan with his girlfriend, and he knows at least one other colleague planning a trip. Overtourism But as more tourists flock to Japan, many of them inspired by social media, what's called overtourism has become a hot topic. "The issue is not so much with too many people going to Japan, but with too many people going to the same places while they're there," James Mundy of Inside Japan explained on the Responsible Travel website. "What tourists and local communities want to do is not sometimes harmonized," Kenji Hamamoto of the Japan Tourism Agency told Travel Voice, a Japanese travel news site, in January. Some regions and attractions have taken extra measures. The historic geisha district of Gion in Kyoto, for instance, has banned tourists from some of its alleyways and private streets in an attempt to control those who have reportedly tried to force geisha and maiko to pose for photos or touched their kimonos. Tourists flocking Kamakura for a photo op have become so problematic that the town had to add security guards to keep people away from its famed railway crossing. And in Fujikawaguchiko, so many people have blocked roads or trespassed to get an Instagram-famous photo of the Lawson Convenience Shop by Mount Fuji that authorities had to put up a barrier to block the view. (They eventually, quietly, took it back down, CNN reports.) Meanwhile, a 400-year-old temple in Kyoto has been plagued by litter and unauthorized photo shoots. And Mount Fuji has become so overcrowded and littered by tourists that some have called it " trash mountain." Two-tier pricing? To manage overtourism, some tourist hotspots are increasing their prices. Starting in July, anyone who climbs Mount Fuji will have to pay 4,000 yen, or about $39 Cdn, for a permit — double the price of last year's so-called "tourist tax." Starting next year, Himeji Castle in western Japan will charge tourists more than double its normal rate. A new nature-themed park called Junglia Okinawa is charging 8,000 yen for a one-day pass for tourists, versus 6,300 yen for citizens. It's been reported that some restaurants are charging a tourist tax, such as an all-you-can-eat seafood restaurant in Tokyo that offers a discount for residents of Japan. And in 2023, officials rolled out a 100-yen tourist tax to visitors at Miyajima, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Itsukushima Shrine, to anyone entering "by boat." Petrowitsch, from Calgary, says he didn't really notice a two-tier system on his visit, and when there was a lower price for Japanese locals, it was "minimal." He also says it likely won't deter him from visiting again, unless the price difference becomes drastic. "We had such a great time."
