The government will enact the amended Passport Act on July 1. Under the revised Passport Act, passport application fees will be revised, with a 7,000-yen reduction for 10-year passports. The fee for in-person applications will be lowered from 16,300 yen to 9,300 yen, and the fee for online applications will be lowered from 15,900 yen…
With a morning ridership rate of 53%, Kanto Railway’s Ryugasaki Line is “reviewing its future.” Will it be discontinued or saved?
According to railway line crowding rates (released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism), which primarily reflect morning rush-hour congestion, the Nippori-Toneri Liner has held the title of “worst in crowding rate” (177%) for five consecutive years. If you travel 40 km north from here—about a 50-minute ride on the Joban Line—you can…
The Kurobe-Unazuki Canyon Route to Open to the Public in October. Planning for Sightseeing Tours Begins; Restoration Work on the Kurobe Gorge Trolley Train Gets Underway in Earnest
Repeated Delays in Opening and the Background to Date: Originally, the Kurobe-Unazuki Canyon Route was scheduled to open to the public on June 30, 2024, with sales of travel packages set to begin in late January of that year. However, rockfalls caused by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, which struck just before the scheduled opening, damaged…
[Visiting RV Parks: Hubs for Overnight Stays in Your Vehicle] We Stayed at an RV Park Launched by an Auto Campground with Over 30 Years of History in Hokuto City, Yamanashi: RV Park HAKUSHU BASE by bigland
Introduction to the RV Park Area: At Big Land, which features a spacious grounds, the auto campsites—located in an area easily accessible by car—are also used as an RV park. There are 15 sites designated for use as an RV park, but two of them are reserved for parking tow vehicles when using a trailer,…
[Asami Araki’s Life in Paris] Two Towns Along Germany’s Moselle River: A Fairytale Wine Town and an Ancient Capital Where Time Stands Still Like in the Roman Empire
I had some business to take care of in Frankfurt, Germany. Although the high-speed train ride from Paris to Frankfurt takes about four hours, I decided to drive. That’s because I wanted to stop at two towns along the Moselle River on the way back. After finishing my business in Frankfurt, I headed first to…
Lottery-based sales for official parking spaces at the “Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks Display” have begun via Ticket Pass. Approximately 12,000 parking spaces are available over two days.
Nokisaki, the operator of the official parking lot sales platform “Ticket Pass,” has begun accepting lottery-based reservations for official parking spaces at the “Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks Display.” The application period runs from 11:00 a.m. on June 19 to 11:59 p.m. on June 24. Winners will be announced around 2:00 p.m. on July 1. The…
Rakuten Travel’s “Special Coupon Week” Offers Up to 30% Off Travel Bookings. Get Great Deals on Fuji Rock, Summer Sonic Osaka, and Disney Parks Overseas
Rakuten Travel is holding a “Special Coupon Week” event through 9:59 a.m. on June 30, offering discounts of up to 30% on travel reservations. Starting June 19, the company is distributing a limited number of coupons that can be used for domestic accommodations, Rakuten Pack (transportation + accommodation), car rentals, and sightseeing experiences (activity reservations)….
“Piyorin” 15th Anniversary Memorial Book Now on Sale. Includes a plush charm and squishy stickers.
Takarajimasha will release the “Piyorin 15th Anniversary Memorial Book,” produced in collaboration with JR Tokai Food Service, on July 27. The price is 3,160 yen. To commemorate the 15th anniversary of “Piyorin,” a popular Nagoya-born dessert, a special mook has been released featuring plush charms and squishy stickers as bonus items. The cute, round charm…
JR Tokai Tours Launches “Summer Travel Clearance Sale—Exclusive for Sunday–Thursday Departures!” Offering Great Deals on Shinkansen and Hotel Reservations
JR Tokai Tours will hold its “Summer Travel Clearance Sale—Exclusive for Departures Sunday Through Thursday!” from 1:00 p.m. on June 19 to 8:00 p.m. on June 29, offering great deals on Shinkansen and hotel reservations. For this sale, we are offering the “EX Travel Pack”—a package combining Shinkansen and hotel accommodations—at a special sale price,…
[July 2026 Edition] A Comprehensive Guide to Fireworks Festivals Across Japan! Major Events Like the Sumida River Festival Are Coming Up One After Another—Get Your Tickets Early!
Summer 2026 is here, and fireworks season has finally arrived. In this article, we’ll take a look at all the must-see fireworks displays taking place across the country in July. The Kanto region and its surrounding areas will see a concentration of major events on July 25, with the “Sumida River Fireworks Festival”—featuring approximately 20,000…