ZIPAIR Tokyo launched its Narita – San Francisco route on June 2. The aircraft is a Boeing 787-8 with a total of 290 seats, including 18 “ZIP Full-Flat” seats and 272 “Standard” seats. The San Francisco route will be the third West Coast route for the company, which already operates the Narita-Los Angeles and San…

Weathernews has added a new radar-style mode, Windflow, to its WeatherNews weather app (Android/iOS version) as a new feature of its rain cloud radar. This content visualizes the wind around the world on a map based on proprietary wind forecast data, displaying hourly wind direction and wind speed forecasts for up to 72 hours from…

NEXCO Central Japan has closed some sections of the Chuo Expressway and other roads due to heavy rains caused by approaching typhoon No. 2. As of 2:10 p.m. on June 2, the following sections are closed to traffic. Chuo Expressway: Iida Yamamoto IC – Nakatsugawa IC (uphill), Ina IC – Iida Yamamoto IC (uphill), Ena…

NEXCO West Japan has issued a warning of possible road closures on expressways in the Kinki region from June 2 to 3 due to heavy rainfall caused by the approaching typhoon No. 2. The company advises drivers to check the latest weather and traffic information when using expressways, and to refrain from driving unnecessarily and…

East Japan Railway, PASMO Council, Tokyo Monorail, and Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit will temporarily suspend sales of no-name Suica/PASMO cards. The period is from June 8 for the time being. The release cites a worldwide shortage of semiconductors, which has made it difficult to procure the IC chips needed to manufacture the cards. The…

Singapore Airlines will expand its unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi service to passengers on all routes and in all classes of service starting July 1. (Boeing 737-800NG is not eligible for this service). To use in-flight Wi-Fi, members of Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer loyalty program must enter their KrisFlyer membership information through the “Manage Reservations” option on the…

Kohitsu Sanso is celebrating its 99th anniversary by holding a “Founding Festival” through June 19, where members receive a 10% discount on their membership points. During the period, 5% special points will be earned in addition to the 5% regular points, and each point will be awarded the day after the purchase. The special points…

EcoFlow Technology Japan launched its summer campaign “It’s Cooler This Summer” on June 1, offering up to 40% off products. Items to keep you cool and comfortable on hot days are on sale at reasonable prices. In addition to portable power supplies, those who purchase the new portable refrigerator “GLACIER” and portable air conditioner “WAVE2”…

Choice Hotels Japan has acquired the rights to open a branch of the Ascend Hotel Collection, an independent hotel brand, in Japan. Hotel Around Takayama (1-42-7 Hanaoka-cho, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture) in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, will be operated from July 1 as the brand’s first store in Japan. Ascend Hotel Collection is a brand…

Sumitomo Mitsui Card will hold the “V Point Festival Summer Grand Reward Campaign” from June 1 to August 31, 2012, where winners will be selected by drawing to win up to 50,000 V Points worth of V Points. One lottery unit will be awarded to a person who makes an entry with an eligible card…