All tagged Japan
Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, still has another six weeks to run before it closes on 13 October. The next World Expo won’t take place until late 2030 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. So, if you don’t want to wait another five years to attend an Expo, a trip to Osaka is your only option. But Expo 2025 has come in for a lot of criticism. We take a late trip there to see if that criticism is justified.
The picturesque Bikan Historical Quarter in the Japanese city of Kurashiki has many art museums, historically significant shrines, interesting boutiques and craft shops, as well as some excellent restaurants and coffee shops, making it a relaxing day-trip destination for travellers interested in Japanese art, history and culture.
Could your idea of a dream Asian holiday be a three-week bar hop visiting some of the best cocktail bars in Asia? If so, here’s an itinerary that you can combine with visits to some of the most exciting cities in Asia, enjoying their cultural and culinary delights during the day, and dressing up for a relaxing evening to sample exquisite cocktails created by Asia’s best mixologists using local ingredients blended with traditional spirits.
Are you a first-time or infrequent traveller to Asia and wondering which countries are the safest to visit? No country is 100 percent safe, but this guide will tell you which are the safest to start with and what to look out for in those countries. The guide is based both on institutional rankings and the personal experience of a long-time traveller who has visited them all.
Asia is home to many superstitions and beliefs, some of which date back centuries. Whilst many Westerners may scoff at the rituals that supposedly bring health, wealth and happiness, millions of people continue to follow traditions to bring luck that have been handed down through generations. We take a look at some of the rituals you’ll likely come across in the coming months.
Booking train, bus and ferry tickets in Asia can be difficult if you are not familiar with the routes and transport operators, but online booking apps and websites can make the task much easier. But with hundreds of such online ticketing platforms vying for your business, how can you tell which are the best ones to use. We take a look at reviews of these sites to determine which are the most reliable.
In a recent awards list of the top 100 sustainable tourist destinations in the world, 22 in Asia were recognised for their efforts in providing tourism experiences that had a positive impact on the local environment or culture. Many of these will appeal to older travellers seeking destinations that are off-the-beaten-track and travel experiences that are supporting local communities.
Asia offers some of the best luxury train experiences in the world with Japan and India leading the field. Travelling by train provides the opportunity to enjoy scenery and sights at a leisurely pace with onboard fine dining and entertainment. Many multi-day journeys offer tours at stopovers to interact with locals and visit places of historic and cultural interest.
Asian airports have always ranked well in the annual Skytrax awards, but this year Singapore’s Changi has been knocked from its top perch by two others in the region. Here’s a rundown of where the top Asian airports have ranked in the 2021 awards, so if you have to spend time at any of these Asian airports, at least you know you’ll be staying amongst the world’s best.
Japan has some excellent snow skiing destinations for older travellers who are looking for quieter and more relaxing places to ski than the crowded mountain resorts in North America and Europe. For most residents of Asia it is the easiest ski destination to reach, and for travellers from Australia and New Zealand, it provides the additional opportunity to ski in the southern hemisphere summer.
If you are looking for a holiday destination that’s off-the-beaten track, somewhere that’s peaceful where you can slow down, smell life, rest and rejuvenate, then Nikko in Japan’s Tochigi Prefecture is the perfect destination. Just two hours north of Tokyo, you can unwind, meditate, relax in hot springs, and enjoy the authentic delights of Japanese culture away from the crowds.
Japan’s southernmost prefecture of Okinawa has a sub-tropical climate and a slower pace that may appeal to older travellers looking for a restful holiday. The prefecture is made up of over 100 islands and is home to more centenarians than anywhere else in the world. Many have claimed that’s because of the healthy Okinawan cuisine and eating habits which visitors can sample.
Aichi Prefecture is one of Japan’s most diverse regions offering a mix of coastal and inland attractions for all seasons. It’s known to locals as the ‘heart’ of Japan and is an ideal destination for older travellers wanting to enjoy a calmer and slower pace away from the larger cities.
Asia is blessed with many of the world’s greatest religious sites, some dating back centuries. While the finest of them enjoy near-universal acclaim, others are less well-known, and many people will have visited sites that mean something special to them. Here are 12 of the best to visit ranging from the famous to some lesser known.
Travelling solo in Asia may not be for everyone – especially for older females – but for those who enjoy time on their own, it can be liberating and rewarding. It enables you to travel at your own pace, do what you want to do, when you want, and change your schedule whenever you feel like it. With a few sensible safety precautions, solo travel in Asia can be a safe and enjoyable experience for anyone.
Japan’s distinctive manhole covers are an unusual drawcard for visitors and locals alike. Thousands of decorated covers are found throughout the country. Most of them highlight the attractions of local cities, towns and districts, while others feature geometric designs or portray popular cartoon characters. Many are genuine works of art and well worth watching out for.
