travel

“Oh no, I forgot to pack my Lamborghini!” Not to worry: this Tokyo hotel has got you covered

“Oh no, I forgot to pack my Lamborghini!” Not to worry: this Tokyo hotel has got you covered

Among the numerous luxuries the Conrad Tokyo provides guests is the hotel’s extensive list of amenities, such as uniquely-scented soaps, shampoos and rubber duckies to make bath time in your opulent, free-standing tub just that much better.

Of course, these pale in comparison to the perks offered for the traveler who books a room in the hotel’s newest promotional package, which include a 552-horsepower mid-engined supercar.

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A Tom Cruise movie inspires a time lapse video of Hong Kong

A Tom Cruise movie inspires a time lapse video of Hong Kong

We’ve seen some gorgeous time-lapse videos in the past but we’ve never seen one inspired by a Tom Cruise movie. Until now. Created by Javin Lau, a Canadian expat living in Hong Kong, this video captures both the spirit of a heaving metropolis and the stillness beyond it in more rural landscapes. While the contrast in scenery is vastly different, the overbearing sense of insignificance in both environments is exactly the same. This feeling of isolation, similar to the movie Oblivion which inspired it, is now striking a chord with Japanese viewers, who are praising the video for its quiet beauty and bold images. Check out the clip after the jump.

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Forget hiking the Appalachian Trail, the path up Mount Hua should get your heart rate up and provide all the exercise you’ll ever need

Forget hiking the Appalachian Trail, the path up Mount Hua should get your heart rate up and provide all the exercise you’ll ever need


Located about 120 kilometers outside of the city of Huayin, Shaanxi province, Mount Hua is one of China’s Five Great Mountains. Certainly beautiful, the mountain has historically been a religious retreat for “strong-willed” monks able to find “the way” to the top on narrow pathways alongside gut-churning drops.

With tourism now booming in a more affluent China, the government has worked to improve access to the top of the mountain by widening the trail, adding railings and safety chains, and in general working to prevent hikers from experiencing a quick, unplanned descent to the bottom. Let’s find out what the dizzying location has to offer!
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Places you simply must visit: Toyama Prefecture

Places you simply must visit: Toyama Prefecture

Japan, as I’m sure you know, is a gorgeous country. Whether it’s sand dunes, beaches, forests, mountains, or snowy plains, there’s something for nearly everyone.

But even with so much amazing scenery, some places still manage to stand out, like Toyama Prefecture! Here’s a list of places in Toyama you simply must visit at least once!

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Japanese island to become real-life Game of Life for the summer

Japanese island to become real-life Game of Life for the summer

The Game of Life, one of the oldest board games still around today enjoys continued success around the world. Japan in particular has embraced the line of wheel spinning games, where it’s known by the direct translation Jinsei Gemu.

As 2013 marks the 45th anniversary of the Game of Life in Japan, one island has decided to celebrate by turning the entire place into one big Game of Life board complete with spinners and play money.

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Who spends the most cash on holiday? China jumps six places to grab the top spot

Who spends the most cash on holiday? China jumps six places to grab the top spot


According to the UN World Tourism Organization, the Chinese topped world tourism spending in 2012, emptying their wallets to the tune of US$102 billion while on holiday abroad. The move marks a six place jump up the ranks from seventh spot in 2002. Japan, meanwhile, dropped from fourth to eighth over the same 10-year period.

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We spend a night at the Legoland Hotel (no assembly required)

We spend a night at the Legoland Hotel (no assembly required)

There are plenty of reasons to visit San Diego, California. Aside from beautiful beaches, visitors to the Golden State’s southernmost metropolitan area can watch professional baseball and football, see killer whales and other marine life at Sea World, and dine on authentic Mexican cuisine.

And of course, there’s also Legoland California, North America’s first theme park dedicated to the Danish blocks that have captivated generations of kids. Since its opening in 1999, Legoland California has gone through numerous renovations, and as of April even has its own Legoland Hotel, one of only three in the world.

Needless to say, we booked our reservation as soon as possible.

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Cat spots: A bucket list of travel destinations for cat lovers

Cat spots: A bucket list of travel destinations for cat lovers

Ahhh, cats! Also called “Internet fuel” by those in the know (i.e. no one), our furry feline friends are objects of affection both online and “In Real Life,” as the kids say.

Though you probably won’t be able to hit every one of the entries this year, we’ve found a list of 15 “cat spots” that may soon shoot to the top of your bucket list. Not only are these places a veritable cornucopia of adorableness, they’re all great tourist destinations too!

Get ready to say “awwww!”

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Top 20 factory tours in Japan (trust us, they’re cool)

Top 20 factory tours in Japan (trust us, they’re cool)

There’s nothing worse that getting stuck on a guided tour going through room upon room of humdrum displays while a sleepy-eyed guide rambles on about nothing important. To save us all from making the mistake of going on a boring tour, Trip Advisor Japan compiled a list of the best factory tours in the country. Results are ranked according to the most talked about museums and factories on their website. As you might expect, over half of the best tours involve alcohol.

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Keep your clothes looking sharp on the go with a Portable Trouser Press

Keep your clothes looking sharp on the go with a Portable Trouser Press

It’s a problem all professionals have to face. You’re meeting a client out of town but after an extended period in your vehicle of choice, your collar’s flattened, pants are saggy, and your tie is crinkled making you look like some kind of hungover 1950s gumshoe.

I used to avoid losing valuable creases in my clothing by travelling naked. However, after my second suspended sentence I was thrilled when my parole officer recommended the Portable Trouser Press to me. It’s fantastic!

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Ninja travel tips: See Japan by rail without breaking the bank

Ninja travel tips: See Japan by rail without breaking the bank

Ever wanted to cross Japan by rail but hate the idea of being stuck on the train, watching the scenery flash by without ever being able to get out and experience it? Today we’re going to let you in on a little secret few foreigners are aware of so you can explore further, without having to pay extra for the privilege.

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Discover a different side of Japan in the Noto Peninsula

Discover a different side of Japan in the Noto Peninsula

For those searching for a unique cultural experience in Japan, look no further than the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture. The Satoyama and Satoumi areas of Noto Peninsula were the first in Japan to be chosen as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). It is a place where traditional fishing, forestry and agriculture methods are preserved to this day and visitors are invited to experience a taste of old-time Japan. Let’s take a look at what makes this area so special.

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Pigs fly (in broth form) as ANA serves up in-flight Ippudo ramen

Pigs fly (in broth form) as ANA serves up in-flight Ippudo ramen

Japan has earned plenty of foodie cred over the last few years. Tokyo has topped multiple lists of the best cities in the world to eat out in, morning talk shows showcase delicious, hole-in-the wall restaurants and bakeries almost every day, and this month even provincial Hiroshima got its own Michelin Guide.

But even with a nation of enthusiastic diners and gastronomic craftsmen ready to serve them, airline food is, for the most part, nothing to get too excited about. Unless you happen to be flying ANA internationally, that is, where you can now get Ippudo ramen. Read More

Ranking of Taxi Fares Around the World – Japanese Passengers Getting Hosed, Even More So Next Year

Ranking of Taxi Fares Around the World – Japanese Passengers Getting Hosed, Even More So Next Year

Countries of the world have a lot of different features and services that make them unique to each other, but one of the things you can always find from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe is the humble taxi cab.

Of course not all taxis are equal; the cars used and more importantly the fares charged can vary greatly. If you’re interested in where your country stands or if you’re planning a trip abroad, Trip Advisor Japan has whipped up a quick and handy infographic ranking 25 places around the world by the rates of their taxis.

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With Title “Happiest Place on Earth” Already Taken, Amusement Park on Cebu Island Makes Its Claim to Be the Sleepiest

With Title “Happiest Place on Earth” Already Taken, Amusement Park on Cebu Island Makes Its Claim to Be the Sleepiest

When you’re a kid, theme parks are a place where your dream can come to life. Wouldn’t it be great to feel that excitement once again?

In search of that childlike wonder, one of RocketNews24’s reporters recently visited the Lecian Grand Carnaval amusement park in Mandaue City on Cebu Island, in the Philippines. While it doesn’t have the high-tech animatronics and pyrotechnics of Disneyland, it offers plenty of old-fashioned attractions like a tilt-a-whirl and haunted house, plus a life-endangering roller coaster and very lenient napping policy. Read More

‘So Glad I Went!’ 2013 Ranking: The Places In Japan That Made an Impact on Foreign Visitors

‘So Glad I Went!’ 2013 Ranking: The Places In Japan That Made an Impact on Foreign Visitors

Every year, seven to eight million foreigners make the trip to Japan. But where do they go sightseeing? And, more importantly, do these places come up to scratch? A list of the most impressive sightseeing spots for the year to date, as ranked by foreign tourists, has been released by the popular travel site TripAdvisor. And while you’d think the top spot might go to a beloved and well-known destination like Kyoto or Tokyo, it actually goes to a simple-looking, modern building in the south-west of the country, in Hiroshima Prefecture.

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Kanagawa Junior High School Friends Set Out on an 80-Kilometer Adventure to Hakone by Skateboard 【Video】

Kanagawa Junior High School Friends Set Out on an 80-Kilometer Adventure to Hakone by Skateboard 【Video】

Located in Kanagawa Prefecture, the city of Hakone is a popular weekend travel destination for people living in the Tokyo area. The town’s numerous open-air hot springs and traditional inns, several with spectacular views of Mt. Fuji, attract visitors both young and old.

Most people headed to Hakone take the train, although the mountain passes that wind through and around the town make it a popular destination for drifters, too (the kind with cars, not the kind with bindles). One group of recent Kanagawa junior high graduates thought it would be more fun to bypass motorized transportation and headed out for Hakone by skateboard, taking their video camera with them. Read More

Meet the Buildings Used by Millionaires, Statesmen … and Naked Bathers and a Ghibli Movie

Meet the Buildings Used by Millionaires, Statesmen … and Naked Bathers and a Ghibli Movie

This collection of culturally important buildings, moved from their original locations in Japan and preserved in a park in Tokyo, gives us a glimpse into time periods from the Edo era (1603-1868) through to the early Showa era (1926-1945). Thirty buildings have taken up residence here over the past two decades, and each one is like a giant treasure box, filled with trinkets, memories and undiscovered gems. If their walls could talk, we can only imagine the stories they would tell. Come with us as we take you through the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Musuem and stop by some of the most interesting buildings Japan has ever seen.

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The Ten Most Beautiful Tunnels in the World and Where You Can Find Them

The Ten Most Beautiful Tunnels in the World and Where You Can Find Them

If a wardrobe filled with musty coats brought people to Narnia, we wonder where these beautiful tunnels might bring you. Let’s take a look at ten beautiful passageways from around the world.

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Calling All Evil Billionaires: The Dream of Space Flight Can be Yours for a Fraction of Your Fortune

Calling All Evil Billionaires: The Dream of Space Flight Can be Yours for a Fraction of Your Fortune

It used to be that to go to space you needed to join NASA and become an astronaut. But you’re an evil billionaire, and you’re far too busy being evil for all that training in the gravitron.

Lucky for you and whatever evil space plans you’re hatching, SXC (Space Expedition Corporation) offers the dream of space travel to any commoner with US$100,000 lying around, a pittance that will barely put a dent in your underground chamber of dubiously acquired gold bricks.

There are also a number of other aerospace companies offering a variety of space travel flavors, from a few minutes in orbit to a full 9 days at the International Space Station (ISS), complete with space walk. Let’s take a look at the different space travel packages offered, including one that costs US$150 million. 

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