Kansai airport Japan recorded 19 million passenger visits in 2013

Picture: Gion Matsuri Kyoto

"Kansai International Airport....had 19.35 million domestic and international passengers last year, up 9 per cent on 2013. ...it has reported significant increases in foreign travellers, (but) the number of Japanese passengers ....fell for the second consecutive year in 2014."





Source:  Australian investors line up as bidders for large Japanese airport
By Matt O'Sullivan
March 17th 2015
The Age Newspaper
http://www.smh.com.au/business/australian-investors-line-up-as-bidders-for-large-japanese-airport-20150317-1m05ws.html#ixzz3UaybJMZG

Video: Uniqlo: Mens Warm Easy Cargo Pants

Video: Uniqlo: Mens Warm Easy Cargo Pants 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcjomoMTIkY

These pants are ideal if you are riding in coller conditions in Japan.They are fleece lined, allow you to wear woolen thermals underneath, can be worn under rain gear and are easy to fold and realtively light weight.

Free Japan 2015 calendar for motorcycle trip planning

Japanese Customer 2015 Calendar by www.japanesecustomer.com 

"Japan is one of those places you just gotta go to" Mikey Cahill

Picture: Carp banners on boys day Japan

"...if you haven' between to Japan, then save your yen for a plane ticket...Japan is one of those places you just gotta go to" 

Mikey Cahill

Source: Livelist

By Mikey Cahill

Herald Sun Newspaper

Saturday 12th July 2014, page 19

Value for Australian readers.Today Aldi has an extensive range of motorcycle accessories on sale

Title: Motorcycle touring japan, Shikoku

Live in Australia? 

Ride a motorcycle and want to get your hands on some good quality, innovative and value priced gear?

Aldi stores in Australia have a new catalogue out today Saturday August 9th 2014 that has some great gear:

* Matching pants (knee and hip protectors) $99 & jackets $129 (have shoulder, elbow and back protectors)that are level 2 certified, in sizes from S to XXL

* Mens or Ladies motorcycle leather jackets with shoulder, elbow and back protectors $129

* Mens or Ladies motorcycle denim jeans $49.99

* Motorcycle Rain Jackets at $29.99 and pants at $19.99 (wind & waterproof fabric)

* Motorcycle Merino Midlayer Top at $39.99

* Motorcycle - Balaclava, face mask or neck wrap $9.99 each

* Carbon Knuckle Leather Motorcycle Gloves $29.99

* Motorcycle socks pair for $9.99

* Motorcycle Boots - High or Low cut $89.99

* Helmets - Open face $49.99, Closed face $69.99

* Action video camera - HD resolution includes helmet mount $49.99

* Motorcycle helmet Bluetooth Kit $59.99 



Check out the gear here & hurry, I imagine stocks wont last long!

https://www.aldi.com.au/en/special-buys/saturday-09-august-2014/

Customers can enjoy a foot bath on new shinkansen bullet train from July 2014

Picture: Japanese shinkansen bullet train 

¨JR East will launch the service in July, with one carriage on the "shinkansen" bullet train having two 2.4 metre-long tubs facing windows. Bathing is a ritualised and highly-prized activity in Japan and the footbaths are intended as places for passengers to relax¨

(see our video of a footbath on the street in Hokkaido, Japan here) Very relaxing!

Source:

Japanese bullet train adds footspa for passengers

March 7, 2014

The AGE Newspaper

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/japanese-bullet-train-adds-footspa-for-passengers-20140306-348g5.html#ixzz2vEyIDDhx

Video: Things you must try in Japan - Vending Machines

Source: 

Japan Vending Machines are AWESOME 日本の自販機すごい！

Sharla in Japan, You Tube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqDUbVSJKvE&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PLKYxoRPvyuVsyndGVk82eM8mDYBcVrPYr

Learn more: 

Vending Machines: Coined Consumerism

by Christopher D. Salyers

Japanese green tea found to reduce stroke by up to 20 percent

Picture: Japanese green tea

" (In 2013 Japanese scientists)... discovered that drinking four or more cups of green tea a day reduces the risk of strokes by 20 percent."

Source:the small print

December 20, 2013

The 2013 Best of Small Print

By: Steve Trautlein

Dec 19, 2013

Issue: 1030

http://metropolis.co.jp/features/the-small-print/december-20-2013/

Video: Things to enjoy in Japan - Television commercials

 Video: Japanese TV Commercials [ 2013 HOT SUMMER EDITION ] 

Source: JPCMHD

Video: A collection of Japanese television commercials 2013

Review of "Motorcycle Japan - A Riders Diary" by Mark Dulhunty

Review of "Motorcycle Japan - A Riders Diary" by Mark Dulhunty

Tairyobata are colourful banners flown by Japanese fisherman

Photo: Colourful tairyobata

"When a vessel pulls into port with a large catch, it raises a banner called a tairyobata. Tairyobata are characteristically showy in color, both from a superstitious and to be conspicious on a vessel. They are mainly hoisted during festivals these days"

Source: In search of the Ultimate seafood

Travel Notes 2

Nipponica, No 8, 2012, page 23

Video: West Japan Motorcycle SHow 2013 Final

Video: WEST JAPAN MOTORCYCLE SHOW 2013 FINAL

 Source: 広島 りょうま 

You Tube Channel 

Accessed June 15th 2013

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=246uFYkihac

Japan Railway West will offer tourist free wi-fi at 11 stations in Japan from July 1st 2013

"West Japan Railway Company (JR West)... will launch free Wi-Fi service for tourists on July 1 (2013) at 11 stations on its shinkansen (bullet train) lines, including for the first time Shin-Kobe, Okayama, Hiroshima, Ogura, Hakata, as well as stations where it is already available—Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Osaka, Tenoji, Kansai Airport and Sannomiya...The JR West free Wi-Fi will be available around ticket gates and lobbies at concourses. In order to use the tourist Wi-Fi, you have to get a guest code before arriving in Japan. Then you can access the Wi-Fi by simply selecting JR-WEST_FREE_Wi-Fi on your device."

Source: Free Wi-Fi for tourists to become available at 11 JR West stations

JUN. 14, 2013

Japan Today

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/free-wi-fi-for-tourists-to-become-available-at-11-jr-west-stations

What are the top twenty factory tours when you visit Japan?

Picture: Trucks moving stock

"(Factory tours accessible from Tokyo) " Suntory Musashino Factory (Fuchu City, Tokyo)…. Cup Noodle Museum (Yokohama City, Kanagawa)"

Source: Top 20 factory tours in Japan

JUN. 06, 2013 , Japan Today

http://www.japantoday.com/category/travel/view/top-20-factory-tours-in-japan

        

Honda improves fuel efficiency of 400 cc motorcycles to 39 kilometres per one litre with three new models to be released

"Honda Motor Co...announced ...that it will release three 400cc motorcycles with enhanced fuel economy..Equipped with newly developed engines with unique intake and exhaust systems, the bikes can travel 39.7km on a liter of gasoline, up from the 31km for previous models." 

Source:Honda Unveils New, Fuel-Efficient 400cc Motorbikes

Saturday, April 13, 2013

The Nikkei

http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20130412D1204N04.htm

Honda to launch new free Internavi service for motorcycle riders in Japan

" on Thursday, April 12. ...Any Honda motorcycle owner in Japan with a smartphone can download the application, register as a member on the exclusive website and enjoy using the service. ..(it) ....offers the Internavi Route service to calculate riding routes, the Driving Information service to search for ideal touring locations, the Rain Gear Alarm service to alert the rider when rainfall is forecast".

Source: Honda to launch membership-based service for motorcycle owners

TECHNOLOGY

MAR. 15, 2012

Japan Today

http://www.japantoday.com/category/technology/view/honda-to-launch-membership-based-service-for-motorcycle-owners