-
(English) Hilton 50th Anniversary Discounts
(English) Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Hilton Group’s launch in Japan, the hotel is releasing a set of special coupons for discount room rates. Hilton Worldwide opened their first Japanese hotel in Tokyo, 1963, and now have locations all over Japan including the Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk. A limited run of 50 discount coupons will be sold for ¥330,000 each. You can use these coupons to book discounted rooms at Hilton hotels in Japan – one coupon for a single-room, two coupons for a twin-room.
Read More 4월. 17, 2013, 18:19
-
(English) Saga Prefecture Stops Jin Air Service to Korea
(English) Saga Prefecture announced a change of the airline providing service between Saga and Seoul – switching from Jin Air to T’way Airlines. In February Saga Prefecture and Jin Air entered an agreement, however the service didn’t work out due to difference of opinions between the two parties. Following the termination with Jin Air, Saga Prefecture got in contact with T’way Airlines – following positive feedback from T’way in the past. A representative at Saga’s aviation department commented “It was shame that we could not continue a relationship with Jin Air, however we look forward to a mutual understanding with T’way Airlines, to proceed in a positive way.” Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, April 16
Read More 10:43
-
(English) Fukuoka Free Wi-Fi Eyes Expansion
(English) Fukuoka City Wi-Fi, one of the largest free public wireless internet networks in Japan, celebrated its first year in operation. The network started with 16 access points from which smartphone and laptop users can access sightseeing information for free. There are now around 200 access points in 53 locations including Fukuoka Airport, Hakata International Port and all of the City’s subway stations. The network now averages 2,800 hits per day, three times more than when the service was launched, and information is offered in four languages. City Hall wants to expand the network to include bus stops and shopping centers, but due to installation and maintenance costs, it is having trouble finding companies willing to join in the effort. A list of access points can be found on the Fukuoka City homepage (http://www.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/wi-fi/english/index.html). Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, Apr. 16
Read More 10:34
-
(English) Korean Arrested for Trying to Swim into Japan
(English) On April 15, the Japan Coast Guard in Fukuoka arrested an 18-year-old Korean man on suspicion of violation of Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. The man, who claimed to be a student, entered Hakata Port by New Camellia ferry with an ordinary Korean passport. He was rejected entry to Japan by the immigration officer, for unknown reasons, and returned to the ferry. One and a half hours before the ferry departed Hakata, however, the man escaped off the stern of the ferry – diving into the ocean and swimming to the quay, where he was caught and arrested by Japan Coast Guard. The man explained that as the departure time for the ferry neared, he felt really keen to stay and enter Japan, so he jumped into the ocean and swam for shore. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, April 16
Read More 4월. 16, 2013, 15:11
-
(English) Virtual Castle Tours Commence
(English) On Apr. 22 Fukuoka City will begin offering guided tours of the Fukuoka Castle ruins using tablet computers that display 3-D graphic reconstructions of the castle and Korokan. The City wants visitors to “experience the castle atmosphere”, and the new system will let users walk through the ruins while enjoying graphic renderings of the castle buildings, including the contentious castle keep that some claim may have never existed. The City has been making efforts to make the castle ruins a more attractive tourist site, but since most of the buildings no longer exist, reconstruction would require a great deal of time and money. This is one reason City Hall decided to develop the virtual tour software to the tune of ¥37.8 million. 20 x 13.5cm tablets equipped with GPS will be loaned to those who join tours conducted by volunteer guides. The tablets contain 360-degree panoramic renderings of 110 locations throughout the castle ruins as well as virtual reconstructions of 17 buildings. Tours for two courses will be held once a day on weekdays and twice a day on weekends and holidays. Each tour will be limited to 10 participants and will last about two hours. Users are asked to reserve spots at least five days in advance. Tours cost ¥500 and children of elementary school age and younger are free. Call or fax the Fukuoka Castle Ruins Visitor Center for reservations (Tel: 092-732-4801 / Fax: 092-732-4802). Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, Apr. 13
Read More 10:18
-
(English) Some Kyushu Companies Plan to Boost Hiring Next Spring
(English) According to the results of a recent survey conducted by Nishinippon Shimbun with major companies in Kyushu, 25 of 109 companies (22.9%) indicated plans to increase worker numbers in the spring of 2014. This is the first time in two years that the number of companies planning to hire workers has exceeded the number planning to reduce staff or keep them at the same level, which suggests a positive outlook for the regional employment situation. In total, 114 companies were surveyed and 109 replied. Of those, 21 in the non-manufacturing sector and 4 in the manufacturing sector said they planned to increase hiring. The survey suggests that Prime Minister Abe’s economic stimulus measures (aka “Abenomics”) are having a positive effect in the real estate and construction industries, but companies in the electronics, machinery and automobile sectors—all of which are rely heavily on exports and are easily affected by the correction of the high yen—appear more cautious. Out of 37 companies surveyed, 16 said they would keep staffing levels on par with this year, while 13 said they were undecided. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, Apr. 15
Read More 10:17
-
(English) Monthly Charity Lobby Concerts at Hotel Okura
(English) Hotel Okura Fukuoka will hold monthly charity lobby concerts until March next year, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the hotel. The first concert on Apr. 12, will be a quartet performance of classical pieces and songs from movies. The first 50 visitors will be given a glass of sparkling wine. The next concert will be a guitar and flute performance on May 10th. On Jun. 14, a flamenco show will be held. A guitar and accordion concert is planned for Jul. 11th. The schedule from Aug. has not been announced yet. Donation boxes will be set up in the lobby and proceeds will go to Nishinippon Shimbun’s Great East Japan Earthquake Relief Charity. Each concert will 30 minutes and start at 17:00. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun
Read More 4월. 12, 2013, 18:20
-
(English) Buses Collide in Kumamoto but No One Hurt
(English) On Apr. 11, two rental tour buses carrying Korean tourist groups collided on a prefectural road in Kurokawa, Kumamoto. No one was seriously injured, but 26 of the 83 passengers were treated for bruises and other minor injuries. The police are investigating the two bus drivers on suspicion of negligent driving. One bus was operated by Kokonoe Kanko Service (Kokonoe Town, Oita), while the other was operated by Plus Kanko (Fukuchi Town, Fukuoka). The former was carrying high school students on a class trip, while the latter was carrying regular tourists. The scene of the accident was a 100-meter stretch of road that only had one open lane because the other lane was damaged in last summer’s torrential rain storms. A light rain was falling at the time of the collision. The driver of the Kokonoe Kanko bus admitted he was driving “absent-mindedly”. A traffic control worker at the site said he tried to stop the bus, but it ignored his sign. The Plus Kanko bus driver said he proceeded according to the traffic control worker’s instructions and hit the brakes when he saw the oncoming bus but was unable to stop in time. The passengers were taken to a local hospital, but since there was no Korean interpreter available, hospital staff used an online interpreting service to treat them. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, Apr. 12
Read More 14:13
-
(English) Special Status for Wajiro Tidal Flat Extended
(English) The Wajiro Tidal Flat located in the eastern part of Hakata Bay is one of Japan’s important stopovers for migratory birds. Its designation as a national wild bird sanctuary is set to expire this October, but the Ministry of the Environment has announced it will extend the designation by 10 years. The added measures by the Ministry are seen as a precursor to designation as a Special Protection Area—a requirement for registration under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. According to the Ministry, the Wajiro Tidal Flat is a vital stopover for 149 different types of migratory bird including the engendered black-faced spoonbill. This is one reason why the Ministry upgraded the tidal flat from a prefectural wild bird sanctuary to a national one 10 years ago. In addition to extending Wajiro’s current designation, the Ministry will also expand the sanctuary zone to include the mouth of the Tataragawa River. If the tidal flat is eventually registered under the Ramsar Convention, it would become the 47th such wetland in Japan and the 5th in Kyushu. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, Apr. 11
Read More 13:00
-
(English) Worldwide Fukuoka Kenjinkai Convention Announced
(English) On Apr. 10 the planning committee for the 8th Worldwide Convention of the Kaigai Fukuoka Kenjinkai (Overseas Fukuoka Prefecture Citizens Associations) met in Fukuoka. The worldwide convention is slated to be held in and around the city Oct. 9~12, and the committee agreed to hold events that will promote exchange between its members and local residents. According to the Prefectural Office, approximately 55,000 Fukuokans have migrated overseas since before the war—the 4th largest outflow in all of Japan. There are currently 21 Kenjinkai in 9 countries, including the U.S., Brazil and Peru. The first Worldwide Convention was held in Los Angeles in 1992, and conventions are held every three years in different parts of the world. This year’s convention will be the first held in Fukuoka since 2001. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, Apr. 11
Read More 12:59
