TokyoTomo Travel Guide

Kobe, a port city in Hyōgo prefecture in the greater Osaka area, is the sixth-largest city in Japan, home to around 1.5 million residents. The city of Kobe, with its prominent maritime port in full view, currently the fourth busiest in Japan, is situated at the foothill of Mount Rokkō. Due to its geographical challenges making flat land a scarcity, constructions of artificial islands have been carried to make up for what it is lacking. The Port Island, including Rokko Island and island of Kobe Airport to name a few, are built on reclaimation lands.

However due to its unique landscape, it has earned praises from all over for its scenic views, especially when night falls, the city lights illuminate the sky and sparkle like jewels. A project named the “Heritage of Japanese Night Views” has selected the night view of Kobe city center, with a panorama view of the port island and Osaka Bay, as seen from Mt. Rokko and Mt. Maya. It has also been given a compliment, “a night view worth ten million dollars,” among the three great night views in Japan, together with Hakodate and Nagasaki.

It has been observed that over the years, the colors in the night have changed from mostly of white in the 50’s, to amber in the 70’s, and in recent years becoming reddish. As reported by Kobe Shimbun, the noticeable reddish color was coming from aircraft warning lights installed on skyscrapers, used as a collision avoidance measure, increasing 3 times in the last 10 years, at 308 in January 2000, to 996 this year. We can also easily witness this when it comes mid-night, when building lights and room ceiling lights are gradually being switched off, the flashing red lights becomes more visible.

Under the Japanese aviation law, it requires the installation of aircraft warning lights or obstacle lights on tall buildings with a height of more than 60 meters. Buildings with a height of more than 60 meters up to 150 meters, are required to install warning lights at all four corners of the building’s roof. As for buildings that are more than 150 meters in height, to install warning lights at more than two points, including for all four corners of the building’s roof.

On 6th February 2010, Skymark Airlines (BC) has announced its new domestic operation between Ibaraki and Kobe. The daily return operation will start from 16th April 2010. New Ibaraki Airport opens on 11th March 2010, and Asiana Airlines （OZ） was the only carrier to operate regular international flights between Seoul, and therefore Skymark Airlines will be the first carrier on the domestic routes that operates between Kobe. Boeing 737-800s seating 177 Economy passengers each will be used on all the flights. Flight schedule has not finalized yet, but both return flights are planned to operate in the morning.

According to Skymark’s Sales Promotion Department, the new Ibaraki/Kobe operation was one of the routes that they have been considering from before. All of the “commemorative airport opening flight” which scheduled on 11th March was sold out, and it gave Skymark a confidence in achieving some demand for regular operation on this route. Also they consider highly of the capability of the Ibaraki Airport and its terminal which were designed for LCCs (low cost carrier). One-way normal fares will be JPY 12,000, however they offer advance purchase discount fare from JPY 5,800. They are aiming to expand new demand in North Kanto and Kansai regions. Ticket sales will be starting from 9:30 A.M. on 16th February.

Source: Travel Vision

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Skymark airlines (headquarters in Ota ward, Tokyo) formally announced on February 6 that it has decided to introduce daily flight to Ibaraki airport in Omitama, Ibaraki Prefecture from its Kobe base with effect from April 16. This was after months of having no domestic carriers willing to mount regular flight using this new airport, classified as Tokyo’s secondary airport and aiming to attract low cost carriers.

Skymark airlines will be the second airline after South Korean carrier Asiana Airlines to choose Ibaraki airport which will open next month on March 11. Skymark airlines had earlier agreed to conduct commemorative flights on the airport’s opening day with two flights from Kobe to Ibaraki, one flight from Ibaraki to Kobe and one flight from Ibaraki to Haneda. Tickets on all 4 flights were sold out a few days after release.

Skymark airlines has also released its ticket prices with normal one-way adult airfare going at 12,000yen, and early purchase discounted airfare will range from 5,800yen to 9,800yen. Flight will most likely depart in the morning and will operate on its single fleet of Boeing B737-800 aircraft with a seating capacity of 177 single class passengers.