Your trusted friend in Tokyo bringing you all the travel insights. http://www.tokyotomo.com "Vacation rentals" is fast gaining popularity in the domestic room reservation market. It was first introduced few years back as an alternative for ski resorts in Hokkaido. It helped to ease a little in the shortage of ski accommodations and also to offer a wider range of prices. It is ideal for large families and groups looking out for a spacious living space or quite surrounding away from large crowd. It no longer portray as a temporary solution to ease the shortage of accommodations during the ski season, it is now highly sought for in summer as well as other traveling peak seasons. And the location of these villas are slowly moving closer to big cities in Honshu too. Perhaps in a few more years to come, it will be one of your main choices of accommodation in Japan. The "big three" have already started offering vacation rental accommodations as one of their regular travel products. Other operators are also keen to tap into this new market as well. http://www.tokyotomo.com/index.htm Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:42:00 +0900 We look at one of the most popular destinations on domestic travel for this summer. Okinawa and its neighboring islands :Ishigaki, Miyako, Kohama, Iriomote http://www.tokyotomo.com/index.htm Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:33:00 +0900 The mercury has been dropping furiously for the whole week. And with wind knots going pass 40km/h frequently and we know spring has just arrived. Travel agents everywhere are displaying pinkish color pamphlets on their shelfs telling everyone the sakura viewing season is round the corner. This pamphlet that I picked up, it is mostly 3D/2N plans with a few overnight plans, each offer Japanese style accommodations complete with Japanese course dinner and breakfast. Special dinner menu is being prepared during the hanami(cherry blossom viewing) season. The various recommended cherry blossom viewing spots included; Hirosaki koen in Tohoku, Heian Jingu in Kyoto, Yoshinoyama in Nara and Takato Joshi Koen in Nagano to name a few. http://www.tokyotomo.com/index.htm Sat, 23 Feb 2008 22:11:00 +0900 Looks like this year we might have good snow conditions lasting all the way till May in Hokkaido and Tohoku judging by the current cold weather. JAL Tours has quickly release an extended ski plan for Hokkaido and Tohoku hoping to cash in more profit with the continuing high take up rate. Should you still be thinking of going on a ski trip, it is still not too late. In the pamphlet you will find special rate on all ski resorts for departures in the first 2 weeks of April. And as usual lift pass is thrown in especially for tour packages released in the middle of the ski season. http://www.tokyotomo.com/index.htm Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:43:00 +0900 At last! The arrival of Spring/Summer package tours. With the first Spring/Summer local package tours being released and displayed on racks everywhere, everyone will be reminded of "Hanami" (Sakura viewing) and the pleasant weather. Being in the travel industry, I find time passes very quickly but slows down during the cold months. The switch from Winter to Spring is most anticipating as Winter can be enduring with the highest workload and also biting the cold. It becomes a mental relief knowing that it will soon be over. Come Hanami time when the mercury first climb above 20 degrees centegrade and it is one of the reasons why many likes to celebrate. http://www.tokyotomo.com/index.htm Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:13:00 +0900 Yet another thoughtful product of JTB to offer resort hotels around Tokyo that caters for pet owners taking their pet dogs and cats along on their trip. We have seen on television how pet owners would pamper their dogs and cats, some of them even lead a much better life than some of us. The percentage of the baby boomer generation who are adopting pets are growing rapidly, and very soon they will be taking their retirement pension too. The propensity for travel will be greater. Believing that pet-lovers would not skimp a single cent knowing that there are hotels that welcome pets, hotel and tour operators quickly make their move into the new market. It is also highly commendable as some people might forgo their trips not wanting to leave their pets behind, now they can have a piece of mind and enjoy their trips together with their pets. http://www.tokyotomo.com/index.htm Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:34:00 +0900 It is a good time to take a look at package tour to cities not involving flight. There are a good number of destinations that are ideal for a short trip with some good examples below. The tours below offer you choice of accommodation only or with return rail ticket included as a package, plus optional meal selection and upgrade, so it is worth looking even if you have made your purchase for the JR Rail Pass. I would also like to point out that when you look for an accommodation through the overseas online discounted hotels channel, chances are you will missed out attractive dining options that can be included as well. So why take your chances and just flip through the pages. By topping up a few thousand yen extra you could be treated to seasonal delicacies rather than a usual meal. http://www.tokyotomo.com/index.htm Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:34:00 +0900 What to expect after the New Year? It will be wave after wave, a busy month followed by another all the way till the golden week. After all the snow related festivals throughout Hokkaido ending mostly in February, come March will be one of the best time to visit Nara and Kyoto, as such all the focus will be switched to Shinkansen plans going to these nearby places. Depending on the weather, everyone will be anxiously wanting to know when the Sakura(cherry blossom) will bloom in order to book their trips for Sakura viewing. I will keep you posted as and when the Met office releases their predictions. They revised their predictions twice this year and tour operators were not impressed. http://www.tokyotomo.com/index.htm Sat, 29 Dec 2007 23:44:00 +0900 During my absent for the entire week I sneaked to Okinawa for part pleasure part work and celebrated my X'mas in Naha city. It is not the best time of the year to go to Okinawa, so there weren't much but airfares were dirt cheap though. I had a lot of walking and regretted not choosing a flight package plan that includes rental car. Spending most of my time along Kokusai-dori, I picked up the below pamphlets in a local agencies, they are package plans for Miyako island, Ishigaki, Iriomote and Yoron with flights originating from Naha. Flights are operated by Japan Transocean Air (JTA) or Ryukyu Air Commuter (RAC). These package offers are nowhere to be found in Tokyo. Compared to similar package plans with Tokyo departures, the below offer more choices of accommodation and with prices available for single and twin occupancy. It offers choice of up to a maximum of 3 nights accommodation included in the plan however you can extend your stay up to 14 days without inclusion of accommodation. http://www.tokyotomo.com/index.htm Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:07:00 +0900 Trying to answer to question posted to me whether there is an average or a common price lets say going from Haneda to Sapporo and return. In my own opinion, the average price should come from the so-call OEM tariff. I wonder what the acronym stands for in ticketing terms. OEMs are package fares released half-yearly covering almost all routes in Japan. Both JAL and ANA have its own version. I am not at liberty to disclose the e-copy but I found the below pamplets offering almost what is found in the OEM. There are 2 parts in the OEM with "fixed stay plans" and "select plans". Fixed stay plan meaning that you will fly in and out using the same city whereas under the "select plan" option, open-jaw tickets are used. With an open jaw ticket you can choose to fly out using a different airport within the same region. http://www.tokyotomo.com/index.htm Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:52:00 +0900 This is an original idea by offering return Keisei Skyliner ride to Narita airport together with an airport hotel accommodation prior or after the overseas trip. The purpose is to facilitate those who either use Narita airport during odd hours or are staying in places far from the airport. By opting for this Keisei Skyliner set plan you save 500yen on your return ticket. This set plan is only available during the introductory period from Dec1 to Mar31. And should you be able to purchase the plan 30 days or more before your departure you get an early booking discount ranging from 300yen-1000yen per adult for most hotels. http://www.tokyotomo.com/index.htm Tue, 12 Dec 2007 09:56:00 +0900 It came to my surprise that not many people were aware that bus + hotel plan exist. It is true that most who opt for night highway buses usually are heading home or to the nearby ski regions for skiing. There are bus + hotel plans that bring you to cities in Kansai, Chubu, Tohoku, Hokuriku and Chugoku regions. http://www.tokyotomo.com/index.htm Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:01:00 +0900 For those who hates looking up tarriffs especially with complicated price calendars and tables will appreciate this KNT package tour to Hakone. Try comparing it with other JR rail packages pamphlets and you will find it easily comprehensible to the average user. The tour planner has decided not to raise the price for Fridays as such the pricing is very straight forward, with weekdays and Sundays being the cheapest and more expensive for Saturdays and holidays. What is offered? There are a total of 23 onsen ryokans included, complete with dinner and breakfast. You can reserve accommodations alone or with the Odakyu Romance Car set plan. Odakyu Romance Car departs from Shinjuku Station and takes 85 minutes to get you to Hakone Yumoto Station. http://www.tokyotomo.com/index.htm Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:21:00 +0900 Another brilliant creation of products by JTB to attract more travellers visiting places with well-known events celebrating Christmas, Year end and New Year with illuminations and light ups. Should you already be thinking of visit Sapporo, Hakodate, Otaru, Okinawa, Nagasaki, Kobe or just a nearby trip to Yokohama, do grab a copy of the "Illuminations theme special" to compare the offers. When you book your tickets under this plan you are likely to be given rooms with a good view of the city illuminations which you don't as oppose to taking a regular plan. http://www.tokyotomo.com/index.htm Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:21:00 +0900 Everyone is eyeing on Skymark Airlines round trip plan to Sapporo leaving around the 2nd week of February to participate in the Sapporo Snow Festival. Unlike other tour operators, the Skymark plan offer will only be released exactly 2 months before its departure date. If you wish to leave on Feb9 you ought to put in a reservation by Dec9 in order to secure a seat on the flight that your prefer. As usual for the best fare is to depart a day before the start of the event. Take a look at the price below as a guide ... http://www.tokyotomo.com/index.htm Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:22:00 +0900 Remembering those days when I was handling sales in an agency. This is the time when I sold the most tickets in a year. All good offers ended up sold out before X'mas. Don't bother looking for any good bargain after the New Year as there is nothing left. http://www.tokyotomo.com/index.htm Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:28:00 +0900 Airlines have marked the period Dec14 to Jan7 as the coming peak travel season. As usual every year especially the period from Dec28-Jan3, flights will be 100% sold out, and there are not going to be any discount tickets offered by the airlines themselves. "SF tickets" will give you the best price. "SF ticket" is a method of buying the ticket at half its normal price by redeeming the shareholder's 50% discount coupon(available on JAL, JEX, ANA and IBEX carriers only). These valuable coupons are sold everywhere in discount stores and are snapped up in bulk by travel agents. http://www.tokyotomo.com/index.htm Sat, 01 Dec 2007 08:28:00 +0900 One of those good offers that is worth considering. You will never find anything close to this offer during the year end peak season. http://www.tokyotomo.com/featured_travel.htm Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:30:00 +0900 This is one of the lowest off-peak round trip prices you can get to Sapporo, Okinawa and Fukuoka. Flights using Skymark airlines. Find out more about this plan. http://www.tokyotomo.com/featured_travel.htm Sat, 24 Nov 2007 09:38:00 +0900