I read that Tokyo will be the next epicenter in Japan. Not surprising considered how many people are cramped into the city and there is no lockdown yet. So anyone still going Japan should avoid Tokyo and Hokkaido.

Now with Tokyo Olympics postpone 1 year, they no longer have reasons to keep the lid tight. Expect an explosion of "suddenly appearing" cases soon.

Because Abe haven't told them to lockdown yet. So if no lockdown, people still need to go work and stuff. I guess they will take the usual flu prevention methods if they fall sick but the problem are those asymptomatic carriers.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/20...urge-over-10000
"Japan virus cases surge over 10,000"

I was in Nagasaki 1-2nd week of Oct last year. Call me lucky but nothing going on during my visit. I left just before Hagibis hits Tokyo. It wasn't as enjoyable tho, weather was quite hot and humid like in M'sia. I was aiming for autumn nice weather. LOL!

Now some are disputing if Olympics might even be further delayed if vaccine still not found.

This post has been edited by babylon52281: May 5 2020, 10:59 AM

They could easily be given the next open slot hence it won't be for nothing but by then Abe's term as PM would be over. His popularity is riding on hosting Olympics.

12 years isn't that far in relative terms. The stadium & infra will still be there, it could be more motivation to hold more events at Fukushima, Japanese efficiency will still be there. Big question is; will Abe still be there. It all depends if vaccine can be made and used worldwide by 2021.

Just a question. Is the AA Rm499 deal still valid? According to my bro he got a refund(with AA points) due to it being cancelled, but I see others seems to have planned out their trip on 2021 via this deal. So has it been cancelled or not?

oic

The world is heading towards recession. Everyone is going towards gold, properties or safe-haven currencies like Yen. This may not be a good thing for Japan tho.

He did that for Olympics to keep tourists flowing but now with postponement, he might just let it go free. Or he could continue BOJ QE to protect manufacturing & exports. Tourism is a goner for this year at least until tailend of 2020.

Would be nice if they could reduce the GST rebate threshold for tourists and allows rebate on combined expenses for point to point travelling in Japan (ie by train, bus, taxi, boat, etc). Also would be nice if allows rebates on combined expenses for ticket entries to sightseeing attractions and amusements(ie Disneyworld, USJ) - is this doable before this???

Well with all due respect, there are big differences between CD19 and those others. They didn't cause whole countries to be at standstill, they didn't cause a worldwide pandemic. Right now, we're looking at a highly contagious disease which has no cure nor vaccine yet, something similarly of concern by medical community about super-resistant bacterias in hospitals getting out but now its a virus which is even worse. So concerns are valid.

Still on the other side of a coin, the world can't continue to standstill. We'd die of hunger before we get CD19. Meantime preventions like social distancing are the only solutions we have and unfortunately leisure travelling puts us at risk of not keeping safe. Hence IMO any unnecessary travelling should be put off unless there are guarantees of staying safe.

I believe Japan shares that same sentiments too which is why they haven't lifted foreign travelling ban as yet. I read Okinawa recorded ZERO foreign tourist 1st time in their history. That is the sacrifice Japan is willing to make and that tells us how seriously bad is CD19.

This post has been edited by babylon52281: May 30 2020, 09:33 AM

Social distancing & SOP applies? No open mouth or screaming on the roller coaster?

We aren't fully open yet. Still not the right time to reopen our domestic tourism industry yet as the focus should be getting our people back to work... whatever that still remains.

In another week, it would have been 1 year ago I was in Fukuoka and Nagasaki.... how time flies and the world changed since.

While I was in Fukuoka, best ramen i guess is Hakata Issou, its not very well known to tourists but it got a recommend from matcha-jp. Went there for dinner and really its a small corner lot shop. Had to wait for a place with my family but it was about 10 mins b4 we got a table. All patrons there were locals except for us, i guess the best ones would be those tucked away places that locals would go for.

While there I tried Ichiran, Ippudo, Hakata Issou, and a nondescript side shop. Heard about Ganso but it was way out of my visiting spots and I got way too many ramen on my plate (haha!) that time to try others so I went for the branded ones and a local favourite. Branded ones are unique but overhyped as most brands are.

Evo, Imprezza or GTR?