Singapore travel deal of the day : 4D3N Stay in Tokyo - Includes Return Air Ticket by Japan Airlines

Step into the diversified world of Japan! Experience the vibrant nightlife of the city in your 4D3N stay. Enjoy your time as you spend your time as Tokyo offers you a seemingly unlimited choice of shopping and entertainment. Witness the interesting clash of cultures in the city that preserves its history even as it moves on to a bigger scale! Visit the museums, temples and gardens of Tokyo and step into a world that is frozen in time. Get away to Tokyo today!

This 4D3N Stay in Shinagawa Prince Hotel, Tokyo deal is only for $558 instead of $888 (37% OFF). Travel Period is till 31 May 2014 with some blackout days. For fine print and terms and conditions visit this Tokyo travel deals web site.

Package Includes:

• Return Air Ticket to Tokyo by Japan Airlines
• 3-night accommodation at Shinagawa Prince Hotel

Flight schedule (subject to changes):
Singapore - Tokyo

• JL 710 SINNRT ETD 0155hrs // ETA 0935 hrs    
• JL 712 SINNRT ETD 0820hrs // ETA 1605 hrs    
• JL 036 SINHND ETD 2200 hrs // ETA 0535 hrs #1    

Tokyo - Singapore

• JL 035 NRTSIN ETD 0005hrs // ETA 0645 hrs    
• JL 719 NRTSIN ETD 1040hrs // ETA 1730 hrs    
• JL 711 NRTSIN ETD 1755hrs // ETA 0035 hrs #1

4D3N Stay in Tokyo - Includes Return Air Ticket by Japan Airlines

Tokyo Chiba Prefacture PM 2.5 air pollution warning

Can air pollution from China travel all the way to Tokyo in Japan and reduce the air quality to a hazardous level for humans? This was the question asked by many residents of Chiba prefecture east of Tokyo when the government there issued a warning to residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activity and extended exercise because of unusually high levels of air pollution.

Many speculates that the pollution is coming from China but a Chiba government official said the pollutants travel in the air and can be caused by cars or factories, including those located in Chiba itself, but that the source of the pollution wasn’t clear:

“We aren’t sure what the origin is,” said Motoko Yonemoto, an official with Chiba’s air quality section. “Some might worry that it’s coming from China, but we don’t know for sure if pollutants from China can travel to the (Tokyo) region and have a significant impact.”
Source : Chiba Issues Air-Pollution Warning

Back in March 2013, residents of Kumamoto Prefecture on Japan’s southwestern island of Kyushu were asked to voluntarily stay in their homes Tuesday, after air pollution levels surpassed government safety standards. That was the first such warning in Japan after new government guidelines were introduced.

What is PM 2.5?
PM, Particulate Matter, is a definition of particle pollution in the air. There are two kinds of particle pollution, fine particles and inhalable coarse particles. Fine particles are called PM 2.5, because their size is 2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller.

Surgical masks cannot filter these particles so going out with a surgical mask is pointless when PM 2.5 levels are high. Only N95 masks (masks that can filter 95% of 0.3 micron+ particles) can be effective for PM 2.5 particles. At home, it is better to use aircon instead of natural ventilation.

Back in June 2013, PM 2.5 levels went to hazardous levels in Singapore due to forest fires in Indonesia and N95 Mask stocks were deplated in a day on the small island.

Average PM 2.5 levels were 85 mg per cubic meter in Tokyo Chiba Prefacture between 05:00 and 07:00 AM.

Scoot to two destinations on one budget holiday

With Singapore-based low-cost long-haul airline Scoot operating budget flights to Tokyo and Taipei you can combine these two destinations into one itinerary without digging deep into your pockets. Even better, the savings you can make from flying to Tokyo and Taipei with a low cost carrier like Scoot lets you stretch your budget further.

Tokyo on Budget
You can head to Gotemba Premium Outlets to score great buys. It has 210 shops offering high-end designer and branded goods at 25 to 65 percent off. It's located at the foot of Mt Fuji, so you can squeeze in some sight while shopping.

What about Tokyo night life on a budget? Yes, with the Tokyo Yokocho Week. Despite its name Tokyo Yokocho Week is a two-month event from January 15th and it lets non-Japanese to enjoy discounts on drinks and cheap bur delicious dishes on a pub crawl. You can get your Yokoso Discount Passport at participating bars.

For basic and clean hotel stay in Tokyo, try Hotel Nikko Narita. Just 10 minutes from Narita International Airport, it offers free WiFi and free shuttle buses to the airport. It costs only ¥6,500 (S$86) for a single room and ¥11,000 for a twin room.

For accommodation that places you right next to Tokyo Tower, check into Tokyo Prince Hotel or Shinjuku Prince Hotel. A single room starts from ¥10,500.

Tokyo Tower

Taiwan on Budget
You cannot go to Taiwan and not visit the night market. Affordable but tasty treats such as oyster omelette, rice tube pudding and braised porr rice are the main draws. Besides the famous Shilin Night Market, visit Keelung Night Market for its pot-edged pancake soup and Taiwanese prawn balls, and Raohe Street Night Market for the herb-steamed spareribs.

Explore Taiwan's natural beauty with a bed-and-breakfast or minsu. You read right. Seaforest, for instance, can take you to Taroko National Park for its famed marble-walled gorge and scenery. Walk on the mountain trails, bathe in hot mineral pools and soak up the aboriginal culture. A double room goes for NTD$1,750 (S$73).

Country View is another minsu to try. It can customize itineraries to popular destinations like Farglory Ocean Park and East Coast National Scenic Area. A double room costs NTD$1,900.

Emirates will start Dubai and Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) daily flights

Dubai based Emirates will start daily, non-stop flights between Dubai and Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) on 3rd June 2013. Emirates will operate a three-class Boeing 777-200LR on the route. The flight from Dubai to Tokyo, EK312, will depart Dubai at 0935hrs and arrive at Haneda Airport at 0001hrs the following day. The return flight, EK313, will depart at 0130hrs and arrive at Dubai International Airport at 0705hrs.

Haneda Airport, ranked as the second busiest airport in Asia, will be Emirate's 131st destination. The airport is also Emirate's third gateway in Japan. The airport is located in Ota-ku, Tokyo and handles the majority of domestic flights to and from Tokyo; it opened its doors to international carriers following the opening of the fourth runway and the international terminal in October 2010. Haneda, which will become Emirates’ 131st destination, is currently ranked as the second busiest airport in Asia.


“Emirates has been operating to Japan since 2002 when we introduced non-stop flights to Osaka; our commitment continued when we launched flights to Narita International Airport in 2010. We are confident that the demand in terms of both passengers and cargo is strong enough to warrant Emirates operating non-stop, daily flights to both of Tokyo’s airports, offering our passengers more flexibility on the route to Dubai and onwards to over 70 destinations in the Indian Ocean, Middle East, Africa and Europe,” added Mr Antinori.

Emirates will use a Boeing 777-200LR on Dubai Tokyo (Haneda) route.

Emirates’ longstanding partnership with Japan Airlines will be expanded to include a code share on the new Dubai-Haneda-Dubai services. The flights will be identified with the Emirates ‘EK’ code as well as with Japan Airlines ‘JL’ code.

With the new daily flight to Haneda, Emirates SkyCargo is able to provide an additional 210 tonnes of cargo capacity per week, further supporting Japanese exports of mechanical components, electronic goods and automobile parts, and its imports of gas and oil products. Dubai is an important hub for the re-export of Japanese manufactured products to the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia.

Passengers will enjoy unrivalled comfort and amenities on board Emirates' Boeing 777-200LR which is equipped with eight luxurious private suites in First Class, 42 of its latest lie-flat seats in Business Class, and generous space for 216 passengers in Economy Class, along with gourmet cuisine in all cabins which has been tailored to Japanese passengers, served by Emirates’ multinational cabin crew.



The aircraft also features ice, Emirates' award-winning inflight entertainment system which offers over 1,400 channels of movies, TV and game entertainment on demand, which includes 40 Japanese channels
With a fleet of 196 aircraft, Emirates now flies to 128 destinations, having launched services to 15 destinations in 2012, Warsaw and Algiers are set to join the network this year on 6th February and 1st March respectively.

Emirates Holidays, the airline’s tour operating arm, offers holidays to Japan, with itineraries that highlight attractions in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Emirates Holidays provides holiday options that take travellers from Tokyo – the modern capital city; to the majestic Mount Fuji and the natural beauty of Hakone; to Nagoya and Kyoto, the cultural heart of Japan; and to Osaka, gateway to the Kansai region.

Best cities in Asia in travel 2012

New York based travel magazine Travel + Leisure compiles a Worlds Best lists every year by surveying T+L readers to tell which hotels, destinations, and companies represent the very best in travel.  These World's Best Awards have been announced every August since 1995.

According to 2012 results, Bangkok is voted as the best city in Asia by Travel + Leisure readers in the 2012 World’s Best Awards. Bangkok is voted both Asia's and world's best city for the third year in a row while Hong Kong took the second spot from Siem Reap and Kyoto kept its third position.

The magazine with its 4.8 million readers reflects usually the taste of American travellers. According to 2012 survey here are the top 5 best Asian cities in travel:

1 - Bangkok, Thailand

The capital of Thailand and tourism capital of Asia is voted as Worlds Best City and Asia's Best City 3rd time in a row by T+L readers. Bangkok is not only the premier gateway for Thailand, but for all of Southeast Asia.

2 - Hong Kong, China

More than ten years after its handover to China, Hong Kong is still vibrant and influential. Hong Kong is the poster child of Asia with its iconic skyline and is an important cultural center among Chinese and Asians. Hong Kong moved up from 4th spot last year to 2nd spot in 2012.

3 - Kyoto, Japan

Former imperial capital of Japan, Kyoto, is one of the most beautiful cities in Japan and is voted as the 3rd best city to travel to in 2011 and 2012.

Bangkok is the best city in Asia in travel according to Travel+Leisure magazine's world's best awards.

4 - Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap, famous as the location of Angkor Wat and the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park, is a small, extremely tourist-friendly city that operates at a relaxed pace. It was the second best city in Asia in travel in 2011 and is 4th in 2012.

5 - Shanghai, China

Once a humble fishing village at the mouth of the Yangzte River, Shanghai is now China's biggest city and an epicenter for art and culture as much as it is for commerce. Moved 1 spot up in the list, pushing Tokyo to the 6th position.

The other best Asian cities in the top 10 are below:

6 - Tokyo, Japan
7 - Singapore
8 - Beijing, China
9 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
10 - Xi'an, China

Here are the top 3 best cities in the world 

Bangkok - Thailand	Florance - Italy	Istanbul - Turkey

Scoot will fly from Singapore to Tokyo via Taipei by October 29th

Singaporean long-haul low-cost carrier Scoot is beginning to fly from Singapore to Tokyo's Narita Airport via Taipei from October 29th 2012 onwards. This flights will start Scoot's  flight service to Japan from Singapore. Scoot has previously announced its plans about flying to Narita in late October.

The carrier,  a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), will serve the route daily by Boeing 777-200 aircraft, which will offer 32 business class seats and 370 economy class seats. According to Narita Airport's web site, Scoot will use Narita Airport Terminal 2.

Scoot will depart from Singapore Changi Airport daily at 12:55 a.m. and arrive Taipei Taoyuan Airport at 5:40 a.m. The flight will depart from Taipei at 6:50 a.m. and arrive Narita Airport Terminal 2 at 10:40 a.m. Return flight will depart from Narita 11:50 a.m. and arrive Taipei at 2:35 p.m. The flight then depart from Taipei at 3:45 p.m. and arrive to Singapore at Singapore at 8:10 p.m. According to Scoot's web site, return ticket price between Singapore and Tokyo is 700 - 800 SGD for economy class and 1000 SGD++ for Scoot Biz (business class). Scoot offers 3 types of economy class: Fly, FlyBag and FlyBagEat.

Scoot began operating in June 2012 from Singapore Changi Airport and currently flies from Singapore to Sydney, the Gold Coast, Bangkok, Taipei, Tianjin and Qingdao. Scoot has recently announced that it will acquire 20 fuel efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner to replace current Boeing 777-200s as part of its ongoing expansion. The aircraft will enter Scoot's service by 2014.

[1] - Narita Service by Singapore LCC "Scoot" Starting Oct 29 with Boeing 777
[2] - Scoot snaps up 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, cutting Jetstar's advantage