List of 7: Dark Tourism in Japan

The term dark tourism was coined in 1996 by Glasgow Caledonian University researchers John Lennon and Malcolm Foley, though the phenomenon itself is said to date back to Gallo-Roman times. It refers to places associated with death, suffering and misfortune. This kind of tourism can be controversial, however, with critics arguing that it exploits human misery. Posing for selfies at sites like Auschwitz-Birkenau certainly raises questions about ethics. Dark tourism, though, doesn’t have to be voyeuristic. For many travelers, it’s a chance to gain a better understanding of dark events in history, of which there have been many in this country. Here’s a list of seven dark tourist destinations in Japan.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial | Image by Zaru Rosario via Shutterstock

Hiroshima

When it comes to dark tourism in Japan, two cities stand out above all others. The first was, of course, Hiroshima, which was hit by the atomic bomb

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What’s the Tokyo Flotation Tank Boom?

“If you encounter something unpleasant, acknowledge its presence; then breathe out to expel it, three times over.” I’m at Cocorodo, one of several floatation tank centers in Tokyo, where owner Yuya Kanesaka is easing my trepidation at spending 90 minutes enclosed in a blacked-out, soundproof tank, floating in Epsom salt–rich water while deprived of external stimuli.

My hesitancy is not due to claustrophobia or similar, but rather the thought of facing my conscience head-on; ‘no filter’ and without distraction. While I’ve generally tried to “do the right thing,” it’s surely a rare individual who reaches middle age without breaking some past behavior.

Facilitating Relaxation and Self-Exploration

The floatation tank (also known as the isolation tank, or sensory deprivation tank) was developed in the 1950s by a scientist and “psychonaut” John C. Lilly, whose other projects included human-dolphin communication. A float session is intended to facilitate relaxation and self-exploration

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NS government offers to defray some travel costs for surgery patients

Starting June 1, some Nova Scotians waiting for surgery may be eligible to help from the Nova Scotia government to defray some of their travel costs.

The travel assistance program will be available to patients who have to travel within the province for certain procedures. The aid is only available to families who earn less than $35,000 a year and won’t cover all travel-related expenses.

Tanya Penney, a senior executive director at the Department of Health and Wellness, said the pilot project was designed to encourage people to choose sites with shorter waiting lists for the procedures they need.

“What we’re hearing from people around the province is that the cost of hotels and the cost of gas has actually become a barrier for people to access care a little bit further away from home than they prefer,” said Penney. “And so this is really about helping those folks, in

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Air Canada nearly doubles revenue, checks out profit as travel demand takes flight

Air Canada reported that first-quarter revenue nearly doubled compared to a year earlier as travelers hopped back on airplanes en masse — even as higher costs tamped down net earnings.

Buoyed by a record $4.9 billion in revenue, the quarter marked the second in a row where the carrier has turned a profit following 11 straight quarters of losses totaling $10.1 billion.

Net income amounted to $4 million, in stark contrast to $974 million in losses a year ago.

Chief executive Michael Rousseau said the results for the three months ended March 31 beat out all expectations for a traditionally weaker quarter, and that he believes demand will persist amid strong advance bookings for the rest of the year. They hit $5.3 billion at the end of March, up from $4.1 billion a year earlier.

“The winter and the start of the spring can be very challenging in North America,

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Ceramics, Shrines and Pine Forests in Colorful Karatsu

Saga’s charming coastal city of Karatsu is only two trains — with amazing views of Karatsu Bay along the way — and a 1.5-hour trip from Fukuoka’s JR Tenjin Station. Often overshadowed by Arita and Imari cities when it comes to ceramics, Karatsu stands out in other ways.

Kith and Kilns

Kyushu’s long history of foreign trade over the centuries is to thank the region’s diverse ceramic culture. Every prefecture is home to one or more distinct varieties of earthenware; Hasamiyaki in Nagasaki and Ontayaki in Oita are just two of many options. Alongside Arita and Imari, Karatsu figures as part of what is often cited as Kyushu’s “pottery trifecta.”

Karatsu ware is characterized by its earthy yet soft colors, round edges and classic patterns. Its rustic elements are perhaps more attractive to those who find themselves drawn to cottage or country farm-style interior design. For an overview of

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The World’s Best Road Trip Destinations, According To New Report

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There’s no better feeling than getting behind the wheels of your car and taking to the open road. Traveling on vacation via car gives you the freedom to go and see whatever you want, whenever you want.

What’s more, road-tripping is popular. 81% of summer travel in the United States is undertaken by car. You can road trip on your own or travel with family and friends. But where are the best places to visit for a road trip?

Woman in a car on road trip

A new report from car experts DiscoverCars has surveyed more than 140,000 tourists from across the world to discover the best scenic routes you can explore with the freedom of your own vehicle.

The five best road trips are spread across continents and will lead you through a diverse range of landscapes. In most cases, you would need to hire a vehicle on

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Discover Nagasaki: In the Footsteps of Japanese Christians

Ccurrently, only about 1.9 million Japanese people (1.5% of the population) identify as members of the Christian church. Many choose to keep quiet about it. Taro Aso, the former Prime Minister of Japan, is — to the surprise of many — a practicing Roman Catholic. However, there was a time when Christianity in Japan was big, loud and bloody. Today, visitors to the country can travel back in time to those turbulent years by visiting sites throughout Nagasaki Prefecture connected to some of the most important Christian figures in Japanese history.

Hirado Bridge

St. Francis Xavier and Hirado Island

Francis Xavier was the first missionary to visit Japan in 1549, with a wanted murderer named Anjiro acting as his guide and translator. He operated out of Kagoshima but also traveled up north to Nagasaki where he introduced Christianity on Hirado Island in 1550. The religion quickly spread there after

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The “special forces” travel fad among young people in China could be bad news for Beijing

Chinese tourists take their photo with the Forbidden City in the background from Jingshan Park during a sandstorm on March 28, 2021 in Beijing, China. China's capital and the northern part of the country was hit with a sandstorm Sunday, sending air quality indexes of PM 2.5 and PM 10 ratings into the thousands for the second time in as many weeks.

Chinese tourists take their photo with the Forbidden City in the background from Jingshan Park during a sandstorm on March 28, 2021 in Beijing, China. China’s capital and the northern part of the country was hit with a sandstorm Sunday, sending air quality indexes of PM 2.5 and PM 10 ratings into the thousands for the second time in as many weeks.

Young Chinese travelers are hitting the road after three years of covid restrictions, and their approach is all about speed, thrift, and fun.

The new fad, called “special force-style travel” (特种兵式旅游), has gone viral in China over the past couple months. The idea is simple: travel to as many touristic sites in as little time as possible, all while spending the least amount of money. The grueling itineraries that result from the philosophy have earned it the military comparison.

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“Special forces” tourism began trending during China’s

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New Demon Slayer Villain Offers Valuable Lessons About Japanese Culture

Demon Slayer, also known as Kimetsu no Yaiba, has become one of the biggest media franchises in the world. What is the secret of this deceptively simple anime about a young boy hunting human-eating demons to avenge his family? Well, it might be the fact that it is is strangely educational. For one, it takes place in Japan during the Taisho period (1912–1926). This is a setting we rarely see in anime. The country at the time had settled down after the turmoil of the Meiji restoration and dedicated itself to modernization and Westernization. This is all addressed in the fantasy series. A recent addition to the show, however, goes further, offering lessons in Japanese mythology, history and language. Here’s what audiences can learn from the Demon Slayer characters, Hantengu.

Half-Tengu’s Full-on Lesson About Japanese Folklore

Hantengu is a demon and one of the main antagonists of the third season.

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Beautiful Brutalism: 3 Concrete Havens in Saga Prefecture

BRutalist architecture in Japan preceded the more well-known Metabolism movement, of which Tokyo’s Nakagin Capsule Tower was one of the most recognizable examples. Both styles heavily favor concrete as the main material and geometric styles to create a strikingly unnatural design.

It’s hard to pinpoint Japan’s initial massive shift toward concrete — and, accordingly, its move away from wood — to a specific time in history, though one theory suggests this significant change started in the mid-1920s. One primary factor was likely the devasting Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, as a considerable percentage of the death toll was attributed to fires fueled by the debris of wooden houses.

While notable Brutalist institutions worldwide are being dismantled, demolished or renovated, some of Saga’s most prominent municipal facilities remain examples of Japan’s past Brutalist. Three structures in particular stand out and make a great stop for any solo traveler through Kyushu.

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