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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Travel advisories | NAACP, Equality Florida issue travel advisory urging people to avoid Florida over Gov. Desantis Woke policies

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Sunday, May 21, 2023 5:31AM

NAACP issues travel advisory urging people to avoid Florida

The NAACP Board of Directors issued a travel advisory Saturday for the state of Florida, urging people to avoid the state.

The advisory comes as a direct response to what the Board says is an “aggressive attempt to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Florida schools” by Governor DeSantis.

The formal notice from the group states, “Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues ​​and marginalizes the contributions of and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color.”

“Under the leadership of Governor Desantis, the state of Florida has become hostile to Black Americans and in direct conflict with the democratic ideals that our union was founded upon. He should know that democracy will prevail because its defenders are

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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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The Artificial Intelligence Driving Travel Innovations

Skift Take

AI news drove headlines this week, from Expedia, to Google, and even to Skift. Click through for a summary of the top stories.

Jason Clampet

If you missed Skift’s big news about its AI chatbot this week, we suggest you go Ask Skift to pose questions that can’t be easily tackled by traditional search engines. Let us know what. you think of the tool by leaving a comment or using the thumbs up/down button. You can read more about what the tool does and why we built it in this story.

Skift started the week with a look at tourism influencers and how they are impacting the choices both destinations and consumers are making. In a companion podcast, Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam said “These destinations are using these influencers to show visitors things on the ground that they would not have found if the potential visitor was

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How to turn a rundown castle into a luxury retreat

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In travel news this week: a restaurant on the edge of space is now taking bookings, a hypersonic startup promises to fly people from Europe to Australia in under five hours, and couples transform incredible properties in Italy and Japan.

A little English island inspired by legendary crime novelist Agatha Christie is up for sale, and it comes with its own Art Deco hotel and helipad. Burgh Island, off the Devon coast, has a 25-room hotel with mermaid pool and billiard room – an ideal spot for Colonel Mustard and the candlestick.

Seems like too big a job to take on? Well a South African couple bought a rundown castle on a Tuscany hilltop and turned the fortress into a

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8 Cool Bars in Tokyo You Need To Check Out

With Japan finally open to tourists from around the globe and the weather warming up, now is the perfect time for a night out in the metropolis. Here is a list of cool bars in Tokyo we wholeheartedly recommend.

Photo courtesy of Gold Bar at Edition

1.
Gold Bar at Edition

Located next to the entrance of The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon, Gold Bar at Edition is like a throwback to the Golden Age of Cocktails, when people loved to mix drinks. It’s not just a bar but a high-class social spot. Of course, you have the classic cocktails, but Gold Bar at Edition also takes traditional flavors and elevates them to new heights with a modern twist and local Japanese tastes.

It has a gorgeous interior with black tones and extravagant gold decorations. Plus, there’s also comfortable sofas, so it’s a great place to either socialize or enjoy some private

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