Results tagged “Japan” from Intelligent Travel Blog

In an innovative approach to conservation, Japanese carrier All Nippon Airlines is suggesting that its passengers make a pit stop before boarding their planes in order to reduce fuel consumption. The AFP reports:

ANA estimates that if half its passengers went to the bathroom before boarding, it could reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 4.2 tons a month, said company spokeswoman Megumi Tezuka.

Apparently, the pre-flight flush is just part of their new environmentally friendly efforts. The airline also plans to recycle paper cups and plastic bottles, use napkins created from the byproducts of green tea production, and offer chopsticks produced from wood from forest thinning projects. These new tactics will be tested on 38 domestic flights-including the six-and-a-half-hour route from Tokyo to Singapore, all this month.

Though we realize the airline isn't suggesting you avoid the loo altogether, we wondered what crossing your legs for an extended flight would be worth in the way of CO2 reduction. Thankfully, The Toronto Star actually went so far as to calculate the overall conservation in passenger "weight" saved by a trip to the bathroom before you board:

The average human bladder holds up to a litre of fluid, which weighs roughly one kilogram. All Nippon's most popular aircraft, a Boeing 777, holds 247 people. So, in theory, if 247 passengers all go to the washroom before boarding, they could lighten the plane by up to 247 kilograms--the weight of three average men.

What's your take? Is going before you go the new eco-savvy way to travel?

[All Nippon Airlines E-Flights Campaign]

Photo: Grist.org

So, opposable thumbs aside, we have more in common with the Japanese Snow Monkey than previously thought.

Perched high in the Japanese Alps, in the village of Jigokudani, is a tranquil retreat for anyone needing some well-deserved R&R. At the Korakukan Inn, visitors can ease into natural hot springs and let the curing waters do wonders - the benefits of which are no longer strictly limited to the human race.

The Korakukan hot springs, originally for the inn's paying guests, also have a regular following of local snow monkeys who often trek from the nearby Jigokudani Monkey Park for a delightful warm-water dip. They're seen here year-round grooming each other or carelessly sprawled out with their arms over the spring's edge. It's during the winter months that their spa rendezvous becomes a notorious habit.

[via Spot Cool Stuff Travel]

Mention Japan and you'll more often than not evoke glittering clusters of skyscrapers, exquisite plates of sushi, and a massive serving of pop music, electronics, and all things modern.

But in celebration of my grandfather's 80^th birthday, my entire extended family explored this country's beautiful landscape. The most civilized stops on this merry gathering included two short stays at the peaceful seaport harbor in Yokohama and the glitzier shrine-town-turned-industrial city of Nagoya.

Otherwise, the 23 members of my mom's side of the family crammed inside one tour bus and enjoyed the formidable mountains, clear waters, and fresh though humid air of Japan's countryside. The week-long affair took us from the lush base of Mt. Fuji in Shizouka to the winding Japan Alps trails in Nagano, from the farm-village architecture and folk crafts of Hida-Takayama to the restorative hot springs and foot baths of Gero-Onsen in Gifu.

Here's a selection of my experiences with what I consider the best sights from Honshu island, in ascending order -- with a post on favorite meals to come, of course.

Traveler and Photo District News are currently hosting our annual World in Focus Photo Contest, and this year we're letting readers preview the submissions and vote on their favorites. Each week, we'll feature ten entries on the Traveler website. Here's one of of the featured shots:

This photo was taken by Andrew Mirhej in Kyoto, Japan. For an inside look at Kyoto, check out our interactive Insider Map to Japan's former imperial capital. Submit your photos now and get the chance to win great prizes, gear, and trips.

Photo: Andrew Mirhej

As if you didn't think you were productive enough on any given day, some cities are getting commuters to do extra work, simply by going about their normal routine.

A train station in the Netherlands is using a revolving door to produce energy for one of its cafes. As people walk through it to get to the Natuurcafe La Porte, the train station expects they will produce some 4,600 kWh in the next year. While that's not a lot, it's enough to say that you're putting your caffeine-high to good use. Back in September the Dutch also opened Club Watt, a sustainable dance club that lets dancers power the club with their own two feet.

Israeli engineers have recently created a road that generates electricity as cars drive over it (as if you weren't feeling lazy enough in your car already). Inhabitat explains, "supercharged surface is embedded with piezoelectric crystals, which transform kinetic energy from passing vehicles into an electrical current. With widespread adoption, the technology could feed energy back into the nation's burgeoning electric vehicle grid, transforming congested roadways into a clean green source of energy."

Piezoelectric crystals have also made their way into Japan's subway system. JR East (East Japan Railway Company) is using these crystals in its floor to generate electricity. As commuters walk through the Tokyo Station, they will produce enough energy to power the display systems and ticket gates each day.

If you can't make it to the Netherlands, Japan, or Israel, don't worry, there are heaps of new energy-generating ideas popping up all over the world (like in the U.K., Sweden, and San Francisco, to name a few).

Have you seen one in action? Let us know! And remember to vote TODAY for us for Best Travel Blog!

Photo: Natuurcafe La Porte