Discussing Recent Changes in Tokyo

In Shanghai, China, a bustling city, there is a saying that the city changes every year and transforms greatly in three years. Due to the pandemic, although it has been nearly three years since I returned to my homeland, we who are far away can still feel the tremendous changes. Tokyo, Japan, is a vibrant city for me. In recent years, from the Olympics to now, there have been some remarkable changes. Let's take a look at them from both lifestyle and facilities perspectives.

1. Now everyone wears masks when going out. If you forget to wear a mask one day, no matter where you go, you will be cast strange looks by people, and they will avoid you. Therefore, mask culture and mask socializing have become a new social phenomenon in Japan.

2. Many small and medium-sized hotels in Japan, due to the lack of foreign tourists' stays, are struggling to operate and eventually go bankrupt. According to relevant media reports, the number of hotels in Tokyo has decreased from 583 to 512. This number may not seem significant, but in previous years, it was on an upward trend. This alone is enough to illustrate the situation.

3. Tokyo Disneyland raised prices and then immediately announced a series of expansion plans. Openly cashing in, even the Japanese themselves were dumbfounded by such a move. So I bought an annual pass early before the price increase. Let me show you a screenshot to see what a real price increase means. Additionally, Disney is preparing to expand a new area. Currently, it is confirmed that Frozen and Beauty and the Beast will join. It should be fully opened to the public by the end of 2002. By then, Japan's inbound travel is expected to stabilize, and I'm sure many international Disney fans will visit.

4. The Kimpton brand under InterContinental Hotels Group has opened a new hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo. It's about an 8-minute walk from JR Yamanote Line Shinjuku Station. It has 151 guest rooms suitable for 2 to 3 people, and pets are allowed for free! Each room has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the view of Yoyogi Park. In spring, you can see cherry blossoms, and in autumn, you can see red leaves. It is one of the typical high-end iconic hotels from Europe and America! (Of course, not as exquisite as the Aman series.)

That's all for now. I'll talk about recent changes in Osaka another day.