TRAVEL Air France has joined a list of international airlines being investigated by the European Commission over suspected price-fixing of flights to Japan, a statement from the company confirmed. [THE STAR]

TRAVEL Singapore Airlines said Wednesday it will begin flying the Airbus A380, the world’s biggest passenger jet, to Tokyo on May 20, becoming the first airline to operate A380 flights to Japan. [KYODO]

TRAVEL The downtown area of Shinjuku in Tokyo was the most popular destination among foreign tourists who visited Japan in 2006-2007, retaining the top spot for the third straight year, an industry group said in a report Wednesday. [KYODO]

TRAVEL Japan Air Lines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) confirmed Tuesday they will raise the fares for international flights from Aprilto offset soaring fuel costs. (2)

TRAVEL All Nippon Airways will introduce daily round-trip charter flights between Haneda Airport and Hong Kong from April 1. [YOMIURI]

TRAVEL Tokyo is by far the most important of the Asian metropolises and the fourth most important city in the world, according to a survey presented Friday in the British newspaper Independent’s Traveller supplement.

TRAVEL While low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and Southwest Airlines have since long been successfully operating throughout the U.S., Europe, and southern Asia, Japan has seen very little of the low-price action. This seems about to change as ANA and several foreign airlines prepare to enter the market. (2)

TRAVEL The Ministry of Environment revealed on Saturday that it will officially announce the Oze area is to become its own independent national park in the governmental bulletin Kanpo on August 30.

TRAVEL Summer heat getting you down? Don’t sweat it. Whether the weather is friend or foe, there are plenty of ways to add some variety to the coming months. [JAPAN TIMES]

TRAVEL Tired of the burning hot Japanese summer? Had enough of the rocky, small and crowded Japanese beaches? Why not spend the summer at the world’s largest indoor water park, where the temperature is always just right and the sun always shining? (2)