"Knocking on the Heaven's Door" (by Wyclef Jean)

Last month in Chicago a cashier girl at Banana Republic told me she has been to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Hiroshima. Sounded like she'd travelled around Japan more than I had. On my way back home, I met an Americna lady visiting Iwakuni where I've never visited.

Looks like Heaven?

According to the World Economic Forum, Japan is their 23rd favorite travel destination. Some 8 million international visitors came to Japan last year. With its campaign effort since 2003, the number seems to increase more. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is launching a new tourism agency this October and targeting 20 million visitors in 2020 (a nice and easy figure to remember). The government wants to accept more international students for universities in Japan as well.

Yeah, all the policies are great. I cannot agree with 'em more. So, now just open the skygates!! Increase Narita's runway and expand Haneda's facility as soon as possible. Because strait is the gate. No doubt. Otherwise, we will only have visitors like "zen" buddhists and "otaku" (animation and manga geek) worshippers.

Strait is the Gate. And a long, long way to go

As long as international airport is concerned, it is not true that "for wide is the gate that leadeth unto destruction, and many there be that go in thereat: But strait is the gate that leadeth unto life". Yet, it is correct that "few there be that find" such airports unless the doors are half-closed. Must be hard to notice.