On April 9, the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau held a press briefing on tourism in Alaska and Anchorage, the state’s largest city. Hawaiian Airlines, which is now part of the Alaska Airlines Group, was also in attendance and reported that it will begin direct flights from Narita to Seattle on May 13.
Ms. Takako Nambu of the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau Japan Office served as moderator and interpreter, and Mr. Wong Alex, Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau Japan/Asia Sales Manager, gave an overview of Anchorage.
Many readers may not be familiar with the city of Anchorage and the state of Alaska as a tourist destination. First of all, let me add the most basic information: Alaska is located north of Canada, close to the North Pole, but as a country, it is the United States. It is an enclave across Canada.
Looking at the west coast, north of Seattle is Canada, and from here to Ketchikan in southeast Alaska, the land route is not connected as the United States. However, once you enter Anchorage, the largest city by air, you are in the United States. If you want to enjoy the great nature including snowy mountains, it would be a waste not to go sightseeing, and the environment is very tourist-friendly.
Because of its proximity to the North Pole, the aurora borealis is one of the best parts of the trip. In recent years, including this year, solar activity has been at its peak, making it very easy for auroras to be seen. The solar activity cycle is 11 years. If you miss it now, you will have to wait almost 10 years, making this year an excellent time to view the aurora borealis.
The state of Alaska includes the southeast (with Juneau, the capital of Alaska), south-central (with Anchorage The state can be divided into five areas: southeast (up to the Kinai Peninsula and Matanuska Valley), southwest (Aleutian Islands and Kodiak Island), central (where Denali National Park and Fairbanks are located), and Arctic (north of the Arctic Circle border). Anchorage is located in the south-central area, where city and nature coexist. Of course, accommodations are very good.
The overwhelming majority of tourists visit in summer, while airfares and hotels are cheaper in fall and winter, making sightseeing more reasonably priced. The number of winter tourists is also gradually increasing. Summer is not suitable for aurora viewing due to the long daylight hours. The northern lights season starts in mid-August. If you want to enjoy snowy nature such as winter sports, winter is the best time to visit.
Next, Mr. Tomohiro Ito, General Manager of Japan Sales, Hawaiian Airlines, explained the company’s air route network to Anchorage. To begin with, one might ask, “Why go to Alaska when Hawaiian Airlines is flying to Anchorage? You may wonder why Alaska Airlines is flying to Alaska when Hawaiian Airlines is a subsidiary of Alaska in December 2024, and they are now part of the same group.
One airline, but will maintain their respective brands for the time being. It is the fifth largest airline in the United States, and its airline alliance is oneworld. Both airlines have a long history of more than 90 years in the region.
As the first step in expanding its international route network with Seattle as its hub, Hawaiian Airlines will begin nonstop service from Narita to Seattle as Hawaiian Airlines on May 13. One flight will be operated daily, and passengers will be able to arrive in Anchorage the same evening after connecting flights.
One suggestion is to fly via Hawaii (Honolulu). We hope you will keep this in mind as an option for your trip,” said Mr. Ito. Although the transit time is longer, if you stop over in Hawaii, you can enjoy a bit of sightseeing.
The Narita – Seattle flight will be operated by an Airbus 330 aircraft with 18 full-flat seats in Business Class, 68 seats in Extra Comfort with extra legroom, and 192 seats in Economy Class.
Business Class will have access to the Alaska Airlines lounge in Seattle and exclusive onboard amenities. Even Extra Comfort has exclusive amenities that differ from the usual, and the extra charge is reasonable. Since the flight between Narita and Seattle is long, it is a good idea to take advantage of this service.
In addition, Wi-Fi using Starlink for the line has been installed, and Internet access is available free of charge in all seats on board, including economy seats. Ito says, “I am not exaggerating; you can enjoy YouTube and other streaming services on board.
In addition, Tracy Zadora, Alaska Railroad Senior Passenger Sales Executive – Cruise, Travel Trade and Training, described the Alaska Railroad. The Alaska Railroad operates from the south between Seward – Anchorage – Talkeetna – Denali – Fairbanks. It is a sightseeing train that offers a great dining experience as well as magnificent natural scenery.
In addition, Steven Bugno, Greatland Adventure marketing manager for Northern Lights tours, introduced the tours. The Northern Lights tours will begin August 21 in Anchorage and August 28 in Fairbanks. Both will run through April 14. Both tours are within a three-hour drive, and if you don’t see the Northern Lights, your next tour will be free. They also offer tours of the Matanuska Glacier, where you can walk on the glacier.
Finally, Yoshiaki Ouchi, president of America Pacific Tours (A&P), which is responsible for securing local transportation and connecting tour companies with Japanese travelers, explained the appeal of Alaska travel. The company is headquartered in Anchorage and has a branch office in Tokyo to coordinate local tours. The company is a strong ally in arranging group tours for Japanese travelers.
Finally, let me show you some photos of the Northern Lights that were being shown at the event. This is the kind of aurora you should be able to experience.
© Source travel watch
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