One of the closest mainland U.S. cities from Japan, Seattle. Just nine and a half hours from Tokyo. Blessed with beautiful nature and tourist spots, it is the most vibrant city in the Northwest of America, attracting many Japanese visitors.
Known for the birth of global brands such as Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks, and Costco, it is also home to many sports teams, including the Seattle Mariners, where Ichiro played for a long time.
Seattle is highly rated as a “tourist destination where you can enjoy like living.” According to the “Foot Traffic Ahead” report by Condé Nast Traveler and Smart Growth America, it ranks among the top 5 most walkable cities in the U.S. Besides Downtown, which is full of hotels, shops, and restaurants, and Seattle Center, where museums and galleries gather, there are plenty of spots around Seattle and its neighboring areas that are ideal for day trips or weekend getaways.
Must-visit Tourist Spots in Seattle
Located on the waterfront on the west side of Downtown, Pike Place Market, known as the oldest market in the U.S. with over 100 years of history, offers its famous “clam chowder”. The fish market is particularly famous for its fish-tossing performances. With over 500 shops and restaurants, joining a food tour is recommended. The first Starbucks store is a must-visit tourist spot. From the open space “MarketFront”, you can enjoy views of Elliott Bay and Mount Rainier.
The “Space Needle“, a symbol of Seattle, is a 184-meter tall observation deck built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. You can view the Seattle skyline, the Olympic Mountains, and Mount Rainier. The top floor’s The Loupe Lounge with its 360-degree rotating glass floor offers various cocktails and dishes.
The museum “Chihuly Garden and Glass“, featuring the glass sculptures of Seattle-born Dale Chihuly, America’s first Living National Treasure, showcases Chihuly’s personal collection on an area of 1,836 square meters. Beyond the 36 works of art, visitors can enjoy meals and drinks at the café bar.
For Seattle tourism, the “CityPASS” is recommended. Including admission to the “Space Needle” and “Seattle Aquarium”, the “CityPASS” (Adult $127, Child $97) is essential for sightseeing in Seattle. Additionally, there’s the “C3” (Adult $97, Child $76), which allows one-time admission to three attractions of your choice. Both can be selected and reserved via the app.
Not Just Urban! Enjoy Seattle’s Nature!
Surrounded by water and greenery, Seattle, also known as the “Emerald City”, is characterized by its rich nature. An impressive 28% of the city is covered by trees.
The “Waterfront Park“, expected to be completed this year, serves as the home port for Seattle-bound cruises and is lined with restaurants where fresh seafood is served. It plans to connect parks along Elliott Bay with greenways, becoming a public space spanning nearly 6 kilometers and approximately 20 hectares.
Ichiro Hall of Fame Event Also Scheduled!
In August, an event celebrating the induction of Ichiro into the Baseball Hall of Fame will be held at T-Mobile Park.
During the White Sox games from the 5th to the 7th, the first 10,000 attendees will receive a Hall of Fame Funko POP. On the 8th, the Rays game will see 20,000 replicas of Ichiro’s 2004 jersey distributed. On the 9th, a pre-game celebration and jersey retirement ceremony will be held for the Rays game, and on the 10th, 20,000 Cooperstown plaque replicas will be given away during the Rays game as part of Hall of Fame Plaque Day.
Not Just Tourist Spots and Sports! The Culinary Charm of Seattle
Seattle has been rated by TripAdvisor as one of the best foodie destinations in America. Beyond fresh fish and crab, dishes utilizing Washington state’s rich agricultural products can also be enjoyed.
In addition to Starbucks, attention should be paid to a variety of coffee cultures, including cafés focusing on individual ownership and private roasting, and local chains. Enjoy the spacious atmosphere with fresh pastries.
Local craft beer and wine are also unmissable attractions. There are over 70 beer breweries and dozens of urban wineries, including 10 craft breweries in the Ballard and Fremont areas. The SODO Urban Works complex in the SoDo area offers local craft beer and wine.
Hawaiian Airlines Starts Direct Flights to Seattle!
You can fly directly to Seattle daily from Narita Airport starting May 13, on Hawaiian Airlines.
The A330 aircraft includes 18 lie-flat Business Class seats, 68 Extra Comfort seats with about 13 cm more legroom than Economy Class, and 192 Economy Class seats.
Business Class offers a “2-2-2” layout with comfortable lie-flat seats. Meals include Western and Japanese cuisine. Relax at JAL Sakura Lounge in Narita and Alaska Airlines Lounge in Seattle before boarding.
The Extra Comfort seats have about 13 cm more legroom than Economy, with both AC and USB power outlets. Smooth boarding with priority privileges and dedicated amenity kits are also available. The 11th and 12th rows, right behind Business Class, are popular for their private feel.
Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi via Starlink is available, enabling stress-free streaming, online gaming, and SNS posts at home-like speeds. Japanese-speaking flight attendants are always on board, and in-flight entertainment is available in Japanese.
From Seattle, seamless connections to over 100 cities are available on Alaska Airlines’ network. Boarding passes for connecting flights can be issued at departure.
A limited-time special fare campaign is in progress for purchases made from April 10 to 30, for departures from Japan from May 13 to 22. One-way fares start at 55,500 yen. For fare searches and reservations, visit the Hawaiian Airlines website.
For summer vacations, visit the nearest mainland U.S. city from Japan, Seattle. (PR: Seattle Tourism, Hawaiian Airlines)
Notice
This article was generated using automatic translation by GPT-4 API. The translation may not be accurate.
