Japan working on the world's fastest train

Japanese engineers are working on would be the world’s fastest train.

Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) is testing the L0 Series, a Japanese Maglev train, Euronews reports.

It says there is the potential for speeds of up to 603kmh, way ahead of the current record breaker: China’s Shanghai Maglev at 465kmh.

The new service would be on the Tokyo to Nagoya route, a route currently served by Shinkansen bullet trains but the L0 Series trains would half the current travel time.

The L0 Series Chuo-Shinkansen line is currently under construction to enable these speeds. It may also be extended to serve Osaka in the future.

The maglev technology uses magnetic levitation that lifts the train above the tracks, enabling much higher speeds.

The bad news: the project is still about eight years away from completion.

Usually, a train from Tokyo to Nagoya can take anywhere between one hour and 26 minutes to two and a half hours or more, depending on whether travellers take the faster bullet train (Shinkansen) services, or the slower Kodama or Hikari ones.

The L0 Series’ Chuo-Shinkansen is expected to cut this travel time down to only 40 minutes.

Once deemed commercially operational, the L0 Series train will be able to travel from Tokyo to Osaka in one hour, a journey which currently takes anywhere from 2hr 30 mins to four hours.

Get to the bottom of your sleep disorders in luxury surroundings

Have you ever felt strangely sluggish over a prolonged period of time?

Are you constantly nodding off for a second, or falling asleep at inappropriate moments?

A lot of people with sleep disorders (I used to be one of them) are unaware of their issues - as well as possible solutions to them.

The Australian Institute of Health says getting too much, or too little, sleep is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, obesity, and death.

And nearly half of Australian adults have reported at least two sleep problems.

Chiva-Som, a pioneering international health and wellness resort since 1995, has recently introduced its Sleep Enhancement Specialisation, which includes two advanced sleep tests.

Guests at the resort in Hua Hin, Thailand, can sign up for a sleep hormone test that looks specifically at the melatonin and cortisol hormone levels at four key points throughout the day to assess any potential imbalances that may be affect sleep, or for sleep apnea screening, which takes place in the comfort of the guest’s room and focuses on several physiological parameters during sleep, including airflow, oxygen saturation, heart rate and brain activity.

After I underwent sleep apnea screening here in Australia, it was discovered that I needed to be on a CPAP machine every night to resolve my loud snoring and multiple sleep issues.

The tests are intended to provide comprehensive evaluations of sleep patterns to identify any disorders.

From the results, a personalised program can be developed including nutrition consultations and supportive wellness treatments to improve sleep quality.

Chiva-Som has a variety of in-room sleep support measures such as blackout curtains, chamomile and lavender teas, essential oils and mist diffusers to help create a soothing environment.

Supportive wellness treatments to help with sleep include Seiketsu Shiraku Acupuncture, Mien Acupressure, Soothing Back Brush, Signature Herbal Massage and Jet Lag Therapy.

There is a video here: https://www.instagram.com/chivasomhuahin/reel/C9ADfiWRVmV/

A big Korea move for travellers

As of today, travellers to South Korea will no longer have to take a Covid-19 test prior to boarding their flight.

A post-arrival test is, however, still required, national news agency Yonhap reported.

The test will be applicable to all Koreans and foreign nationals regardless of vaccination status.

Once they have arrived, all travellers must take a PCR test within one day of landing at the airport.

Peck Kyong-ran, commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said the pre-arrival Covid-19 test requirement could be reinstated if the Covid situation deteriorates.

Over the past week South Korea has recorded a reduced number of around 90,000 cases on average a day, Travel Mole reported. Cases peaked at 180,000 a day in mid-August

South Korea is among the Asian region’s last economies to hold onto strict border controls, though China, which has an ultra-strict “zero Covid” strategy, Japan and Taiwan continue to impose extensive barriers.

Other Asian countries including Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia have lifted testing requirements in recent months as the region welcomes back travel after relying heavily on border restrictions earlier in the pandemic.

South Korea lifted quarantine requirements for vaccinated tourists in April and dropped quarantine for all arrivals regardless of vaccination status in July.

Tourists have been slow to return, however, with passenger traffic at main gateway Incheon Airport in July reaching less than one-quarter of pre-pandemic levels.

Japan makes entry easier for vaccinated tourists

Japan, which has been among the most cautious countries in opening up after Covid, is lifting pre-entry Covid-19 testing for fully vaccinated travellers with at least one booster shot.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that the change will be effective from September 7, Travel Mole reported.

“We plan to gradually ease border controls to allow entry procedures to be as smooth as those of other countries,” Kishida said.

“We will speed up our efforts while balancing infection measures and social and economic activities.”

Japan is one of the last major countries to drop pre-travel testing, although neighbours China and South Korea still require it.

The isolation period for people who test positive will also be reduced but Japan will continue to insist on a cap of 20,000 inbound daily visitors. Tourists are currently only allowed as part of a tour group.  

Inbound tourism so far has been sluggish with just 387,000 visitors this year, the Japan National Tourism Organisation reported.

Before the pandemic, Japan had around 32 million foreign visitors in 2019 but the number plunged to around 246,000 in 2021.