Regarding the article "Tourism agency to act as policy 'control tower'?" (Oct. 11 issue), if Japan wants to attract more tourists, city officials can begin by putting their international tourist information offices in easily accessible public places and making information signs very clear.

To get English-language information at Kyoto Station, for example, visitors must travel in an overcrowded elevator to the ninth floor of a department store they may otherwise not wish to visit. Another gripe is the lack of clear information in key places. While visiting Himeji Castle this past summer, I discovered, after visiting the castle, that a combined ticket at a discounted price was available for visiting the nearby Japanese garden as well.

When I tried to buy a ferry ticket to Osaka from Miyazaki Port, the ticket office said I would have to make a booking by phone. Surely a ticket office is a place where people ought to be able to buy tickets. It almost seems as if ferry authorities don't want foreigners riding on ferries since it is more difficult to make a booking by phone in a language one doesn't know.

Let me say that, on the whole, I have found traveling in Japan to be a very pleasant experience and Japanese people unfailingly helpful, which more than makes up for particular irritations. An overall national strategy for improving tourist services, systems and staff professionalism through a national body that oversees checks of tourist-service providers seems sensible.

I was surprised to read the article "Rising oil prices spark renewed interest in coal" (Sept. 27 issue).

Though I think coal is an outdated fuel, it is being reconsidered and respected as an alternative source of energy. But thinking of the environment, coal will emit more carbon dioxide and cause air pollution. As a result, we will fear for global warming and health problems all over the world. What a vicious circle!

We should prefer green energy, harnessing natural powers such as solar, wind, snow and geothermal. It's time to change our policy from seeking economic growth and profits from energy sources because we have to hand down a more peaceful and comfortable world to the next generation.

A chart in the article "LDP candidates spar over economic policies" (Sept. 20 issue) was a great help for me to understand each candidate's policies.

I hope you have a similar chart to explain the differences between Sen. Barack Obama's policies and those of Sen. John McCain in the U.S. presidential election. Also, I would like to know which media support which candidate so that I can understand the political stance of the U.S. media.

I always enjoy your paper, though I have to admit I am not a good reader.

The article about Paul Newman (Oct. 4 issue) on the front page and other pages makes me realize how big he has been to English-speaking culture. His movies have been re-run on TV since his death. I am sort of surprised to see he hadn't changed much in his later days.

The Japan Times Weekly: Oct. 18, 2008
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