Travel Briefs

In 2016, the world’s oldest paddleboat still in operation, the 160-year-old Skibladner, operates on Norway’s largest lake, Møsja, from June 22 to Aug. 14.

On round-trip routes, it runs from the city of Gjøvik to the city of Eidsvoll on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday and from Gjøvik to Lillehammer on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. A restaurant on board offers breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The round-trip fares are NOK320 (near $39), Gjøvik to Eidsvoll, and  NOK280...

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Visitors to the Longmen Grottoes near the city of Luoyang in Henan Province, eastern-central China, now can enter Kanjing Temple, which opened to the public on March 10. 

Kanjing Temple, carved into a limestone cliff more than 1,000 years ago, contains 29 life-sized sculptures of Buddhist monks, now protected behind glass. Since 1953, the public has rarely been allowed into the temple for fear of damage to the artifacts.

The Longmen Grottoes, situated along the Yi River,...

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“Toilets: A Spotter’s Guide” (2016, 128 pp., $11.99) contains photos and colorful stories of more than 100 interesting lavatories around the world, from dusty outhouses to posh thrones. Published by Lonely Planet, the book is available at bookstores or online at http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/world/toilets-a-spotters-guide-1.

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In Tokyo, a tea ceremony room designed for foreign visitors, Ginza Chazen (5F Ginzaishikawa Bldg. 4-12-17 Ginza, Chuo Ward, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan), opened in October 2015. Over 45 minutes, visitors observe a tea ceremony and learn from a tea master how to grind green tea leaves. Open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Reserve by 6 p.m. a day ahead. ¥3,500 (near $28).

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In Macau, more than 30 artist and food booths plus live performances are featured at the @5 Outubro Street art fair, occurring on the second weekend in each month (except May and November) in 2016 at the Hong Kung Temple Square. Art and handicrafts made from materials like leather, ceramic and precious metals, some customized on the spot, are sold.

The Spirit of Scotland Travel­pass provides, within the allowed time period, unlimited travel on several railways as well as on routes in Scotland serviced by Scottish Citylink, Stagecoach and First Bus motorcoaches and Caledonian MacBrayne ferries. Pass holders also get discounts on selected tours and cruises and 20% off fares for ferries to the Orkney and Shetland islands.

A pass lasting eight days with four days of eligible travel costs £134 (near $192), and a 15-day pass...

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A shinkansen (bullet train) now links Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island, to Honshu, the main island, as of March 26. At an average speed of 160 mph, the Hokkaido Shinkansen travels 513 miles from Tokyo to just south of Hakodate (with an extension planned to Sapporo) in just over four hours, an hour faster than the standard train on the route. The train traverses the Seikan Tunnel beneath the Tsugaru Strait.

A one-way pass costs ¥22,690 (near $202), economy, or ¥...

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Visitors to the Saga Prefecture on the Japanese island of Kyushu can get 24-hour translation assistance, help in an emergency or simple travel advice with the “Doganshitato” smartphone app.

With the push of a button, the app will call the Multilingual Call Center, where an English-speaking operator can help the caller translate signs or speak to locals. The call center is also available on Skype. The app also offers advice on hotels, restaurants, onsen (hot springs) and...

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