Jessie J treats Tokyo to a slice of British eccentricity

Pop star Jessie J brought a piece of London glamour to the streets of Tokyo as she boarded a red London bus in the heart of downtown Tokyo to help British Airways bring a slice of eccentric British culture to the Japanese capital.

The star – famous for songs including Price Tag – surprised locals by appearing as part of British Airways’ London For Less campaign, which is highlighting the fantastic value foreign visitors can currently enjoy in England at the moment.

British Airways pilots and crew took over Tokyo’s streets to celebrate how international travellers into London can currently enjoy the city’s most famous attractions for up to 45% cheaper than usual following the appreciation of the Japanese Yen.

The airline – which operates 14 flights a week between Tokyo and London – flew Jessie in from Los Angeles in America to meet her Tokyo fans. The historic bus toured the city between 1pm-8pm offering free rides between Roppongi, Harajuku and Shibuya.

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Chart-topper Jessie, 28, brought a smile to the faces of those on board, helping to judge a bus karaoke competition for Tokyoites to win a trip to London.

“I grew up in London so I’m no stranger to riding double decker busses but it has been a lot of fun to ride around on one in Tokyo and meet my fans here. London has always been an unbelievable city to visit – and right now it’s even better value than ever,” Jessie said after the event.

As part of the event, members of the public were invited on board to meet Jessie J and take part in quizzes and karaoke contests to win prizes, including British Airways return flights to London in both its World Traveller and luxurious Club World cabins. Others picked up exclusive discount booking codes for ba.com.

And for those who couldn’t make it on board the London bus, British Airways also ran a Twitter competition to win a pair of World Traveller (economy) tickets to London. All locals had to do was simply share the London Bus service announcement on VisitBritain’s twitter account (https://twitter.com/visitbritain_jp) or comment using the #お手頃ロンドン(#Londonforless) hashtag to be in the draw.

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Jonty Brunner, British Airways’ Regional Commercial Manager for Japan and Korea, said the show had been a huge success. “It’s not every day the people of Tokyo see a London bus coming around the corner – let alone get to ride one or meet a superstar like Jessie J on board,” he said.

“Everybody seems to have enjoyed the experience and we look forward to welcoming them on board a British Airways flight to visit London in the near future. The exchange rate of the Japanese Yen is now so strong against the British Pound, it’s the perfect time to fit in some Christmas shopping.”

Jessie shared with her audience, her top tips for the festive season.

“London in December has such a vibe. Whether you want to wander around the famous Harrods in Knightsbridge or bring out your inner child at Hamleys toy shop on Regent Street (I used to work there) visit Hyde Park and drink mulled wine at winter wonderland. Taking a walk and discovering hidden gems to eat all over London. Go to pop up cinemas in Hackney or see the lights at Tower Bridge or ice skate at the Natural History Museum! It’s beautiful! Biggest tip for me in London is to look up. You discover beauty everywhere when you look up,” she said.

British Airways flies to its global hub, London Heathrow, from Tokyo 14 times a week where customers can experience British Airways’ state-of- the-art Terminal 5, which is exclusive to British Airways and Iberia customers and is capable of handling 30 million customers a year.

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british airways Jessie J london Londonforless tokyo