Welcome to the Autumn 2014 issue of Japan Travel News, dedicated to bringing you the latest on destination Japan.
Spring is a great time to be outdoors and it's the season of cherry blossoms (or 'sakura') in Japan. Here you can find some great ideas on how to view the cherry blossoms with a twist. In this issue we will be introducing some of Japan's best known gardens.
Japanese gardens offer visitors a space for contemplation, recreation and for simply just being. Garden design has been refined for thousands of years and is a form of Japanese art. The classical Japanese garden is an artificial garden that reproduces natural scenic beauty in a heightened intensity. Japan has many and a variety of gardens, but here you can find a list of Japan's garden gems.
Tourism Briefs
 Record number of tourists visit Japan in 2013: 2013 was a record year for Japan in many ways, with Mt. Fuji and Japanese cuisine respectively being added to the UNESCO World Heritage and the Intangible Cultural Heritage lists; the IOC announcing Tokyo as the host for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and in Australia the year was set as the Australia-Japan Tourism Exchange Year, promoting bilateral exchange in the tourism industries of both countries. In December 2013, Japan also reached a milestone welcoming it's 10th million overseas visitor with a special ceremony at Narita International Airport. 244,600 Australians visited Japan throughout the year, a record high, surpassing its previous high of 242,031 visitors in 2008.
2014 Cherry Blossom Forecast: Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has released the 2014 Cherry Blossom Forecast - an interactive map showing the date of expected first bloom of the cherry blossoms in major tourist cities around Japan. Clicking on each city will also show trends over the past 10 years. Cherry blossoms bloom for only a very short period and their blooming time (dates) is very weather dependent.
 Japanese Cuisine added to UNESCO's list: Traditional Japanese cuisine 'Washoku' was added to the UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list late in 2013, along with a few other culinary cultures. This is only the second national cuisine to receive the prized designation after French cooking, which was already listed in 2010 This is the 22nd asset to be listed for Japan. Here you can find more information about what types of food you can enjoy on your trip to Japan.
N'EX Tokyo Direct Ticket for foreign visitors: Save approximately 50% when riding the Narita Express (N'EX) from Narita Airport to Central Tokyo. This one-way discount ticket can be used for Ordinary Car reserved seats on the Narita Express (N'EX) Train from Narita Airport Terminal 1 and 2 to the designated Tokyo area. It cannot be used for the opposite direction. The ticket has been on sale since early January 2014 and is valid for one day. It can be purchased at JR East Travel Service Centres and at the station at Narita Airport Terminal 1 and 2. The price is 1,500 yen (adults) and 750 yen (child=ages 6-11). The usual price of the ticket is 2,940 yen to Tokyo station, so this is a great offer. The ticket is available only to non-Japanese passport holders. More information can be found on the JR East website.
Kyoto is breathtaking in any season, but if you happen to be there between March 15~23, make sure you see the annual light-up festival in Higashiyama, known as Hanatouro. Every night during this period between 6pm and 9:30 pm, certain areas of the city will be illuminated.
Win a small gift from Nanto City: Five lucky winners will receive a special gift (Japanese paper fan) from Nanto City. Simply fill out this survey by February 20th for a chance to win. Nanto is a city located in the mountainous area in the south west of Toyama Prefecture, facing the Sea of Japan. The Gassho-Zukuri house village of Gokayama area, a designated World Heritage Site is one of the popular attractions, as is the natural beauty and the traditional townscape still remaining there. Visitors can try wood carving and Japanese paper making too.
Hakone Sweets Collection: The Spring 2014 Hakone Sweets Collection is held from February 1 until April 6. 36 popular venues in and around Hakone will offer a selection of highly original sweets for a limited time. The theme of this event is "Heart ♡ Sweets", capturing the very essence of hospitality. If you happen to be in the area, make sure you take a break from sightseeing and enjoy something sweet.
Adventures & Tours
Here you can find some great tours to Japan:
 World Expeditions - Japan Sale
Rising Sun - Falling Prices! World Expeditions is one of the most experienced adventure travel operators in Japan, offering their first holiday to Japan in 1999. Ascend Mt. Fuji, walk along Japan's oldest forest trails through rice paddies and bamboo groves, cycle the Izu Peninsula coastline, visit ancient tombs, experience legendary hospitality and the subtlety of Japanese culture, visit World Heritage shrines and temples, soak in natural hot springs, sample fresh local foods, learn about Japanese literature, religion and architecture and so much more! Book before 15 March 2014 and save 10% per person on these incredible Japanese adventures. Backroads of Japan; Japan Northern Explorer; Mount Fuji Climb; Flavours of Japan; Snow Monkeys; Japan Active Adventure; Cycle Kyoto and Kii Hanto Pilgrim Hike. View conditions and Book Now: http://goo.gl/oy880e
 Japan Holidays' Wildflowers, Walks & Wonders Tour: Be dazzled by the sprawling metropolis of Tokyo, bask in the magnificent scenery of the Japan Alps, discover hidden World Heritage Listed thatched-roof villages and walk in the footsteps of samurai on this 16-night fully escorted tour of Japan visiting Tokyo, Matsumoto, Yudanaka Onsen, Shirakawago, Gokayama, Kanazawa and Kyoto. Tour dates: 7th June - 23rd June. View the itinerary here. For bookings or enquiries contact Japan Holidays or phone 07 3300 2396.
|
|
|
