“The UK market is recovering well, and we
now also have a limited but enthusiastic UK market for wintersports in Japan”
Japan bounces back
JAPANESE tourism authorities are keen to communicate the message that the country is fully recovered from the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 2011, and that the country is more accessible and affordable than ever. “I’m proud of the rapid recovery which
we have witnessed thanks to the government and our friends across the world,” said Norifumi Idee, commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency, part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. “The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has described it as an unprecedented recovery, and visitor figures show that inbound tourism is almost back to 2010 levels.” When discussing Japan’s international appeal, Idee explained, “We have a fusion of traditional culture dating back 2,000 years and famed modern technology, and four clearly defined seasons, perhaps more so than anywhere else in Asia.” He also cited the country’s rich cuisine, symbolised by the largest number of restaurants with Michelin stars in Tokyo than in any other city in the world. “As our campaign says, visit Japan for endless discovery,” he added.
www.jnto.go.jp
Okinawa goes global IN BRIEF THE Palace Hotel was Tokyo's most
hotly anticipated accommodation addition in 2012 after a £750million rebuild on the site of its predecessor by the Imperial Palace. Half of the luxury hotel’s 290 guestrooms have terraces or balconies – a USP in Tokyo – and its 10 bars and restaurants are between them expected to earn 10 Michelin stars. It is also home to Japan’s first Evian spa, a 20-metre pool, and is a member of Leading Hotels of the World.
www.palacehoteltokyo.com
HOSHINO Resorts opened two new
OKINAWA, Japan’s southernmost prefecture, comprised of hundreds of islands, is attempting to raise its profile as ‘tropical Japan’ with a series of 30-second adverts on BBC World News. In total, the TV commercials will be aired 658 times by the end of February. The islands have an average annual
temperature of 23C and are home to sandy beaches and clear, blue waters popular with sun-seekers, snorkellers
and scuba divers. April to October is the high season, though activities such as golf, spa breaks and soft adventure sports can be enjoyed year-round, and the popular whale-watching season runs from January to March. New DoubleTree by Hilton and Ritz
Carlton hotels opened on the islands last year and the Hilton Okinawa is due to open this autumn.
www.okinawastory.jp
properties last year, the Hoshinoya Okinawa and the Kai Hakone, close to Mount Fuji. The hotel group operates 28 hotels across three brands: the high-end Hoshinoya hotels, Kai hot springs hotels and the family-oriented Risonare brand.
www.hoshinoresort.com
JAPAN’S first Madame Tussauds museum opens in Tokyo this March. Located on Odaiba, adjacent to the Legoland Discovery Center, it will feature predominantly international celebrities as well as Japanese stars.
www.madametussauds.com
ARE YOU READY FOR JAPAN?
CALL JTB UK, THE JAPAN SPECIALIST 020 8237 1605 JTB UK Ltd. I
info@japanspecialist.co.uk I
www.japanspecialist.co.uk
From a Japan Rail Pass to an escorted tour of Japan, from the Studio Ghibli Museum to a traditional parade in Kyoto, JTB UK offers specialist travel to Japan.
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