JAPAN
diverse and mouth-watering, ranging from popular sushi conveyor restaurants (with dishes from around 80p) to ramen, yakitori, tempura and teriyaki dishes, and a whole host more rice and noodle options.
What’s new Hotels: 2012 saw two major hotel
openings in Tokyo. The Palace Hotel opened in May after a £750-million rebuild on the site of its predecessor, by the Imperial Palace. It has 290 guestrooms – half of which have balconies – plus Japan’s fi rst Evian spa and 10 bars and restaurants. The Tokyo Station Hotel reopened in October after a six-year renovation of the historic brick building. It has 150 guestrooms and French, Japanese and Chinese restaurants. The capital city’s Four Seasons
Hotel started the year with a name change and new look and is now called the Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo. The Hilton Tokyo is in the process of
renovating 630 guest rooms and suites, adding new bathrooms with deep soaking baths and rain showers. The KAI Hakone ryokan and hot spring inn is now open in Hakone. Operators: JTB is offering a
special escorted group tour ‘Beauty of Japan in Autumn Colours’, starting in Tokyo on November 24. The 10-day tour visits Tokyo, Hakone National Park, Matsumoto, Shiga and Kyoto. It is priced from £3,015pp. Via Japan Holidays launched fi xed departure assisted tours this year,
with its spring Golden Route itinerary proving popular, and – several more departures will be added this year. Attractions: The Tokyo Sky Tree
opened a year ago, becoming the tallest free-standing tower in the world. It has an observation deck, plus dining and shopping outlets. Tokyo Great Cycling Tours has introduced running and kayaking tours of Tokyo. A luxury train journey is due to launch in Kyushu by the year’s end. The Seven Stars ‘cruise train’ will operate one and three-night tours of the island exploring its natural beauty, hot springs and historic sites.
Tourism talk “We are optimistic that 2013 will be a very good year for UK tourism to Japan. It has
already become signifi cantly cheaper thanks to the devaluation of the yen. Many people were put off visiting due to the 2011 earthquake, but we hope that the realisation that Japan is now cheaper than it has been in years will motivate people to book. Exciting developments like KLM launching Europe’s fi rst route to Kyushu island in Japan on April 3, and Hugh Jackman’s latest Wolverine fi lm (released July) are expected to increase interest in Japan.” Kylie Clark, Head of PR & Marketing, JNTO London
Where to book it JTB UK - 020 8237 1605
Offers a seven-day Golden Route
“One thing we highly recommend is at least one stay in a traditional Japanese guesthouse – a ryokan – of which there are plenty to suit all
budgets” JAMES MUNDY, INSIDE JAPAN
itinerary visiting Tokyo, Mount Fuji and former capital Kyoto, priced from £1,556pp with international fl ights.
japanspecialist.co.uk INSIDE JAPAN – 0117 370 9751 Its most popular small group tour is the 13-night Japan Unmasked itinerary from £1,750pp excluding international fl ights. It visits Tokyo, Nagano, Matsumoto, Takayama, Kanazawa, Hiroshima, Kurashiki, Kyoto and Yokohama. The 13-night Spring Elegance tour (from £2,650pp excluding fl ights) is the popular itinerary for cherry blossom seeekers.
insidejapantours.com VIA JAPAN HOLIDAYS – 020 7484 3328
Best-selling self-guided itineraries include Japan Highlights (10 nights from £1,501pp), History and Nature (10 nights from £1,603pp), and Memory and Modernity (10 nights from £1,666pp). Prices include fl ights, accommodation, seven-day JR Pass, transfers and some meals.
viajapan.co.uk
From top: Messages of hope; Tokyo in bloom; Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion; Sanjusangen-do temple, Kyoto.
4 May 2013
www.sellinglonghaul.com
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