This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
japan FEATURE 25


“Recent TV coverage has also helped, with two


Hairy Bikers programmes on the BBC in March and an ITV programme about Tom Daley backpacking in Japan in April. “With the Travel Channel broadcasting a Globe


Trekker episode about Japan soon, and Richard E. Grant touring Tokyoʼs best hotels on Hotel Secrets on Sky Atlantic in July, we are sure this exposure, combined with the new lower prices, will create interest and tempt people to book holidays in Japan.” Kylie Clark, Head of Marketing, Japan National Tourism Organisation, London


Where to book it  COLLETTE WORLDWIDE - 0800 804 8710


“Late March to mid-April is


peak season and places such as Kyoto are packed. Suggest May; it’s a beautiful time of year, dry and warm with gardens in full bloom. In the northern regions the cherry blossom arrives from early to mid-May”


JAMES MUNDY, MARKETING MANAGER, INSIDE JAPAN


there was a 17.1% increase in British visitors and tour operators are reporting good forward bookings. “The number of British skiers taking winter holidays is also booming, with fi gures for Niseko, Japanʼs most cosmopolitan ski resort, this past winter up 162% on winter 2012/2013. “In addition to the new route launches, the value


of the Japanese yen has dropped by 30% against sterling since 2012, making everything from Japan Rail Passes to beer signifi cantly cheaper for British travellers. Plus, fl ights to Japan are regularly on sale for under £600.


The 13-day Beauty of Japan tour of Japanese gardens, accompanied by Jon Webster of the Royal Horticultural Society, departs October 12 2014. Priced from £5,199pp, it includes fl ights from Heathrow with Emirates and many meals and excursions. rhsgardenholidays.com  TRAFALGAR - 0800 533 5616 The nine-day Splendours of Japan tour takes in Tokyo, Kanazawa, Takayama, Kyoto, and Hakone. Prices start from £2,950pp, land only, including eight nightsʼ B&B accommodation. trafalgar.com  JTB - 020 8237 1605 The Spiritual Journey tour includes four nights in Kyoto; two days exploring Mount Koya, a World Heritage site, and four days in Tokyo. It costs from £1,795pp, including fl ights on Finnair via Helsinki from Heathrow. Japanspecialist.co.uk  SILVERSEA - 0844 251 0837 A 14-day voyage aboard Silver Shadow, departing Tokyo on October 2 2015 and calling at Osaka and Hiroshima before sailing on to South Korea, China and Kong Kong is priced from £4,750 cruise-only in a Vista Suite. silversea.com


WHO FLIES THERE Direct: ana.co.uk; batraveltrade.com; jal.com; virgin-atlantic.com; Indirect: fi nnair.com; airfrance.co.uk; klm.com


RINGSIDE AMBITIONS REALISED AT THE SUMO BY KARL CUSHING “Iʼd harboured an ambition to watch some live sumo wrestling since the first time I saw it on TV as a kid and this only increased when I moved to Nakano Shimbashi, home to one of the major Tokyo sumo stables. So when a sports journalist friend said


sheʼd wangled us some ringside seats at Tokyoʼs Kokugikan stadium I almost bit her hand off! From the intricate ceremonial preliminaries to watching your fellow punters getting slowly stewed in the audience itʼs a truly immersive experience, while the bouts range from frantic slapping hand ring push outs to dramatic throw outs. If your client’s visit doesn’t coincide with one of the six annual two-week competitions suggest touring a stable, catching a practice session and sampling chanko-nabe, the calorific carb-loaded stew the wrestlers feast on daily. Specialists such as InsideJapan and JTB can advise on the options.”


JAPAN


From a Japan Rail Pass to an escorted tour of Japan, from the Tokyo Skytree to a traditional parade in Kyoto, JTB UK offers specialist travel to Japan.


JTB UK Ltd. I info@japanspecialist.co.uk I www.japanspecialist.co.uk Selling Longhaul_190x65_2014.indd 7 25/04/14 13:08


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76