ASIA JAPAN DESTINATIONS


Diamond


Samurai sword training, Zen


meditation and stripping off at an onsen?


Flora Ioannou finds the ‘real’


Japan along the Diamond Route


@floraioan T


here’s a new gem in the heart of Japan. The Diamond


Route is a little-known tourist trail only 2.5 hours away from Tokyo made up of three of its northern neighbours – Ibaraki, Fukushima and Tochigi prefectures – which, if you join them together on a map, form the shape of a diamond. These regions have joined


forces to showcase their sparkling treasures of samurai castles, golden shrines and natural hot springs, so if it’s an experience your clients are after, look no further. They’ll have to be quick, though, as interest in this area is growing rapidly.


Operators have introduced


itineraries to Japan left, right and centre in response to its rising popularity, and even the relatively new Diamond Route can be tailor-made for different budgets by specialists such as InsideJapan Tours and Links Travel & Tours. It’s worth getting to know it


now, as interest in the country is only set to grow further in the run-up to major sports events including the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. To help you get to know this


new route, we’ve put together some of its jewels, so you can dazzle your clients.


in the rough


 IBARAKI PREFECTURE Ushiku Daibutsu: Situated in Ibaraki, this magnificent bronze Buddha can be seen for miles. It even made it into the Guinness Book of Records in 1993 as the tallest Buddhist statue in the world (it’s now fifth tallest statue, but still the tallest in Japan), so is deserving of a visit. Standing 393ft, it was built to commemorate the birth of Shinran, the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. Visitors come from far and


wide to enjoy the breathtaking views here – on a good day you can see Mount Fuji, or so I’m told – alongside the well-manicured grounds and a pond full of koi


13 December 2018travelweekly.co.uk53


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