News from Japan National Tourism Organization
June 2008
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JNTO Moves to New Offices & Welcomes New Director
From 23rd June JNTO London office will have relocated to our new address at 5th Floor, 12/13 Nicholas Lane, London, EC4N 7BN. Also from the same date Mr Tetsuya Okuda will end his term in London as Executive Director and will be replaced by Mr Koichiro Yoshida. more..

See the Eclipse of the Century in Japan
The longest eclipse of the 21st century will take place in 2009 and Japan is the top spot to see it from. Join the BBC Sky at Night Team and famous fantasy and science fiction writer Terry Pratchett on a cruise to experience this amazing once in a lifetime event. more..

See the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway
See the Japanese Grand Prix with Grandstand Motor Sports at Fuji Speedway on 12 October 2008. From 2008, the grand prix is held alternately at the Fuji Speedway and Suzuka circuits. So after this it will be another two years before racing fans get a chance to see the F1 racing at the stunning Fuji Speedway! more..

Mt. Fuji's Official Climbling Season Opens Soon
Many people do not realise that it's possible to climb Mt. Fuji for just a few weeks each year. H.I.S. Experience Japan has just launched a 2-day Mt. Fuji climbing package to enable more poeple to climb one of the world's most iconic mountains this summer. more..

Japan, Asia's No.1, leaps from twelfth to seventh in the 2007 ICCA rankings!
On May 20, 2008, ICCA (the International Congress & Convention Association) announced the country and city rankings from their survey of international meeting destinations for 2007 and Japan was ranked number one for Asia! more..

Watch Tokyo’s Fireworks for Free from Below or for £1,000 from the Sky
For many Japanese, summer means fireworks. Almost every weekend throughout Tokyo and the rest of Japan there are large fireworks displays. This year for the first time those who want to get really close to the action can watch the fireworks display from onboard the world's largest airship, the Zeppelin NT. more..

Tour Operator News
New 'Real World Adventure' in Japan from Virgin Holidays; Travel Collection launch their first Japan tour; Trek through World Heritage Yakushima island with Experience Japan; and New Small Group Tours of Japan for Irish Travellers. more..

Hotel News
Hyatt Regency Kyoto is offering two great packages to enable visitors to Kyoto to enjoy the summer heat how the locals do. The Yukata traditional summer kimono and Kawadoko river dining packages will enable guests to experience a Japanese-style stay in Kyoto this summer. Also read on to find out about the latest refurbishments in the Prince Hotels group and the new banquet and conference room at Hotel Okura Tokyo.

New Books on Japan
New books out this month include a new edition of Frommer's guide to Tokyo; Art Space Tokyo, the only source you need to find Tokyo's best galleries complete with tips on where to stop for a drink or meal between galleries; Tokyo Look Book, perfect for fashionistas wanting to go on a dazzling journey through the streets, clubs, and boutiques of this trendsetting city; and Exploring Kyoto: On Foot for those keen to see Japan's ancient capital at a leisurely pace. more..

News From JAL & Finnair
JAL has added Manchester to its European network and started code-share cooperation with its onworld parter Finnair on flights between Finland and Japan. more..

Festivals & Events in August & September
Late summer in Japan sees lots of big festivals featuring big things - the giant-tug-of-war in Okinawa with a 180-metre long rope; the Kanto festival in Akita with its 60kg lantern poles; the Nebuta festival in Aomori with it's huge illuminated floats; and a toad festival in Chiba. Other festivals include Yokohama's 3rd Triennale and the Summer Sonic Music Festival. more..

 

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Hotel News

Enjoy Summer in Kyoto the Japanese Way

Hyatt Regency Kyoto are offering two great packages to enable visitors to Kyoto to enjoy the summer heat how the locals do. The two wonderful seasonal packages of Yukata, a traditional summer kimono and Kawadoko river dining; packages will enable guests to experience a Japanese-style stay in Kyoto this summer.

The Yukata Package includes; one night’s stay in a guestroom, a Yukata set that you get to keep as a souvenir and a taxi service from the hotel to the dressing salon where you will be expertly dressed up in your Yukata. This summer offer runs from 1 June until 30 September 2008. Prices start from ¥30,800 / £148 / €188 for one person and ¥37,800 / £182 / €231 for two people.

The Kawadoko package offers a traditional dinner overlooking the river and accommodation in summer. Kawadoko is a tradition in Kyoto dating back to the Edo period, when wealthy merchants placed low tables on the riverside of the Kamo River to entertain their guests from afar. Kawadoko are literally platforms over the river on stilts that diners sit on while they enjoy their meal. It's a much more enviromentally friendly and natural form of airconditioning to keep diners cool in summer! Guests can relax in the summer resorts of Kibune or Takao, while listening to the sounds of Kyoto’s many small streams and enjoying the wonderful regional cuisine.
 
The Kawadoko Package includes the same contents as the above Yukata Package, plus
a Kawadoko cuisine at either Momijiya in Takao or Ugenta / Sagenta in Kibune. This special offer runs from 7 June until 22 September 2008. Prices start from ¥ 51,000 / £245 / €311 for one person and from ¥70,000 / £336 / €427 for two people.

From 1 June through to 10 September 2008, Hyatt Regency Kyoto are also offering a Summer Special package. When staying in Hyatt Regency Kyoto you can stay for 4 nights in the hotel and only pay for the first 3 nights. This offer is not valid for guests arriving on Wednesdays, the free night will be deducted when you check-out.

For further information on any of these special offers please contact Hyatt Regency Kyoto Reservations at reservations kyoto@hyatt.com or call + 81 75 541 3210 or visit the hotel's website.


Hotel Okura Tokyo Opens the New Akebono Room

Beneath the Great Ginkgo tree, the symbol of the Hotel Okura Tokyo, the new Akebono Room opened in May following the recent renovation of the Heian Banquet Room. Located on the 1st floor the new 503 metre sq. Akebono Room showcases colossal beams running across the six metre high ceiling and parquet wood flooring. Together with the adjacent Heian Room, the Akebono room offers a wide range of uses from weddings and banquets to conference and even concerts.

For more information please visit www.okura.com/tokyo/ or call Okura Tokyo on +81 (3) 3582 0111


New Renovations & Upgrades at Prince Hotels

Shinagawa Prince Hotel Re-Opens East Tower

After a complete renovation of all 1,015 guest rooms, the East Tower of the Shiagawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo has re-opened. High-speed internet access is now available in all rooms. Café 24 and the karaoke room have also been remodelled featuring new décor, with the restaurant offering a new healthy menu. The hotel itself is conveniently located across the street from JR Shinagawa station and offers a myriad of activities, including theatres, a bowling alley and aquarium.

Dining Options are Revitalized at Grand Prince Takanawa

The Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa is pleased to announce that upgrades to four of their nine restaurants are completed. The Patio-Café features casual dining with a healthy menu selection and open kitchen. Katsura Steak House has added additional tables in their Zen style decor for their Shabu-Shabu and Sukiyaki Corner. The popular Matsukaze continues to offer a wide range of Edo-mae style sushi. And the Wakatake, specializing in tempura, added additional window seating with tranquil views of the Japanese garden. The Japanese garden has also been expanded recently, transforming into an urban oasis in the centre of Tokyo.

For more information please visit www.princejapan.com