Japan Tourism To Experience A Boost

Japan lovers, here is some good news for you: the government is planning on focusing more attention on its tourism sector! It is no secret that Japan has not been exempt from the economic crisis that has been affecting even the richest countries in the world. As such, the government has decided that they will step up their efforts to boost their economy, and their plans give a major role to tourism.

This is really a no brainer as we all know that Japan is a major tourist destination for many people. Aside from the ever popular Japanese food (sushi!), the country has so much to offer in terms of culture and art. More so, Japan is quite modern, assuring visitors of the utmost comfort and convenience during their visit. It is a matter of fact thing to find an excellent Japan restaurant or a Japan hotel around the corner, especially in the major cities.

Part of the plan to boost the country’s tourism sector is the creation of the Japan Tourism Agency, which was established in October of last year. Headed by Yoshiaki Hompo, this agency is tasked with organizing the different sectors to contribute to the development of the tourism sector. While they are quick to acknowledge that the going won’t be as easy as one would like it to be, they are quite optimistic about their efforts.

For travelers, this means one thing: you are going to be in for a lot of wonderful experiences, great deals, and perhaps the best vacation of your life.

Japan’s Obama

The whole world was very much tuned in to the most recent US elections and Japan was no exception. One city in Japan has been most specially attentive and no wonder because this city’s name is OBAMA. Yes, just like the current US President Barack Obama’s name. Note though that the city of Obama long long before Barack Obama was even in diapers.

The city of Obama, which means “little beach” in Japanese, in fact used to depend mostly on fishing for its main source of income. Now it has a thriving tourist industry thanks to world class products like the Wakasa lacquer ware, agate accessories, Wakasa paper, tiles, and their famous lacquered chopsticks. There are also plenty of sights to see with the city boasting more than 130 temples and Buddha statues that were made in the Heian and Kamakura eras.

We of course can not disregard the influence of the Obama name in drawing attention to this city, which gave their all out support for President Obama. This is town in fact is so enthusiastic about how things have turned for their favourite US president that the mayor has declared November 4 to be an annual holiday and even plans on putting up Obama’s statue in front of the city hall. Now, how’s that for being a huge fan?

The Kyoto Winter Special Is Back!

For those of you who experienced the Kyoto Winter Special last year, you can do so again this year. After a successful run, the organizers have decided to have a go at it once again but this time, they are offering more and better deals for their visitors. For those who are not aware, the Kyoto Winter Special is akin to a festival – 3 months’ worth of cultural activities. This year’s Winter Special runs from 1 December 2008 to 31 March 2009. Easier.com has this feature:

In addition, special admission will be granted to normally restricted heritage sites, and there will be unique winter events and chances to receive special offers from world-famous hotels. With Kyoto Winter Special, the breathtaking beauty of winter in Kyoto awaits you!

Special Events Kyoto’s cherry blossoms and fall leaves are a sight to see, but Kyoto’s magical winter is something special. There will be various events showcasing winter.

Information on events from December to March are listed by month on the Kyoto Winter Special website. The main event during the Kyoto Winter Special is called “Hanatoro”. This event beautifies Kyoto’s nights, with elegant lanterns lighting up Kyoto’s famous spots. Adding a winter event into a visit to Kyoto is a great way to make your trip that extra bit memorable.

Ask anyone who has been to Kyoto and other Japanese cities and they will probably tell you the same thing – there is nothing like Kyoto if you really want to get a hands on experience of what the Japanese culture is like.

Experience Japan With Your Senses

What do you do when you visit a foreign country? Do you merely drink in the sights and sounds or do you prefer to be a hands on traveler? I would like to categorize myself under the latter group. Seeing and hearing is most definitely part of any travel experience of mine but actually tasting, touching, and living the local culture raises the experience to a whole new level.

Japan is definitely on the top of the list of worldwide tourist destinations and what better place to experience its culture than Kyoto? This city is arguably the best place to experience the “real” Japan. Jane Singer actually wrote a very inspiring article about this. She shares:

For these travelers, visiting Kyoto, the 1,200-year-old cultural heart of Japan, without experiencing the culture is too much of a virtual experience. Why restrict yourself to the sights alone when you can feel the smooth embrace of silk kimono, taste the bitter froth after whisking up a cup of powdered green tea, or hear the reverberation when you pound on a taiko drum?

For these experiential travelers, Kyoto offers a growing menu of taiken hands-on tours in English, and I recently sampled a few. The first was at Shunkoin temple, one of 48 sub-temples in the sprawling Myoshinji Buddhist temple complex in western Kyoto, where the affable young English-speaking vice abbot, Takafumi Kawakami, leads a tour of the temple and gardens and two 15-minute sessions of Rinzai Zen meditation.

The next time you plan on going to this part of the world, you should try what she tried. Even if it is not your first visit, you just might return home with something new.

Ise Jingu

strong>Izumo Taishi may be one of the most frequented and popular Shinto shrines in Japan, but so is Ise Jingu. The official name of this Shinto shrine is actually Jingu (translated into The Shrine). However, many tourists refer to it as Ise Jingu, perhaps due to the fact that it is located in the city of Ise, which is in the Mie prefecture, about 2 hours from Nagoya.

So why is Ise Jingu worthy of a visit? This shrine is arguably the most significant of all the Shinto shrines in Japan. It is considered the most sacred shrine in the country. It is important to note, however, that Ise Jingu is actually a large complex composed of countless other shrines. It has two major shrines, the Naiku (or Inner Shrine) and Geku (or Outer Shrine).

Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supposed ancestor of the Japanese Imperial family, is housed in the Inner Shrine. This is precisely why the Emperor of Japan ceremoniously pays a visit to this shrine on special occasions, such as when he ascends to office. Just how old is this shrine? Just about 2000 years old. The Outer Shrine, on the other hand, houses Toyouke no Omikami, the goddess of harvest. It is newer than the Inner Shrine and is normally visited first.

Ise Jingu is a large complex and in between these two major shrines, you can visit hundreds of other shrines. That is why it is highly suggested that you allot time for a visit to this special place.

More Potential World Heritage Sites For Japan

To have a place designated as a World Heritage Site is not a minor thing. And before a place can have that honor, a lot of steps have to be followed. It is common knowledge that Japan already has a lot of locations which are considered as World Heritage Sites but as a testament to the richness of their culture, the government has proposed another 5 sites.

MCOT has this report:

The Japanese government has picked five more places as candidates for cultural heritage sites to be registered on the World Heritage list by UNESCO, bringing the number of such candidates to 13, the Cultural Affairs Agency said Friday.

The five candidates were picked out of the 32 places recommended by local governments across the country, agency officials said.

Can you imagine that? Thirty two more sites! It is no wonder that Japan is such a popular tourist destination.

Visit The Asahiyama Zoo

Japan has so many things to offer her visitors and for those who are animal lovers, there is also something for you. The Asahiyama Zoo is located in Asahikawa in Hokkaido, Japan. It is also the most popular zoo in all of the country. So why are people flocking to this zoo?

The animals of course! And the zoo has taken things one step further. According to Japan Now:

In the past, Japanese zoos focused on displaying only the animal’s figure. But Asahiyama Zoo started to design its facilities so that the animal’s habits and behavior can be seen as well.

Though this concept is not all that new – there are many zoos in other countries with a similar set up. In Japan, however, the Asahiyama Zoo has done it best. I was browsing their web site and I just couldn’t help but feel a thrill of excitement as I saw the pictures and descriptions. Here is my favorite.

I want to see how a polar bear swims!

For Expecting Mothers Only

As if carrying a child inside one’s self is not hard enough already, pregnant women can actually encounter difficulties when availing of other services – well, at least in Japan. Come to think of it, though, not all establishments are equipped with pregnant women-friendly services. That is why Ryoko Tsukuda thought of creating the “Maternity Plan,” which is a program geared towards making life comfortable for those who are with child.

Her brainchild is the product of a personal experience. When she was pregnant, she tried to make reservations at a hot spring resort for herself and her mother. However, when the management found out that she was pregnant, she was informed that she could not use the common bath. As she was working for Kinki Nippon Tourist Co, she thought of coming up with a travel plan for mothers-to-be like herself. Her company bought the idea easily and launched the program February of last year.

What Ryoko Tsukuda did was to visit inns, hotels, and other establishments that have facilities that are suitable for pregnant women. To date, the travel plan is experiencing continued success.

There are also other establishments like Hiromaru Taxi Co which cater to pregnant women. In April of this year, they launched a program called Jintsu 119. The idea is to have women register their home address and hospital in advance. When the time comes to give birth, a taxi will be sent immediately to take the woman to the hospital.

Interesting concepts, don’t you think?

Photo courtesy of Robert Whitlock

Hakone Kowakien Yunessun Spa

Do you love wine and other similar drinks that contain alcohol? Do you like relaxing in the great outdoors? Do you like hot springs? Do you like being pampered? If you answered yes to these questions, then I suggest trying out the Hakone Kowakien Yunessun Spa . This place is one of a kind. Located at the foot of Mt. Fuji, the spa offers a wonderful experience to suit all sorts of tastes.

They have over 25 water attractions which will definitely give visitors what they want. The main attraction is called The God’s Aegean Sea and it is “composed of three islands with relaxing spa waters. The God’s Aegean Sea also includes a variety of water massaging devices. Also, experience the wonder and drama of dynamic special effects by a fully illuminated water screen high above on the ceiling.”

What appeals more to me, though, is the Wine Spa. The Spa’s web site describes it as:

A unique spa containing real red wine. The huge wine bottle is 3.6m tall and is very remarkable. Bathing in wine is a rejuvenation treatment for the body, and it has been said that the Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra loved to bath in wine. There are regular performances of pouring real wine into the spa a few times a day.

Ok, I thought Cleopatra bathed in milk but oh well, a bath in wine is something that any wine-loving person should experience, don’t you think?

Another interesting feature is the Coffee Spa. Caffeine junkies should not miss out on this. Naturally, the bath is made of coffee in hot spring water. I think I shall spend some time dipping in wine and then wake myself up with a dip at the Coffee Spa.

Take your pick!

Must-See Japanese Castles

There are so many castles that are worth visiting if you ever go to Japan. Unfortunately, we cannot cover all of them, so let’s just take a look at some of those that you should not miss.

Considered to be Japan’s most awe-inspiring castle, the Himeji Castle should definitely be at the top of your list. This castle was never destroyed due to the wars of the past and the original structure still stands. The castle is, in fact, considered a National Treasure and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Himeji is easily accessible from Kyoto.

The Matsumoto Castle is another destination that should not be missed. This castle is relatively complete and most of the original structure still stands. The Matsumoto Castle is built on a plain instead of a mountain or a hill and provides a spectacular view for visitors.

Though it has been reconstructed over the years, the Osaka Castle is still one of the best castles to visit. Within its walls, visitors can visit a museum that showcases the life of Toyotomi Hideoyoshi as well as the castle’s history.

The Nijo Castle is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is also accessible from Kyoto. Though most of the original structure was destroyed by a fire, what remains is still something that should be experienced.