NATIONAL TOURIST ORGANIZATION Japan Travel News

WINTER 2006 JULY-SEPTEMBER From the editor... INSIDE Japanese government, many a perfect private and rejuve- THIS ISSUE: JNTO welcomes new director tourist attractions, hotels, nating experience, many The JNTO Sydney office has railways and street signage in ryokan offer ‘shiatsu’ mas-

welcomed Mr. Jotaro Japan have changed so that sage services, and there are News 2 they can better accommo- a variety of highly sophisti- Horiuchi from the Ministry date international tourists. cated cuisines which range of Land, Infrastructure and Unique 3 Signage was renewed to from Japanese and Chinese museums in Transport (MLIT) in to French and Italian. Tokyo as new Director. During his And moreover, Japan is now tenure in Sydney, Mr. Horiu- an affordable destination. Tokyo travel 3 The Japanese yen has depre- tickets chi hopes to concentrate on a number of activities includ- ciated more than 30% Useful web 4 against the Australian dollar ing promoting the ski fields Mr. Jotaro Horiuchi sites in the past five years and of Japan as well as the coun- include English, pictograms many prices in Japan are no Calendar of 4 try’s historical and World were placed in subways, and longer higher than in Austra- Events Heritage sites. He had the many hotels and ryokan lia. So...please visit Japan. following to say about Japan trained their employees to You surely can feel relaxed, as a tourist destination. speak at least basic English. and can experience a unique Now Japan is waiting for and sophisticated culture “In the past five years Japan English speaking tourists and history”. has transformed itself into a who want to indulge in the more accessible country for exotic and highly sophisti- Rebecca Honda English speaking tourists. cated culture. There are many open-air Since the Visit Japan Cam- onsen (natural hot springs) paign (VJC) began in 2003 which are attached to indi- with the full support of the vidual hotel rooms to assure Ski promotion seminar in Sydney

As part of the Visit presentations and also joined Japan – a record high – ranking Japan Campaign (VJC) the reception. The seminar was Australia number seven on the in Australia, JNTO designed to further promote list of top tourist contributors. and the VJC Commit- Japan’s ski fields as an attractive For more on Japan’s ski fields tee held a ski promo- destination for Australian skiers visit: tion seminar and re- and boarders and to further ception at the Sydney educate ski/travel agents and www.jnto.go.jp/syd/ski/ Hilton for Sydney ski/ media about the accessibility of www.snowjapan.com/ travel agents and Japan’s major sightseeing areas media on 5 June 2006. to the ski fields. Japan’s perfect powder Representatives from the well For ski brochures please Last season approximately contact JNTO. known ski areas of Nagano 15,000 Australians visited the (Hakuba and Shiga Kogen), Nii- Japan ski fields and this figure is gata (Myoko Kogen), Rusutsu expected to increase next and Furano - and popular tour- season. Last year more than ist destination – Kyoto, gave 200,000 Australians visited P A G E 2 Odakyu Sightseeing Romance car cafe Odakyu Line Tracks Service Centre relocates Office Ticket Gates Former location On June 11 a newly renovated Ticket machine Odakyu Sightseeing Service Centre opened at a new location in Odakyu . The Odakyu Odakyu Romance Car Centre Sightseeing Service Centre is a travel Stairs information centre that specialises in providing services to international visitors. Among the services provided by the Centre are: - Odakyu Romance Car ticket reservations & sales - Hakone Free Pass, Fuji-Hakone Odakyu Travel Pass, Enoshima-Kamakura Free Pass sales - Odakyu Q Tour reservations and sales - Hotel and ryokan reservations - transport and tourist information Q Tour, Hakone Free Pass, Hakone Open: 8:00-18:00, 365 days Services are available in English, Weekday Pass, Enoshima-Kamakura Tel: 03-5321-7887 (in Tokyo) Free Pass, Fuji Hakone Pass, Ltd Chinese and Korean. Fax: 03-5321-7886 (in Tokyo) Express Romance Car, Odakyu Email: To commemorate the reopening, Hakone highway bus. the Centre is giving away gifts to the [email protected] Location: Ground floor, West side first 5000 visitors who purchase More at www.odakyu.jp/english tickets for the following products: of Odakyu Shinjuku station

Koyasan audio guide rental

Visitors to Mt Koya can now listen to Centres: Central, Ishinohashi, Nakanohashi, commentaries about popular sightseeing spots and Koyasan station. in the area with the ‘Koyasan Audio Guide’ Units are to be returned after use to any of available for hire from Koyasan Tourist the return offices, however visitors staying Association. The audio guide provides overnight at Mt Koya may return the units on information about the locations listed by the morning of the next day. number in the Koyasan guidebook in five For more about Mt Koya please visit languages: English, French, Chinese, Korean www.shukubo.jp/eng/index.html and Japanese.

Rental Offices: Koyasan Tourist Association’s Central & Ishinohashi information centres

Hours of Rental: 8.30am-4.30pm

Cost: 500 yen per unit

The guides can be returned to the following Koyasan Tourist Association Information Konpon-dai-to, Mt Koya KIX 4th best airport

Kansai International Airport has been ranked the 4th best airport in the “Airport of the Year” poll announced by London based research company, Skytrax. The survey was based on votes collected from approximately 7.2 million people in 90 countries from September 2005 through May 2006. Kansai International Airport was placed 9th in 2004 and 5th in 2005. The airport is particularly highly regarded for both its products and services. www.kansai-airport.co.jp

JAPAN TRAVEL NEWS WINTER 2006 P A G E 3

Unique museums in Tokyo ---add- something a little out of the ordinary to your itinerary-

Ghibli Museum beginning of year Address : 2-1 Ueno Koen, Taito-ku Enjoy the fantasy world of Miyazaki Hayao Entry : Free Access : 5 min walk from JR Ueno sta- and Ghibli. Advance ticket purchase is Web : http://homepage2.nifty.com/callon/ tion necessary. (Japanese only) Hours : 9:30-16:30; closed Mon, late Dec- Address : 1-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka early Jan. City The Sumo Museum Entry : 300 yen Access : 15 min walk from JR Mitaka sta- Displays sumo memorabilia. Web : www.taitocity.net/taito/shitamachi/ tion. Address : Kokugikan Sumo Hall, 1-3-28 (Japanese only) Hours : 10:00-18:00; closed Tues, Check Yokoami, Sumida-ku web for other holidays. Access : 2 min walk from JR Ryogoku For further listings of unique and unusual Entry: 1000 yen station museums in Tokyo please contact JNTO. Web :www.ghibli-museum.jp/ Hours : 10:00-16:30; closed Sat, Sun, national holidays, end/beginning of year Meguro Parasitological Museum Entry : Free The only Parasitological Museum in the Web : www.sumo.or.jp/museum world. Address : 4-1-1 Shimomeguro, Meguro-ku Shitamachi Custom Museum Access : 15 min walk from JR Meguro Step back in time and experience the station Meiji-era Tokyo. English volunteer guide Hours : 10:00-17:00; closed Mon, end/ available.

Useful tickets in Tokyo

Tokyo Furii Kippu (Ticket) subway pass vending locations, station Card One day pass for JR, Toei streetcars, counters, Toei Streetcar/Bus offices and Just one fare card for 22 private Toei buses & Toei subways and Tokyo pass vending locations. (Choose one day railway and subway companies (not Metro. within six months after the date of valid for JR trains) in Tokyo and its FARE: ¥1,580 (Child: ¥790) purchase to use the pass.) suburbs. - Unlimited travel on JR trains (except JR FARE: ¥1,000 ¥3,000 ¥5,000 express trains), Toei subways, Toei One-Day Open -It is a prepaid card good for the streetcars, Toei buses and Tokyo Ticket (Ichinichi Josha-ken) services of 22 railway and subway Metro. One-day pass for all Tokyo Metro companies in Tokyo and its suburbs: - Available at JR stations, JR travel agency FARE: ¥710 (Child: ¥360) Tokyo Metro, Toei Subways, Odakyu “View Plaza”, Toei subway stations, -For day-of-use purchase, available from lines, Keio lines, Keisei lines, Tokyu lines, sales offices of Toei bus and streetcar, ticket vending machines at Tokyo Metro lines, Tobu lines, Seibu lines, and ticket counters at major Tokyo stations. Shiei (municipal) subways, Metro stations. -For advance purchase, available from lines, Yokohama Kosoku ticket counters at major Tokyo Metro line, Shin-Keisei line, Hokuso line, Toyo Tokunai Pass stations. Kosoku line, Saitama Kosoku line, Rinkai JR one-day pass in Tokyo line, line, Disney Resort FARE: ¥730 (Child: ¥360) Toei and Tokyo Metro One-Day line, Tama and Hakone Tozan - Unlimited travel on JR trains (except JR Pass line and . express trains) running within the 23 (Kyotsu Ichinichi Josha-ken) -Available from ticket vending machines wards of Tokyo. One-day pass for both Toei and at the stations of most of the railway -Available at JR stations and JR travel Tokyo Metro companies. agency “View Plaza” FARE: ¥1,000 (Child: ¥500) -Available from ticket vending machines Tokyo Metro web Toei One-Day Economy Pass at Toei and Tokyo Metro stations. www.tokyometro.jp/e/index.html (Ichinichi Josha-ken) -No advance purchase. One-day pass for Toei subways, buses, and streetcars. Yurikamome One-Day Open FARE: ¥700 (Child: ¥350) Ticket (Ichinichi Josha-ken) -For day-of-use purchase, available on Useful one-day pass for Toei streetcar, buses and from ticket () area. vending machines at Toei Subway Fare: ¥800 (Child: ¥400) stations. -Available from ticket vending machines -For advance purchase, available at Toei at all Yurikamome stations. JAPAN NATIONAL TOURIST The Visit Japan Campaign ORGANIZATION An initiative of the Japanese government, the Visit Japan Campaign (VJC) aims to attract 10 million visitors per year to Japan by the year 2010. At present Japan receives just over 6 million visitors. In 2005, Australia Square Tower Australia became a target market for the VJC. JNTO 264 George St, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia supports this campaign and encourages you to visit the Tel: 02-9251-3024 Fax: 02-9251-3031 VJC website. E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.jnto.go.jp For general information, maps and brochures for travel to Japan contact JNTO. Visit the new look, easy to navigate JNTO website. www.japanwelcomesyou.com

Other useful Japan travel sites A taste of Japan www.japan-guide.com Whether you are after tempura in Tokyo or okonomiyaki in http://gojapan.about.com/ Osaka these sites can help you discover the culinary delights of www.outdoorjapan.com Japan. Gourmet Navigator For train timetable information visit: www.gnavi.co.jp/en/ www,hyperdia.com/ www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/e-norikeyin.html Tokyo Food Page (also has links to ) www.bento.com/ Travel Planner for Tokaido & Sanyo lines - ideal for Japan Rail Pass holders as there is an option to remove the Tokyo Vegetarian Nozomi shinkansen from the chosen route. www.vegietokyo.com http://train.sppd.ne.jp/train/sche/index_e.php --- Calendar of Events --- Tokyo & Vicinity

July 5 - August 6 Tokyo Summer Festival, various locations in Tokyo One of Japan’s main music festivals. Musicians from across the world will gather in Tokyo to perform classical music, break dance, afro-pop, traditional Japanese music and more, under this year’s theme ‘Songs of the Earth, Music in the Streets’. More at www.arion-edo.org

July 16 Yokohama International Fireworks, Yamashita Park, Yokohama One of Yokohama’s biggest fireworks displays, more than 5,000 fireworks will light up the sky at Yokohama Port to mark the end of the annual Yokohama Port Festival.

July 29 Sumida River Fireworks, Asakusa, Tokyo Tokyo’s largest fireworks display with more than 20,000 fireworks set off.

Kansai Region

July 1 - 31 Gion Festival, Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto City Sumida River Fireworks Attracting more than 1 million visitors the Gion Festival is one of Kyoto’s three most celebrated festivals. The festival is famous for its Yamahoko float procession on July 17 which takes place along the main streets starting from Shijo Karasuma.

July 24 - 25 Tenjin Festival, Osaka Tenmangu, Osaka City This annual summer festival is dedicated to Osaka Tenmangu (shrine). The highlight of the festival is on July 25 when a fireworks display lights up the Oh River and is watched by thousands of people from the riverside and from the many riverboats passing along the river.

Nationwide

July 1 - 15 Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival, Kushida Shrine, Fukuoka City The dynamic Hakata Gion Yamakasa is one of Fukuoka’s signature festivals. The climax of the festival is on the final day when a fleet of giant floats are raced through the streets of Hakata by men wearing happi coats.

July 9 - 23 Sumo Grand Tournament, Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya

July 17 Marine Day (national holiday)

August 3 - 6 Kanto Festival, Akita City One of the three main festivals of the Tohoku region. Kanto – long bamboo poles with paper lanterns attached – are paraded through the streets by the youths dressed in short jackets, hachimaki (headbands), white tabi (socks) and zori (straw sandals).

Sept 18 Respect for the Aged Day (national holiday) Sept 23 Autumnal Equinox (national holiday)