Archive for 'Hiroshima' Category

US President Obama visiting Hiroshima

Barak Obama, the current US president visited Hiroshima, the very place that the first atomic bomb exploded in human history on May 27th during the period of  the G7 Summit held in Ise-Shima as I write in the previous post here.  He now has become the very first incumbent US president that visited the historic damaged area in the history after 71 years have passed since the end of WW2.

 Obama visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park where Peace Memorial Museum and the “Genbaku Dome”, the only remainig building that was damaged by the atomic bomb  and is disgnated as a World Cultural Heritage Site of Unesco as a “negative asset of the human kind”.(http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/index_e2.html)   (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/775)  At historic site, Obama gave a quite historic remark referring to  his utmost condolences to all the victims of the WW2 and the importance of realizing and sustaining world peace giving up nuclear thoroughly.  He also donated bouquet for the souls of the victims there. PM Abe joined the ceremony  together with Obama at the park. The park and items there are naturally so popular and famous that a lot of people including foreign tourists visit there. Actually, I have been there many times taking my customers who are foreign tourists as a tour guide.  All those customers  seemed interested in the site.  A lot of people worldwide are interested in the tragic history of the war, the importance of world  peace. I hope this park area which has  laready been a populat tourists’ desination will be even more popular and well-known with the US president’s historic and impressive visit to the place.

The 70th Peace Memorial Ceremonies at Hiroshima and Nagasaki

The 70th Peace Memorial Ceremonies were held at  Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima City,Hiroshima pref. on the Aug.6th  and  Nagasaki Peace Park in Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Pref. on the Aug 9th. The two dates were the very dates the two atomic bombs were dropped at the two cities respectively just 70 years  ago. (http://www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/www/contents/1342505253394/)

(http://www.city.nagasaki.lg.jp/heiwa/3020000/3020300/p002242.html)

PM Abe attended the two ceremonies and gave remakes wishing peace and keeping peaceful world. So did the city mayors. What was especially notable was that for the first time in history of these 70 years, a higher official of the US government along with the current US ambassador attended the ceremonies.  Rose Gottemoeller, Under-secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security , attended the ceremonies with US Ambassador Kennedy on behalf of the US government.

The two venues of the ceremonies including peace memorial museums, the Atomic Dome there are quite popular tourist destinations and a lot of people including foreign tourists visit everyday. Peace prevalence is,needless to say, essential to retaining and growing of tourism.

Visit Japan Travel Mart and JATA Toursim EXPO Japan 2014

Two huge international travel marts were held at Tokyo Bigsight in Tokyo. One was “Visit Japan Travel Mart 2014″(Sep.24-26)(http://www.vjtm.jp/) and the other was “JATA Toursim EXPO Japan2014″(Sep.25-28)(http://t-expo.jp/en/index.html).  

More than 310 foriegn buyers and about 390 Japanese sellers joined VJTM2014 and had passionate exchanges of information and ideas and hosted busines seccions.  Buyers from Asian countries were especially a lot and about the half of the Japanese sellers were municipalities or relating associations of such local governments.

On the other hand,  a lot of domestic and foreign sellers and buysers joined  JATA Tourism EXPO Japan 2014. Such participants were embassies, tourism bureaus, travel agents, food companies, municipalities, railroads, airlines, hotels. universities, guide associations and so forth.  The main targets were end users of travel services and a lot of  lay Japanese people visited there and the total number was 157,589.  Upon the opening of the event, an ward ceremony  of  good  services and efforts of related promotions was hosted and the Best Tourism Award was given to The Tourism Authority of Thailand and Embassy awards were for  Thailand and Mexico, the best transporatation award was for Japan Railways East, the domestic inbound award was for  the tourism department of Tokyo Metropolis, the publicity award was for a TV show of CXTV, and the chairperson special award was for Okinawa Convention Bureau. (http://t-expo.jp/en/program/cms.html)   I personally visited the two big events and collected a lot of interesting information and exchanged ideas with the participants, some of whom were my friends or those I sometimes work with. I enjoyed the delicious food provided by tourism- related restaurants and local specialities and impressed by the greatly enthusiastic atmosphere of energies of the expos as well.

“Star Fighter”, a new type sightseeing bus attraction

Willer Travel  started a totally new type bus drive attraction called Star Fighter.The interir design of the bus is something like a replica of a cockpit of a rocket. http://travel.willer.co.jp/starfighter/

You can enjoy playing  special video games on your seat in the bus during the drive, which is a part of  the plot of the attraction. The bus service will be available in August,  between Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima, and Shinjuku and Space Center in Tsukuba , Ibaraki where you can experience a mock asrtronaut training program or Science Future Museum in Odaiba Tokyo. The travel has a concept of  futuristic experiences in a scfi-fi atmosphere.

Local food materials are cooked in traditional Kaiseki-style

‘Migiwa-tei Ochi Kochi’ in Tomonoura Onsen /　Vol. 3

Check-in and check-out procedures are done at the lobby lounge

 

As well as putting special care on its renovation design, service style is also something different from other two properties in Tomonoura. Check-in and check-out procedures are done at the lobby lounge, and a cup of welcome tea is served there. Dinner and breakfast are served in the dinning room ‘Kaede’ for all room guests, except guests in upper suit rooms. The hotel staff tries not to visit guest room so often for keeping privacy of guests in the rooms.

For creating image of the sea, wave, and islands in the Seto Inner Sea, beautiful china wares are used for dishing up.

 

Local food products are used for cooking of a full traditional Japanese Kaiseki-ryōri. For creating image of the sea, wave, and islands in the Seto Inner Sea, beautiful china wares are used for dishing up. Each dish is cooked one by one in the kitchen and served promptly to the guest at the table. As in located in Hiroshima, different 11 brands of local sake or rice wine and 14 brands of local shochu or a clear distilled liquor are lined up on the beverage list. Varieties of 6 brands wine are also listed on it. Kaiseki menu makes seasonal change once in every two months.　

Breakfast is your choice among Japanese or Western style menus. A good quality of food materials such as organic vegetables and homemade soybean curd used for the dishes. Especially organic rice is purchased from local farm ‘Chikahiro Nosan Co.’ in Mihara city, which is characterized in sticky and sweet taste. The rice won the special finest prize among local rice at the 12th Rice Tasting Contest in Japan. Eggs for breakfast are given from natural feed hens.

＜Reference materials＞

http://www.ochikochi.co.jp/

Monthly Hotel Ryokan June 2011

http://ja.wikipedia.org/ 

http://www.jalan.net/

http://www.ikyu.com/

■For travelers from overseas

As a certified guide-interpreter in English and also a writer of the website “Cool Japan Guide”, I am very happy to introduce ‘Migiwa-tei Ochi Kochi’ in Tomonoura Onsen in Hiroshima Prefecture. If you have something to ask, like to make reservation, or need English speaking tour guide when visit to Tomonoura Onsen Resorts, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for your kind cooperation, I am looking forward to your contact.

Please Contact Us/お問合せ

■Introduction of the specialist for Onsen design

I would like to introduce one of the best Japanese architects, Mr. Hiroshi Ebisawa, who is specialized in Onsen facility.

Please contact: http://www.e-koubo.co.jp/

View Larger Map

Modern taste guest rooms arranged with original design beds

‘Migiwa-tei Ochi Kochi’ in Tomonoura Onsen /　Vol. 2

Guest rooms

■Room rates with dinner & breakfast 

Types	# of	Space	Allowance	Minimum
	rooms	(㎡)	(Guests)	(Yen/person)
Standard Twin	6	39.0	2	26,250
Wide-view Twin	3	53.6	3	27,300
Corner-view Twin	2	52.0	3	27,300
Suite	2	65.4	5	32,550
Upper-suite	4	77.3-95.0	6	35,700

*Rates above include tax and service charge.

10 existing guest rooms are reduced to 8 for providing 39 square meters for new standard twin rooms. Old banquet hall is useless for small family groups and is remodeled to 3 new upper-suite rooms instead. The inn could increase number of guest rooms from 16 to 17 rooms all together because of the above renovation.

Each guest room has wooden deck and open-air bathroom is laid out on it where beautiful ocean view can be observed. Onsen water from ‘Tomonoura’ is used for all these open-air baths.

Original design beds are placed on ‘Ryukyu-tatami mat’ in the modern taste Japanese style rooms. Beds from the maker in Hiroshima and Simon co. in USA are arranged in the guest rooms. Different furniture and fixture in original design and colors are arranged in each room.

Sophisticated arrangements on tools and amenity goods in the guest room, such as double gauzed pajamas, adjustable pillows in thickness and softness, and famous ‘Arita-china’ coffee cups, are also their original idea.

And additionally, multiple use audio system available for CD, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc, air cleaner, and a set of coffee maker are standard in each guest room.

Standard Twin 

Number of rooms:	6	rooms
Room size:	39.0	㎡
Maximum accommodation:	2	guests
Minimum rate with dinner and breakfast:	26,250	Yen/person
Standard twin room is consisted of 10-tatami bed room, wooden terrace, and open-air bath room. Beds are made by Simon co. in USA. A liquid crystal display television with multiple use audio system available for CD, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc, air cleaner, and a set of coffee maker are arranged.

 

Wide-view Twin 

Number of rooms:	3	rooms
Room size:	53.6	㎡
Maximum accommodation:	3	guests
Minimum rate with dinner and breakfast:	27,300	Yen/person
Wide-view twin room is consisted of 10-tatami bed room, wooden terrace, and open-air bath room. Beds are made by Simon co. in USA. A liquid crystal display television with multiple use audio system available for CD, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc, air cleaner, and a set of coffee maker are arranged.

 

Corner-view Twin 

Number of rooms:	2	rooms
Room size:	52.0	㎡
Maximum accommodation:	3	guests
Minimum rate with dinner and breakfast:	27,300	Yen/person
Corner-view twin room is arranged at the corner of each floor from 2nd to 5th. It is consisted of 10-tatami bed room, wooden terrace, and open-air bath room. Open-air bath is arranged separately on another wooden terrace. Beautiful sea vista can be observed both wooden terraces. Beds are placed directly on the tatami-mat only in this type.

 

Suite room 

Number of rooms:	2	rooms
Room size:	65.4	㎡
Maximum accommodation:	5	guests
Minimum rate with dinner and breakfast:	35,700	Yen/person
Suite room is consisted of twin-bed room, Japanese style living room, wooden terrace, and open-air bath room. Powder corner, washing area, and open-air bath are arranged in the bathroom. The bathroom is surrounded by ‘Muso-style’ wooden door for avoiding strong wind and sight from sailing boats on the sea.

 

Upper-suite room

Number of rooms:	4	rooms
Room size:	77.3-95.0	㎡
Maximum accommodation:	6	guests
Minimum rate with dinner and breakfast:	38,850	Yen/person
1,200mm width beds are placed on the slatted wooden flooring for reducing humidity in the room. Living dinning area is consisted of two Japanese type rooms; 6 and 10 tatami rooms. Window side is widely open to the ocean view. Original designed room furniture and fixture are arranged.

■For travelers from overseas

As a certified guide-interpreter in English and also a writer of the website “Cool Japan Guide”, I am very happy to introduce ‘Migiwa-tei Ochi Kochi’ in Tomonoura Onsen in Hiroshima Prefecture. If you have something to ask, like to make reservation, or need English speaking tour guide when visit to Tomonoura Onsen Resorts, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for your kind cooperation, I am looking forward to your contact.

Please Contact Us/お問合せ

■Introduction of the specialist for Onsen design

I would like to introduce one of the best Japanese architects, Mr. Hiroshi Ebisawa, who is specialized in Onsen facility.

Please contact: http://www.e-koubo.co.jp/

＜Reference materials＞

http://www.ochikochi.co.jp/

Monthly Hotel Ryokan June 2011

http://ja.wikipedia.org/ 

http://www.jalan.net/

http://www.ikyu.com/

View Larger Map

200-year old building reborn as an exclusive Japanese inn

 

‘Migiwa-tei Ochi Kochi’ in Tomonoura Onsen /　Vol. 1

 

 

A Japanese style inn ‘Migiwa-tei Ochi Kochi’ is opened in Tomonoura Onsen Resorts on November 1, 2010. It is located in one of the best place where beautiful views of ‘Benten-jima’ and ‘Sensui-jima’ islands are observed. It consists of a wooden structure of entrance hall built in the Edo period and a 5-floor guest house built in reinforced-concrete in the site of 1,105 square meters. 17 guest rooms, lobby lounge, dinning room, charter baths, esthetic salon, and relaxation rooms are skillfully arranged in the total floor space of 2,205 square meters.

 

‘Tomonoura Onsen’ is a hot spring resorts located in Fukuyama city, Hiroshima Prefecture. It will take about 30 minutes from Fukuyama Station on the Sanyo New Super-express Line by a car.　It is within Setonaikai National Park and is very popular for its attractive scenery with a various islands dotted in Tomonoura inlet. Setonaikai National Park, is one of the national parks in Japan that covers the entire expanse of Japan’s Inland Sea. It was designated a national park in 1934. It contains about 3,000 islands. The well-known Itsukushima Island lies within the park.

A part of the old wooden structure was preserved for keeping what used to be in the Edo Period

Remodeled entrance hall	5-story guest house

 

The old Japanese inn used to be a long established ‘Taizankan Japanese Inn’ which had gone bankrupt two years ago. It is now under Tomo Skole Corporation and run by its subsidiary company ‘T.M. Clockwork’.

The old Japanese inn was consisted of three buildings, such as 5-floor guest house built in reinforced-concrete, 2-story wooden guest house named ‘Kagofuji’ built in the Edo Period, and another 3-story wooden structure built in the Taisho Era.

Two wooden structures were too old for renovation; especially the 3-story structure was tilted to one side. The 2-story guest house was replaced about 4 meters inside of the site and renovated as a new entrance hall. On the other hand, the 3-story wooden building was dismantled and its old timbers were kept for interior decorations applying in other buildings. An alley guides you to stone pavement approach from the main street, the inn located in old red-light district. Facility is consisted of remodeled Edo Period structure of the entrance hall and renovated guest house.

Characteristic large and thick crossbeams of entrance hall.	Relaxation corner ‘Zabou’

 

Renovated entrance hall has a relaxation room ‘Zabou’ which is equipped with a red sofa and rocking chairs. A red sofa is healing stone couch which has the same effect in hot stone spa. That is a kind of fusion that a creative trendy space within a historical wooden structure. A rich greenish court is observed through a lattice door.

The renovated entrance hall is connected to the renovated 5-story guest houses through a passage. Large and thick crossbeams are characteristic in the entrance hall. Antique furniture and fixture are arranged properly under indirect lighting. Opposed to normal Japanese inns, wooden floor can be stepped on with shoes. An automatic glass door separates guest houses from the entrance hall so you can observe the finest view through the window in lobby lounge soon after stepped in.

Newly built outside garden on the way to the guest house is surrounded by the wooden fence made with used timber from old fishing boats and decorated with an art object made with old timber from the 3-story wooden structure.

Seaside terrace ‘Umi-no-sajiki’	Beautiful view from the lobby lounge.

 

High-backed chairs and comfortable sofas are arranged in the lobby lounge. It creates something opposed atmosphere to typical Japanese inns but rather in high-end resorts hotels.

Pushing of outside view from the inn is always concerned. Beautiful scenery will be able to observe from dinning room ‘Sou or 颯’ arranged just beside the lobby lounge and two charter Onsens at the 5^th floor. Seaside terrace ‘Umi-no-sajiki’ attached to the dinning room ‘Sou’. Beautiful view of Benten-jima island, Sensui-jima island, and sailing boats between islands can be seen while enjoy relaxation setting in the chair.

Old grand baths are remodeled to attractive charter Onsens

Charter Onsen ‘Kochi or東風’	Charter Onsen ‘Hae or 南風’

 

Although, each guest room in the renovated inn has attractive outdoor bath, some guests wish rather larger bath. Two charter baths are available for these guests. The charter Onsen ‘Hae or 南風’ and ‘Kochi or東風’ are remodeled from the old grand baths for men and women.

A beauty-treatment clinic ‘Shu-shu or 趣々’ is newly provided where used to be the resting area in the grand baths. The clinic has two beds for treatment which is available for couple guests.

[Five ranking to evaluate hotel’s performance through the grapevine]

＜Reference materials＞

http://www.ochikochi.co.jp/

Monthly Hotel Ryokan June 2011

http://ja.wikipedia.org/ 

http://www.jalan.net/

http://www.ikyu.com/

View Migiwa-tei ‘Ochi Kochi’ in a larger map

BAPE STORE Hiroshima

BAPE STORE Hiroshima
7-33, Fukuromachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima
082-545-1750
Mens
MAP:BAPE STORE Hiroshima

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Burberry Blue Label Hiroshima Sogo

Burberry Blue Label Hiroshima Sogo
バーバリーブルーレーベルそごう広島店
At Sogo Hiroshima store, 6-27, Motomachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima
082-511-1885
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Burberry Blue Label Hiroshima Tenmaya Alpark

Burberry Blue Label Hiroshima Tenmaya Alpark
バーバリーブルーレーベル天満屋広島アルパーク店
At Tenmaya Alpark Hiroshima store, 1-16-1, Inokuchi Myojin, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima 082-270-2031 　
Ladies Read the rest of this entry »