Archive for 'Shizuoka' Category

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.

Hakone enjoys more than 20 million visitors

Hakone, one of the most popular tourists’ destinations and hot spring resort  in Kanagawa Pref. near Mt. Fuji declared  it had been visited by 20,857,000 tourists (increased by 7.3 % compared to the year before) in 2013. (http://www.town.hakone.kanagawa.jp/) The town  visited by more than 20 million tourists for the first time in three years and the first time after the earthquake disaster in 2011 and the number is the highest since 1996.   

The one-day travelers number was 16,140,000 (increased by 9%) and that of those who stayed overnight was 4,717,000 (increased by 1.8 %).  The number of foreign visitors overnight reached 168,000, which the record high and increased by 80.5% compared to the minimum number of 63,000 in 2011 when the disaster occurred. The number of  foreign one-day tourists there is assumed to be about 482,000.  New faclities may be one of the sources that have attracted such high number of  visitors there.  It is said the primary sources of such an increase in the number may be the depreciation of Yen these days and relaxations of  visa conditions to tourists from asean countries. The number of people from US, China, Korea, Taiwan, and southeast Asian countries  visiting Hakone is amazingly increasing. The upcoming Tokyo Olympics may be a source of  such rising popularity of some area in Japan as well.

 

“Morning Musume”‘s special train

One of the top young female idol groups, Morining Musume is going to host a concert at Kawaguchiko  Stellar Theater near Lake Kawaguchi  on the foot of Mt.Fuji on May 31st (http://www.stellartheater.jp/).  This is the final day event of the series of MM’s spring consert tour 2014 and a special train “Morning Musume ’14” featuring MM is going to be operated in commemoration of the events  between Ohtsuki station and Kawaguchiko station of Fujikyuko Railway(http://e.fujikyu-railway.jp/) only on the 31st.

The special train consists of three cars each of which will be decorated with MM’s posters and other items.And at all the 18 stations along the line, in-house announcements will be made by MM’s members, with limited number of memorial train tickets will be sold at the station.

 

Mt. Fuji officially registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site

Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain and a prominent symbol of Japan, was officially registered as World Cultural Heritage Site  at the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Cambodia on this 22nd.

A lot of Japanese are quite happy and excited with this big news.  A special committee consisting of  special staff of  Yamanashi prefectural government and that of  Shizuoka prefecture has resolved to start collecting a 1,000 yen admission fee per person for Mt. Fuji on trial basis  from  climbers  9:00am to 6:00pm Jul.25-Aug.3 which is a high summer  period, called “Mt.Fuji Conservation Cooperation Money”. That fee, however, is not compulsory and   those who make that contribution will be given a commemorative tin badge.

 

Mt. Fuji officially recommended as a World Cultural Heritage Site

ICOMOS  resolved to recommend Mr.Fuji, the highest mountain of Japan and a popular tourists’ destination which is thought to be one of Japan’s symbol,  and its related areas as a World Cultural Heritage Site on May 1st. (http://www.icomos.org/fr/)

ICOMOS has authority to recommend candidates of a World Heritage Site to UNESCO(http://www.unesco.org/new/en/), and  as once such a candidate is recommended, it is highly probable that candidate is to be designated as  such a Site.

Therefore, Mt. Fuji is highly supposed to be designated at the UNESCO World Heritage Committee which is to be held from June 16th and on in Cambodia. So many people, the Japanese government, municipal governments, and tourism related industries, and others are all excited and a huge expectation.

ICOMOS excluded one area of Miho-no-Matsubara  from the object of recommendation, as the area is remote and apart from Mt. Fuji itself.Still the Council for Cultural Affairs which is the advisory committee for the Commissioner of Agency for Cultural Affairs retains that area as a part of the candidate and expects the perfect designation.

Hakone Yuryo open for one-day hot spring bathing tours

Hakone Yuryo, a new  hot spring  facility opened in Hakone Yumoto, the basic station area of Hakone resort area on March 27th. (http://www.hakoneyuryo.jp/  or  http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.488238681231944.1073741826.442578639131282&type=3)

Hakone Yuryo(/箱根湯寮, a hot spring facility in Hakone) is established for visitors who would like to enjoy hot spring baths and related services of relaxation in one-day tours.

Hakone Yuryo is located in the vicinity of Hakone Yumoto station and free shuttle buses can take you there taking just 3 minutes.  The facility is equipped with big public bath, 19 private open-air baths, some other types of bath items, a restaurant, souvenir shop, a massage parlor ,and stuff.  The basic fee of an adult visitor(13 years or older ) is 1300 yen (≒＄13 )and of a child is 650 yen, and additional services require surcharges respectively.

 

Hakone Owakudani aerial railway station’s new building open

Owakudani aerial railway station’s new building opened after a long term of remodeling construction in Hakone on April 24th.

Hakone as  a whole is a quite famous and popular tourist destination among both Japanese and foreign tourists, and Owakudani is one of the most popular part in the hot spring resort area of Hakone. (http://www.owakudani.com/index-e.html)

Odakyu that owns the facilities there spent 10 billion yen on the construction, as the old building built in 1959 had become very old and also some functions were not good enough.  And now, visitors there are able to see the columns of smoke from the Owakudani valley the prominent eye-catcher of the area, Suruga Bay,  Tokyo SkyTree, and Mt, Fuji from inside the restaurant inf the new building, all of which were not seen from the old one.

“Zetsubou Yousai “, a new attraction at FujiQ Highland

“Zetsubou Yousai”(/絶望要塞,  the fortress of despair), a new labyrinth -type attraction is going to start operation on coming Jul.28th in FujiQ Highland, a popular amusement park in Shizuoka pref. (http://www.fujiq.jp/en/)

A visitor to the attraction plays a role of an inmate who tries to escape from the “fortress” as a huge and tricky prison solving tasks and dodging traps. According to the park, the possibility of a prisoner should be quite close to 0 % and if the visitor is fortunate enough to escape successfully, such a winner will be given special prizes. The admissin fee of per visitor will be 800 yen.

 

KAWAZUZAKURA : cherry blossom viewing in IZU

KAWAZUZAKURA in IZU peninsula Shizuoka prefecture is now blooming.
The schedule of festival was from Februaly 5th to March 10th. However couse of unusual cold weather of this year, we have no flowers one month ago. One of my friends complained that she couldn’t enjoy the tour, though she went by bus tour.
We were longing the flower, it is the time for KAWAZUZAKURA viewing now.
If you have a time, would you like to visit. You can also enjoy many local foods which are sold at stands along to the river bank.

大きな地図で見る

Cosplay snowboarding at Yeti ski resort

Yeti is a ski resort near Mt. Fuji and is easily accessible, being a 90 minute highway drive from Tokyo. It is the first ski resort to open for the 2011/12 snow season in Japan.

Opening to a large crowd of keen skiiers/boarders, and with a 50cm base, fun was had all round.

Read the rest of this entry »

Total site is expanded over 3 times by the acquisition of next door property

 

  

Japanese inn ‘Taisho-kan Hosen’

 

While a large scale renovation had been carried out, a next door neighboring Japanese inn ‘Hosenso’ that was used as vocational resort house for Meidensha co. was purchased by R & M Resort co. Including site of this  acquired inn, their total land became 118,000 square meters that is more than 3 times larger than existing site.

Using this additional site, they accelerate their basic philosophy of providing facilities open to all arrivals, including day trippers without stay over night, all at once.

 

The new site was mainly renovated for day trippers. Some old facilities within the Hosenso area had been out of use while used as the vocational house, and therefore these old facilities are scrapped, excluding its main house and 3 guest houses. The main house was tried to preserve its Taisho Era appearance and just slightly repaired and named as ‘Taishokan Hosen’.

The renovated ‘Taishokan’ has a café & Bar ‘Milk Hall’ on the first floor, and a banquet hall ‘Kanemoto-ro’ on the second floor. 3 guest houses are provided for guests in middle rank prices after the renovation.

A new facility ‘Bakery & Café’ is additionally built as a symbol of open-door policy accompanied with foot bath terrace. Outdoor stage for multiple uses and a day spa ‘mahora’ with 3 treatment rooms, and museum are also newly built. A walking path and other facilities in the ‘Hosen Garden’ is also well maintained.

＜Reference materials＞

http://www.tfyjapan.com/

Monthly Hotel Ryokan June 2011

http://ja.wikipedia.org/ 

http://www.jalan.net/

■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 ‘Tofuya Resort & Spa-Izu’ in Shizuoka Prefecture. If you have something to ask, like to make reservation, or need English speaking tour guide when visit to Yoshina 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

Guest rooms are renovated according to the demand of customers on prices

 

 

Semi-western A in the west house	Semi-western B in the west house

 

The new management draws a distinct line for renovation of guest rooms, depended on their prices of demand. Verandas are remodeled for providing better observation of the river from the most popular 7 guest rooms in the west guest house. Although, new bed and furniture are arranged, other parts, such as open-air bath and living area are only partially renovated almost similar as for maintenance. And partial renovation is done on other 6 rooms in the annex.

Western single in the annex	Western twin in the annex

 

On the other hand, total renovation was done for 3 of old Japanese style rooms mainly used for drivers and guides for tour buses. A new western style room with open-air bath and 2 western style single rooms are newly provided. Demand on single room is not bad in resort hotel, as shown at Akakura Kanko Hotel that average occupancy rate is over 68%.

Gyoki-no-yu outdoor public bath	Kodakara-no-yu charter Onsen

 

A part of Onsen facilities are slightly renovated. Women’s out door bath was changed to charter Onsen for family use. And an outdoor public bath is provided for switching use at the timetable for men and women.

＜Reference materials＞

http://www.tfyjapan.com/

Monthly Hotel Ryokan June 2011

http://ja.wikipedia.org/ 

http://www.jalan.net/

■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 ‘Tofuya Resort & Spa-Izu’ in Shizuoka Prefecture. If you have something to ask, like to make reservation, or need English speaking tour guide when visit to Yoshina 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 Tofuya Reasort & Spa in a larger map

Rare natural beauty was the key of take over

 

Although, it could be said ‘revitalization of a long-established Japanese inn’ in a straightforward expression, why took over by Akakura Kanko Hotel. Rare natural beauty of surrounding area was the key of take over for a one of the well-known resort hotels in Japan. They were interested in its potential attraction of the long established old inn.

A number of guest houses are built along ‘Yoshina-gawa’ river in the precinct and an original atmosphere of Japanese scenery is still preserved there. A part of facilities were required to be renovated and also its surrounding nature was not kept well. However, the old inn could be able to regenerate again if proper renovation and struck-and-build are done while preserving its valuable and attractive facilities.

Key point of the renovation was choosing which facilities must be kept untouched and which would be remodeled. Original inn was consisted of three guest houses; the main house was built in 1960, the annex in 1987 which was connected with the main house through the corridor, and the west house in 1991. The guest rooms were 30 and could accommodate 173 guests altogether. A large amount of investment were required if total struck-and-build, including maintenance of surrounding nature, was done. The new management had also considered that tasteful appearance of 400 year-history of long established inn must be kept.

After a long and careful consideration, the first impression is one of the key factors for arrival guest so that the existing old main guest house must be dismantled and a new entrance hall would be constructed for creating authentic atmosphere of resort hotel.

The new entrance hall with approach was come to the fore front rather than deeper area of the old guest house. Spacious in height and floor space, a lobby lounge with hearth, library, reception, and souvenir shop are laid out in the new entrance hall. Arrival guests now can check in while enjoying a cup of welcome drink at the lobby lounge.

A large amount of investment was put on the remodeling of Japanese restaurant ‘Kaiseki-chaya Mizuoto’. Old timber of beams and posts from the Edo period house were reused for creating new atmosphere in a thatched roof building. And a terrace deck with an outdoor fireplace and bar was additionally built along the river. The Japanese restaurant was reborn as really a resort style eating place.

Not only renovation of facilities, but function of service has been changed. Last time, all arrivals must take their shoes off at the entrance before step in to the guest house, but all guests are now putting their own shoes or ‘geta’ or Japanese clog. The old main kitchen was moved to beside of the Japanese restaurant, because almost all of breakfast and dinner are served at the renovated restaurant.

＜Reference materials＞

http://www.tfyjapan.com/

Monthly Hotel Ryokan June 2011

http://ja.wikipedia.org/ 

http://www.jalan.net/

■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 ‘Tofuya Resort & Spa-Izu’ in Shizuoka Prefecture. If you have something to ask, like to make reservation, or need English speaking tour guide when visit to Yoshina 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

A current style Japanese Resort with full of originality

 

Unified regeneration of 2 long-established Japanese inns to one current style Onsen & spa resort in creating a great deal of Japanese atmosphere 

 

‘Tofuya’, one of the long established Japanese inns in ‘Yoshina Onsen Resort’ renamed as ‘Tofuya Resort & Spa-Izu’ and restarted its business under the new management ‘R&M Resorts co. on November 3, 2010. The new management company is one of the groups under famous resort hotel, ‘Akakura Kanko Hotel’ in Niigata Prefecture.

The long established Japanese inn was totally renovated and employ management know-how in the resort hotel industry from the famed resort hotel in Japan, under the new concept ‘Authentic Japanese Resort harmonized in Tradition and Modern’.

As well as constructing of a new reception house, its annex building built in 1987and west house built in 1991 are remodeled while trying to make good use of these buildings as much as they can.

Although, number of total guest rooms is reduced to 23 from 30, its total premises are expanded because the new management purchased a neighboring Japanese inn ‘Taisho-kan Hosen’.

Yoshina Onsen Resort is located in Yoshina, Izu city, Shizuoka Prefecture. It is well known as ‘Kdakara-no-yu or good cure hot spring for sterility lady ’. It is in a mountain village along Yoshina-gawa river where is surrounded by rich natural forest of Mt. Amagi.

Buddhist temple ‘Zenmyoji’ & Ieyasu Tokugawa’s mistress ‘Odai-no-kata

 

The chemical properties of hot spring water are simple and weak alkaline.

The output of hot spring water is 500 liters in a minute and its temperature ranges from 44 to 55 centigrade. The hot spring has prospered in long years as an Onsen for visitors to Zenmyoji Temple. It is said that ‘Gyoki’, a famed Buddhist great teacher and the founder of the Zemyoji Temple, discovered the hot spring in 724. The good cure hot spring for lady has become nationally known since ‘Oman-no-kata, or an Ieyasu Tokugawa’s mistress, was given two babies after stayed and prayed for being blessed with children.

There are only three Japanese inns　 such as ‘Sakaya’ and ‘Hosen’, including ‘Tofuya’, all which have more than 400 year-history, and source of hot spring used to be owned by each inn. But all three sources are now under the joint control of the Yoshina Onsen Business Association.

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

 

＜Reference materials＞

http://www.tfyjapan.com/

Monthly Hotel Ryokan June 2011

http://ja.wikipedia.org/ 

http://www.jalan.net/

■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 ‘Tofuya Resort & Spa-Izu’  in ‘Yoshina Onsen Resort’, Izu city, Shizuoka If you have something to ask, 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 Tofuya Reasort & Spa in a larger map

Gundam Statue Sets Foot in Shizuoka

Construction work on a ”life-size” statue of the Gundam fictitious giant combat robot was opened to the press in Shizuoka City on Wednesday ahead of a public showing following last year’s similar event in a Tokyo seaside area.
This time the 18-meter-tall robot will stand near JR Higashishizuoka Station holding a Beam Saber, a signature weapon of Gundam in a popular sci-fi animation series, according to toy company Bandai Co. which leads the project. Read the rest of this entry »