Archive for 'Travel' Category

Old restaurant mainly for breakfast was reborn as attractive main dinning ‘Hamanasu’

New dinning room ‘Hamanasu’

‘Hamanasu’ is used to be a restaurant mainly for breakfast. It was not bad for serving breakfast, but not suitable for dinner. New wallpaper and carpet covered the interior and lighting was totally changed in the renewal work. Serving method is rescheduled and newly an open style kitchen and a buffet table are equipped. All furniture in the dinning is also completely changed. Read the rest of this entry »

Beautiful sunset into the Sea of Japan is magnificent from your guest room

‘Yubae-no-yado Shiomi-so’ in Senami Onsen Resort, Nigata Prefecture finished its renewal project and opened a new special floor ‘‘The Ocean Club’ and the dinning room ‘Hamanasu’ on March 3, 2011. Read the rest of this entry »

Variety of trendy bathing facilities are skillfully laid out in each floor

‘Manyo-no-yu’ in New Chitose Airport

Name:	Manyo-no-yu’, the New Chitose Airport
Address:	4th Floor, The New Chitose Airport Terminal
	987-22 Bibi, Chitose City, Hokkaido, 066-0012 JAPAN
Phone:	0123－46－4126
FAX:	0123－45－3333
URL:	http://www.manyo.co.jp/chitose/
Total floor space:	4,773㎡
Onsen sauce:	Natural Onsen sauce in Bunkyo, Chitose City
	(Sodium chloride-weak alkaline hot spring)
Management:	Maruseppu Kanko Co.
Business hours:	23 hours a day from 10.a.m. throuout the year

■Floor layout

● 5^th Flloor

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Onsen is considered as one of the main attractions to promote visitors to the airport

‘Manyo-no-yu’ in New Chitose Airport

‘Manyo-no-yu’ in New Chitose Airport was considered as one of the main facilities in the airport building when the renovation was planned. It was expected to promote accessibility and attractiveness of the airport.

The function of the New Chitose Airport is expected to dramatically heighten by the renewal work of the terminal buildings and renovation of both facilities for domestic and international airlines. It also helps to increase number of arrivals and hours of staying at the airport. As the entrance to Hokkaido, the airport building must provide much refined hospitality service to visitors and variety of menus to attract them while staying.

The purpose of ‘Manyo-no-yu’ in New Chitose Airport is providing valuable period at the airport as an orthodox relaxation facility with using first natural Onsen water at the airport and as one of the main facilities not only for air travelers but also for local visitors.

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Popular Onsen Chain ‘Manyo-no-yu’ opened at the New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido

‘Manyo-no-yu’ in New Chitose Airport

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Two inns under the same management work in cooperation with each other

 

  

 

 

The Itsutsuro guests can use parts of public facilities in ‘Kakujoro’

 

Open-air & inner grand baths and esthetic salon in ‘Kakujoro’ are provided for room guests of ‘Itsutsuro’

  

All guest rooms in ‘Itsutsuro’ have no bathrooms, so that two charter bathrooms and one open-air charter bath are equipped instead. However, some room guests like to enjoy bathing in rather wider grand bathroom. A special path connecting to ‘Kakujoro’ is prepared from the backyard of ‘Itsuitsuro’ for these guests.

And also they can use the relaxation space ‘Riraku’ where famous SHISEIDO brand esthetic salon ‘Qi’ and L’OSERAIE is located.  

Japanese-style bar ‘Wakura’ is renovated from a 150 year-old traditional Japanese storehouse.

 

Another attraction for the room guests is a Japanese-style bar ‘Wakura’ in town, which is renovated from a 150 year-old traditional Japanese storehouse.

Parts of nearby facilities under the same management are effectively used for cover up lack of public facilities at ‘Itsutsuro’.

Not only use public facilities, but also staff members from both inns help each other accordingly. Total number of staff for ‘Itsutsuro’ is only 10, including kitchen staff.

＜Reference materials＞

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 ‘Roman-no-yado Itsutsuro’　in Aichi Prefecture. If you have something to ask, like to make reservation, or need English speaking tour guide when visit Atsumi Peninsula, 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 Roman-no-yado Itsutsuro in a larger map

The new born Japanese resort inn is aimed at the youth market

Lower rates are set to distinguish from the main inn ‘Kakujo-ro’

Elements of Western style menu are skillfully employed

Compare to their main inn ‘Kakujoro’, this unique and original minded Japanese resort inn targeted on rather younger market. Main target of Itsutsuro is  couples of younger generations between 20s and 40s. Expecting average consumer price at the inn is about 15,000 yen or so. Read the rest of this entry »

Visit Japan Travel Mart 2011

“ VJTM2011″(Visit Japan Travel Mart 2011) was hosted at Pacifico Yokohama(http://www.pacifico.co.jp/english/index.html) in Yokohama, Kanagawa Pref.  by JTA(Japan Tourism Agency) ans JNTO(Japan National Tourism Organization)on this Nov.22-23. http://www.vjtm.jp/

More than 300 oversea “buyers” who are travel agencies or the Media from more than 15 international markets joined the event with more than 400 Japanese “sellers” who are travel agencies, tourist associations, hotels,bus companies,and other sorts of  tourism-related businesses. Read the rest of this entry »

Almost decayed old inn was reborn as a new style Japanese resort Inn

An almost decayed old Japanese inn in Fukue Town was reborn as ‘Roman-no-yado Itsutsuro’ on August 6, 2010. Its original structure was a long established Japanese inn built in 1830s, but was closed its business five years ago. The owner of ‘Kakujoro’ Japanese inn in the same town purchased the old structure and renovated it before reopening. Fukue Town is located at the tip of Atsumi Peninsula in Tahara City, Aichi Prefecture. It takes about 15 minutes from Irako Promontory by car.

The town used to be a prosperous fishing port in the Atsumi Peninsula, but it takes more than one and 20 minutes from Toyohashi Station on the New Tokaido Bullet Train Line.

As of 2008, the Tahara City has an estimated population of 66,354 and the density of 405.01 persons per km². The total area is 188.58 km². The city was founded on August 20, 2003 as a result of the town of Tahara absorbed the town of Akabane and then gained city status. On October 1, 2005 the town of Atsumi was merged into the city of Tahara. Toyota Motor Corporation has its award winning Tahara plant in the city which makes many Lexus-brand cars and some Toyota models. The Toyota Celica was manufactured in Tahara from 1979 to 1999. Many Lexus models are manufactured within this plant, as are many Toyota models for domestic and international markets. Read the rest of this entry »

“Cool Tours”: Japan Introduction Video 2nd Episodes Uploaded

This time, we interviwed so-called Foreigners friendly Hotel : Sakura Hotel in Ikebukuro. 

Reception desk is open for 24h and staffs are fluent in English and also in other languages(including Korean and Malay !).  Cafe is also open for 24h and there, you can eat various menus from all around world(French, Itaian, Egyptien, Asian and so on).  At first, menus are not so  many, however, travelers who got along very nicely with cafe staff taught them how to cook  menus of their own countries. 

Room price is relatively low (please check it out our video!) and you can cook by yourself if you want, using kitchen exclusive to hotel guests.  This kind of lodging facility is really helpful for  travelers, especially when they visit one country that has a strong currency.   

Please click http://japan-cooltours.com/

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

Cool Tours introduces Japan with video movies

As you already know, tenkai-japan has also travel agency’s function cooperating with its fellows, TNZ, a travel agency in Tokyo.
Aiming to introduce “Cool” spots and  TNZ staff, we(TNZ) decided to take a video camera and filmed Japan of today.
We are not expert in this field, however, we try our best to inform the attraction of Japan.
One of our friends Ayako, who is a singer and also a narrator of TV or radio program, reports Edo wonderland in Nikko as a first episode.

Our other purpose is to ask you guys (audience) which spot you want visit in Japan.  We will survey the spots before you go and give you useful information to make your future stay in Japan most interesting and efficient one.
So your comments and requests on timelime of twitter on Cool Tours web site will be highly appreciated.
So let’s talk with us!!

To watch the video and give us comments:  http://japan-cooltours.com/

Baby penguin attracts visitors

A newborn emperor penguin was unveiled to the public at an animal park in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, the only facility in Japan that has succeeded in breeding such birds.

The baby penguin was born Oct. 18 using a special incubator at Wakayama Adventure World, one of two facilities in Japan offering public viewing of emperor penguins, as the 14th emperor penguin there.

According to Adventure World, it is difficult to breed emperor penguins as it requires an environment similar to penguins’ natural habitat of Antarctica for hatching.

The baby, the sixth emperor penguin born at the animal park, has been fed ground herring and other seafood five times a day.

View Wakayama Adventure World in a 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