Japan | Travel Magazine

Workshop on Gastronomy Tourism in Wakayama, Japan

December 9, 2019 By Travel Guide Tagged With: Gastronomy Tourism, Japan, Wakayama

The ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) conducted a “Workshop on Sustainable Tourism: Gastronomy Tourism” from 17 to 23 November 2019 in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. It was organized for the management-level stakeholders in tourism of the ASEAN Member States to learn cases of gastronomy tourism in Wakayama Prefecture. A total of 12 participants joined this workshop.

The participants first received lectures on Japan’s recent overseas travel market trend and gastronomy tourism at Wakayama University. They also delivered presentations on their own country’s gastronomy tourism at the university.

From the following day, the group visited gastronomy tourism sites in Wakayama Prefecture which were arranged with the support of Wakayama Prefectural Government. Buddhist vegetarian food served at Shukubo (temple lodging) in Koyasan is a famous gastronomic attraction, but Wakayama has many more gastronomic tourism attractions. The participants visited and experienced fruit picking, tuna bidding and tuna can making, a unique agritourism venue which used to be a school building, and a traditional soy sauce manufacturer in Yuasa town, the birthplace of soy sauce. The group also visited Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau, which promotes the world heritage Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Route in a sustainable manner with the local community.

Participants commented that they experienced different gastronomic attractions of the locality by visiting different places. Some were surprised by the uniqueness of Shukubo in Koyasan, as temples in their countries are not open to visitors to stay overnight.

Sometimes referred to as “from farm to table,” gastronomy tourism can provide a variety of experience-based activities starting from growing and harvesting food ingredients to cooking and tasting food. Such activities are suitable for repeat-travelers who seek unique experiences and can be applied in the ASEAN Member States to further provide programs for visitors to experience and know about food and culture of the Member States. It is expected that this workshop will help the development of the unique and sustainable tourism products to introduce rich food culture of the ASEAN Member States.

The AJC will continue to make efforts to enhance sustainable tourism development in the ASEAN Member States by providing capacity-building programmes for tourism stakeholders by highlighting Japanese gastronomy tourism cases.

Helios Distillery: Launch Event for Ryukyu Awamori, Japan’s Oldest Distilled Liquor, Monday, December 9th, at Sydney’s famous restaurant, LuMi!

November 18, 2019 By Travel Guide Tagged With: Helios Distillery, Japan, Japan's Oldest Distilled Liquor, Ryukyu Awamori

NAGO, Japan – (Press Media Release) – Helios Distillery, which manufactures and sells Awamori, which is a distilled liquor of Okinawa in the southernmost of Japan, will hold a launch event for a new product “Ryukyu Bijin 40% 700ml” at the famous Italian restaurant “LuMi Bar & Dining” in Sydney on Monday, December 9th. (Awamori, which is like SAKE, is one of Japan’s leading alcoholic beverages.) “Ryukyu Bijin 40% 700ml” is a quality Awamori liquor suitable as a cocktail base, which was developed by incorporating new production methods based on the traditional way. Sales are planned not only in Japan but also in seventeen countries and regions (Europe, the United States and other Asian countries) where Helios Brewery exports its products with the exception of Awamori.

“LuMi” is a Japanese fusion Italian restaurant with Japanese chefs and is led by Chef Federico, who has also been trained at Tokyo’s super-famous Japanese restaurant. The restaurant was ranked 13 in the Australian Top 100 restaurant 2018 by The Australian Financial Review and awarded as best Italian restaurant in the world by Gambero Rosso International in 2019. Be sure not to miss this valuable opportunity to enjoy Awamori cocktails, together with specially prepared dishes, and an original special cocktail created just for this event.

Date and time:
6pm – 9 pm, Monday, December 9, 2019
Venue: LuMi Bar & Dining
https://www.lumidining.com/
Location: 56 Pirrama Road Pyrmont, 2009 NSW
Entrance fee: free

Schedule:

Part One
6:00 pm- Press conference for restaurant-related guests and media
Greetings from the representative of Helios Distillery
Pairing of Okinawa local cuisine and original cocktails, supervised by “LuMi”
(cocktail recipe introduction)

Part Two
7:00 pm – “Ryukyu Bijin” unveiling party (dress code: something Japanese)
Launch of “Ryukyu Bijin” countdown toast (light food and a wide variety of cocktails available)
Greetings from a representative from the Consulate General of Japan in Sydney
8:30 pm – Best dresser award announcement
8:45 pm – Closing

* Both Part One and Part Two are free participation, but Part One is primarily for restaurant-related guests and media. Those who participate in Part One may remain and participate in Part Two.

* For participating media and restaurant-related guests in the Part One, please present your business card at the reception desk.

*On the day, in the case of restricted access due to full occupancy, media that have reserved in advance (below) will be allowed entrance. Please reserve, also, if you would like to request an individual interview.

Media reservation form: https://ryukyubijin.peatix.com/view

* The dress code for the Part Two party is “something Japanese.” We would appreciate your cooperation for participating wearing attire in the image of the Japanese flag, for example, red or white, or red and white, Japanese outfits, kimono, anime costumes, and other styles that are as relevant to Japan, if possible. At the end of the event, the Best Dresser Award will be announced, and the winner will receive a wonderful gift.

Facebook Event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1035299750169773/

Helios Distillery (English): http://www.helios-syuzo.co.jp/en/

Japan’s 16 Most Mesmerizing Destinations

January 16, 2018 By Travel Guide Tagged With: Japan, Kabuki, maiko, samurai, virtual tour of Japan

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO, London Office) released a 360-degree VR video “[360-degree VR] JAPAN – Where tradition meets the future” on 16 January 2018. The video visualizing the essence of Japan and its culture was created as part of “JAPAN – Where tradition meets the future”, a large-scale inbound tourism promotion targeting 15 European countries, which started in 2016. With the concept of fusing together “tradition,” “innovation,” and “nature” which coexist in the diverse culture of Japan, the 360-degree VR video takes viewers on a virtual tour of Japan.

As part of the promotion, there will be a social media prize competition to win a round-trip to Japan. Also, an AR digital signage display “Interactive Vision” will be exhibited in five countries across Europe, allowing passersby to virtually try on traditional Japanese costumes such as kabuki, maiko, and samurai.

With the aim of Japan becoming more recognized and being chosen as a tourist destination, this promotion combines “traditional culture” with “innovative technology” to create contents that will appeal to the world, as stated in the promotion title “JAPAN – Where tradition meets the future.”

About the 2018 promotion for “JAPAN – Where tradition meets the future”
“JAPAN – Where tradition meets the future,” is a highly acclaimed large-scale inbound tourism promotion by JNTO which began in 2016. The first video exceeded 13 million total views throughout the world, and has won silver and bronze in the Digital Craft division for SPIKES ASIA 2017, as well as being chosen as a finalist in three categories in ONE SHOW 2017. The 2018 promotion will provide interactive contents which will allow viewers to better understand Japan and its culture.

360-degree VR video “[360-degree VR] JAPAN – Where tradition meets the future”
This 360-degree VR video shows the mesmerizing qualities of Japan condensed into a three minute video. This video creates a simulated experience of visiting Japan, introducing 16 carefully selected tourist destinations. These include the Tokyo Tower and Kyoto’s Sagano Bamboo Forest, known as the Golden Route, and other popular tourist destinations. Passing through the torii gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, viewers will find themselves in the bustle of Shibuya Scramble Crossing, as well as having a kabuki actor perform right before their eyes. The video also includes points of views not very common in 360-degree VR videos such as being at eye-level with a Prize Pikachu from the claw machine, Sushi on a conveyor-belt, and a parfait on top of a tray at KAWAII MONSTER CAFE HARAJUKU.

Prize Competition
Along with the video release, there will be a prize competition “WIN A TRIP TO JAPAN!” Participants are asked to watch the promotional video “[360-degree VR] JAPAN – Where tradition meets the future” on the JNTO official Facebook page and post comments about their most memorable scenes. One winner from each of the five countries will be awarded a pair of round-trip air tickets to Japan.
*Viewers from France can also participate by following the JNTO Paris official Twitter account and retweeting the “#visitjapan” tweet.

Schedule: Wednesday, 17 January 2018 2:00PM – Friday, 2 March 2018 2:00PM (Japan Time)
Exhibition country: Spain, France, UK, Italy, Germany
Prize: Round-trip air ticket to Japan (one pair per country)
*For more information, please refer to the campaign website (http://visitjapan-europe.jnto.go.jp/en/campaign/).

AR Digital Signage Display “Interactive Vision”
From Thursday, 18 January 2018 – Wednesday, 28 February 2018, an AR Digital Signage Display “Interactive Vision” where passersby can virtually try on Japanese traditional costumes, will be exhibited in five countries across Europe. The countries where the signage display will be exhibited are Spain (Madrid), France (Paris), UK (London), Italy (Milan), and Germany (Munich, Frankfurt), at major stations, shopping malls, etc. for four – five days per country.