◆◆◆ “Kansai, the Essence of Japan,” an e-mail newsletter delivered by the Organization of Kansai Unity Vol.5 (December 9, 2009)◆◆◆
The Organization of Kansai Unity has created the e-mail newsletter “Kansai, the Essence of Japan” to introduce various must-see tourist attractions of the Kansai region in Japan, delivering information such as local history, culture, the natural environment and the latest news on shopping and entertainment.
Website: http://www.kansai-japan.net/en/
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◆ Latest event information: The 1300th Anniversary of Nara Heijo-kyo Capital
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The city of Nara was established as Japan’s oldest capital 1,300 years ago. The “1300th Anniversary of Nara Heijo-kyo Capital,” a major event coming up in 2010, is currently drawing great interest.
http://www.1300.jp/foreign/english/index.html
Various attractions, such as a parade of people in costumes of the ancient times and tours of excavation of historic ruins, are scheduled throughout the year, in addition to the reconstruction of facilities in Heijo-kyo and opening of exhibition facilities at the former site of the Heijo Palace. On New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, opening events to usher in the commemorative year will be held at four venues in Nara Prefecture. At Murou-ji Temple, one of the four venues, an event titled Countdown Opening Event New Year Uda Akatsuki Ake Tour will be held. It will include a countdown event, as well as the first opening of the first floor of its Five-storied Pagoda, a national treasure, since its foundation, and a public showing of its Gochi Nyorai (Five Buddhas of Wisdom), which are normally withheld from public view.
○ Open: December 31 (Thu), 2009, 10:00 p.m. – January 1 (Fri), 2010
Murou-ji Templ http://www.pref.nara.jp/nara_e/dd_aspx_itemid-1541.htm
Countdown Opening Event http://www.1300.jp/event/detail/roam/0610001.html (Japanese)
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◆ Special feature 1: Nara Prefecture
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Nara is blessed with three of Japan’s fourteen sites registered in the World Heritage list.
1. The Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area These are the world’s oldest wooden structures, said to have been built in the beginning of the 7th century. In December 1993, these monuments were among the first in Japan to be registered in the World Heritage list, along with Himeji Castle.
http://www.pref.nara.jp/nara_e/dd_aspx_menuid-1266.htm
2. Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara These monuments consist of various impressive tourists’ spots, including the approximately 15m-tall Great Buddha housed in Todaiji Temple’s Daibutsuden, the world’s largest wooden structure, and Kofukuji Temple that houses an Ashura statue, an image popular for its sculpted beauty.
Todaiji Temple http://www.pref.nara.jp/nara_e/dd_aspx_menuid-1239.htm
Kofukuji Temple http://www.pref.nara.jp/nara_e/dd_aspx_menuid-1241.htm
3. Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range This is a world heritage site stretching through Nara, Wakayama and Mie Prefectures. Mt. Yoshino, the route for mountaineering ascetics (monks who practice asceticism while walking in the mountains), is well-known for its cherry trees.
http://www.pref.nara.jp/nara_e/dd_aspx_menuid-1310.htm
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◆ Special feature 2: Mie Prefecture
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With its diversity of tourist attractions, including historical sightseeing spots, theme parks such as amusement parks and aquariums, and hot spring resorts, Mie can be enjoyed in many ways.
◇ Ise Shrine
Ise Shrine is the most sacred Shinto shrine in Japan, and is said to have 2,000-year history. Its most famous feature is the reconstruction of the main building, which is carried out once every twenty years. The shrine attracts over 7 million visitors annually.
http://welcome.kankomie.or.jp/english/search/spot.php?act=dtl&id=37
Along Okage Yokocho street, located in the vicinity of the shrine, a museum that creates a microcosmic world of pilgrimage around the Grand Shrines of Ise in the Edo Period stands side by side with souvenir shops specializing in “Akafuku mochi,” one of Ise’s specialty sweets.
http://welcome.kankomie.or.jp/english/search/spot.php?act=dtl&id=36
◇ Nagashima Spa Land
This is a gigantic complex equipped with spas and an amusement park that offers many amusement rides, including world’s largest wooden roller coaster and a swimming pool.
http://welcome.kankomie.or.jp/english/search/spot.php?act=dtl&id=23
In this area, families can also enjoy shopping at Jazz Dream Nagashima, an adjacent large outlet mall.
http://welcome.kankomie.or.jp/english/search/spot.php?act=dtl&id=24
◇ Mikimoto Pearl Island & Toba Aquarium
On the Mikimoto Pearl Island, the birthplace of Mikimoto, one of the world’s high-class jewelry shops, visitors can enjoy demonstrations of Ama woman divers harvesting shellfish as well as gorgeous pearl crowns and artistic handicrafts molded in the shape of the five-storied pagoda.
http://welcome.kankomie.or.jp/english/search/spot.php?act=dtl&id=8
In Toba Aquarium, visitors can see a pair of dugongs, an animal very difficult to raise in captivity. There are only four aquariums in the world that keep dugongs. Among these four, this aquarium alone has a pair.
http://welcome.kankomie.or.jp/english/search/spot.php?act=dtl&id=38
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◆ Recommended accommodation: National Park Resort Villages (Kyukamura)
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National Park Resort Villages are accommodations established in national parks and quasi-national parks throughout Japan. These accommodations can be casually used anytime by anybody. Visitors can experience not only the richness of the natural environment but also diverse “exchange programs” related to local histories, cultures and industries, as well as meeting people.
The 36 National Park Resort Villages (Kyukamura) throughout the country are operated by the National Park Resort Villages Foundation. In the Kansai Region, such villages are established in seven places in Fukui, Shiga, Hyogo, Wakayama and Tottori Prefectures.
http://www.qkamura.or.jp/index_e.php
Today, we will introduce “Kyukamura OHMI-HACHIMAN.” Shiga is blessed with Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake, and hot spring resorts. The location is convenient as a base for tourism in Kansai, as it can be reached in approximately 30 minutes from Kyoto and approximately 60 minutes from Osaka by train.
http://www.qkamura.or.jp/q_e_fdetail.php?nfacid=2271
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◆Useful Information: Free admission fee services for visitors
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Nara offers free admission fee services for visitors from foreign countries who show their passports when entering facilities, such as:
The Nara Prefecture Complex of Manyo Culture, which presents themes such as ancient cultures and the “Manyo-shu,” an anthology of Japanese poetry created from the 5th to 8th centuries;
Yoshiki-en Garden, a garden displaying the beauty of fresh green leaves in spring and the color of foliage in autumn; and the Katsuragi City Sumo Museum “Kehayaza,” which stores as many as 12,000 items related to sumo.
Click here for the list of all relevant facilities.
http://www.pref.nara.jp/nara_e/dd_aspx_moduleid-1627.htm#moduleid1627
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Issued by: The Organization of Kansai Unity
Address: 11F, Osaka International Convention Center (OICC Grand Cube Osaka) 5-3-51 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka
Website: http://www.kansai-japan.net/en/
E-mail: info@kansai-japan.net
◆What is Kansai?
The Kansai region comprises 10 prefectures: Fukui, Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Wakayama, Tokushima, and Tottori Prefectures. Befitting one of the best tourist destinations in Japan, Kansai is full of tourist attractions, including five UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites.
http://www.kansai.gr.jp/place_e/kansai/index.htm
◆What is Kansai Unity?
The Organization of Kansai Unity was established on July 1, 2007, comprising 10 prefectures, four ordinance-designated cities, and 6 economic organizations in the Kansai region. The purpose of the organization is to help Kansai develop into an attractive and energetic region by taking advantage of the overall strengths of the region.
