ISSUE:JANUARY

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2022

RISE

MONTHLY JOURNAL FROM JAPAN

MY
JAPAN
EXCLUSIVE EDITIONPART 01

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LETTERFROMEDITORS

DESK

Dear Reader,
Ohayo Gozaimasu!!
Wishing readers a Very Happy New Year!!
2021 was the year that brought in great hope and many
achievers to the Land of Rising Sun. At Tokyo 2020, it was aspectacular display of resilience and great sportsmanship that
lived up to the slogan "world we share. The world leadershipapplauded Tokyo’s efforts in executing a successful sporting
event, amidst a pandemic. In Tokyo 2020, the flower of theseason, the sunflower was an integral part of podium
ceremony.
With restrictions and no foreign visitors, cultural festivals
honouring the spirits of one's ancestors were held throughout
the summer season in various prefectures. Highlight of these
festivals are night illumination in the form of bright floats,
fireworks and lanterns.
The month of October saw some respite in quarantine norms,
as they were reduced to three days from ten days. The lastquarter of the year also witnessed some of the most amazing
hotel openings. Hilton LXR hotels & resorts opened theirdoors in Gion, Kyoto; OMO5 by Hoshino resorts and ACE
Hotel Kyoto were amongst the few that are set to welcome
guests.
Japan has worked hard over years to delight each visitor byproviding safe and clean environment for travel, and has
stayed on top in visitor satisfaction and this reflected in theConde-Nast Readers’ Awards 2021. In the big cities category,Japan swept the top slot, with Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto being
ranked in the top three. Japan’s Seven Star Luxury Train in
Kyushu was ranked No. 1. Also, the top luxury hotel spot in
Asia was taken by Japanese luxury brands like Suiran, Okura
Tokyo, Hoshinoya and Iraph Sui, Miyako Okinawa.
For automotive enthusiasts, Porsche opened its Tokyo
experience centre near the capital, in Kisarazu City (under
Chiba Prefecture). This is going to be the first of its kind tooffer wholesome experience.
With the arrival of Christmas, it marks the start of festivities
in Japan. Special markets are setup for Christmas, streets are
illuminated and special menus are on offer at restaurants. It is
the New Year that is a big festival in Japan and also marks aholiday season. To celebrate New Year, locals take short
breaks to different Ryokans or resorts.
With the announcement of the new variant of COVID-19,
foreign visitors’ arrival is restricted for the time being inJapan, and the country has witnessed a steady decline in
COVID-19 cases after the peak in August. Stricter measurestaken now shall result in better and safer travel in the future.
At RISE, we strive to bring you, incredible travel and leisurestories from Japan, and we hope this special edition, “MyJapan,” shall delight you with amazing 22 stories, narrated bypeople who adore Japan and want you to be part of a journeyof endless discovery called Japan.
Stay safe and healthy.
Arigato Gozaimasu.

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OSAKA-TALE OF UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIESBY

KELVINKWAN-

SINGAPORE

Osaka has been at the heart of Japan’scultural and economic development for
hundreds of years. In my opinion, Osaka isa must visit for any trip to Japan toexperience the perfect blend of tradition, amodern city and most importantly food! A
city where you will be provided with
unforgettable memories.
Hi, my name is Kelvin Kwan and I had theprivilege of spending 5 years working for
Singapore Airlines in Japan, 3 years ofwhich were spent in Osaka. Now that I am
based in India, I would like to share withyou my love for Japan and provide mypersonal ‘local’ guide to this wonderful city,
to show you what Osaka has to offer.

AIRLINES

For anyone planning to travel to Japan,
please be assured that people are friendly
and honestly ‘Google Translate’ can be yourbest friend. So, get a little adventurous
because Osaka has lots to offer!
WHERE TO EAT
For centuries, Osaka has been known as the“nation’s kitchen” and till today is the citywhere you can literally “eat until you drop”.
So, first up, here are some of myrecommendations for places to eat.
Fukutaro - One should never miss the
chance to try the Osaka soul food‘Okonomiyaki’. Whilst there are several

larger chains, such as ‘Fugetsu’ or ‘Chibo’, I
recommend ‘Fukutaro’, located in Nambaand Umeda which is popular among locals.
‘Okonomiyaki’ is a pan-fried Japanesesavoury dish made with flour batter thatusually consists of shredded cabbage and avariety of ingredients and toppings such asmeat or seafood. It is fun to watch therestaurant staff make your ‘Okonomiyaki’right in front of you on the table top grill.
Shabu-Tei - is a well-established ‘shabushabu’ restaurant located in Umeda andShinsaibashi. They are a local favourite andknown for their freshly made ‘goma-dare’(sesame dipping sauce), which goes wellwith thinly sliced beef or pork.
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Endo-Sushi - located in the Osaka central fish
market, 15 minutes’ walk from the nearest subway
station, offers very fresh sushi. This main branch
opens from 5AM to 2PM from Monday-Saturday.
There is usually a queue, but it is worth a visit.
Their popular menu is ‘Maze’ which consists of 5different pieces of sushi (there are some varietiesof combinations). It would be nice to havebreakfast there before sightseeing.
Daruma - If you like deep fried meat andvegetables skewers, this is the place for you!
Invented as cheap fast food in the early 20th
century, Kushikatsu is now a very popular cuisine
and Daruma one of the most famous chains with
branches across the city. A delightful and fun
experience, but just remember the basic rule thatone should never double dip your skewer in theirtasty black sauce.
Makino - This chain which has several branches
in Osaka (larger branches in Umeda, Nanba andTenjinbashi) is one of my personal favourites.
Makino specialises in tempura and your orders

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are made to order and served one by one. Theirbatter is light and crispy and delicious. Don’t
forget to order the ‘egg’ tempura. You can either
order skewer per piece or try the various
combos they have including a vegetarian set.
WHAT TO DO
Next up, places to visit and recommended things
to do in and around Osaka city. Be it shopping,sightseeing or attractions, Osaka has it all.
Dotonbori - It is widely regarded as ‘heaven’ foreating, shopping, and taking photos. If you had
only once place to visit in Osaka, this is it. There
are many stalls selling local street foods (e.g.
Takoyaki), local cafes, ramen shops, and a wide
variety of restaurants including local popular
chains. There are also numerous shops sellingshoes, bags, clothes, accessories, items fromchemists, cosmetics, souvenirs, etc. You will
enjoy the famous photo spot in front of theiconic Glico-man sign at the Ebisu bridge withother large sign boards around the area too.

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Harukas 300 Observation Deck - It is theobservatory located on the 58th - 60th floors on
Japan’s highest building “Abeno Harukas”. You will
enjoy unobstructed 360-degree views from theheight of 300 meters above the ground. Enjoy thesunset and night view from the observatory with acold drink in hand.
Universal Studios Japan - ‘USJ’ is the first
Universal Studios that was built outside of theUnited States. It will definitely be a fun filled day
for children and adults alike, for what will require
the whole day to experience as much of what USJ
has to offer. The most popular attractions include– Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Minion Parkand the recently opened Super Nintendo World.
The basement floor of larger department stores(not unique to Osaka, but it a must visit in Japan)‘Depachika’ (‘Depa’ for department store and‘Chika’ for basement in Japanese) is a gourmet
heaven for home-made styled Japanese dishes,
bentos (meals in a box), delicatessen foods,
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fine-quality foods, fruits, beautifully decorated
cakes or other sweets, variety of Japanese
confectionery, delicious breads and pastries, etc.
It is also a perfect place to look for souvenirs.
Recommend to visit ‘Depachika’ at the larger
department stores. In Osaka, these would be‘Hankyu Department Store’ in Umeda or‘Takashimaya’ in Namba.

Suntory Yamazaki Distillery - Visit thebirthplace of Japanese whisky and enjoy“Yamazaki Distillery Tour” including a guided
tour of the distillery with viewing of the
production process, as well as tasting ofYamazaki component whiskies. About 1hr from
Osaka by train. Reservations are strongly
recommended.

Doguyasuji - This is a shopping arcade, known as‘Kitchenware street’ located in Namba, lined withshops selling kitchen utensils, cooking equipment
and accessories, kitchen knives, a variety oftableware including chopsticks, restaurants
supply, replica foods, etc. A lot of fun to stroll thestreet.

THINGS TO NOTE

Cup Noodles Museum - The birthplace and allthings instant noodles. Visitors are educated on
the importance of inventiveness and discovery byintroducing the history of instant noodles. You
can also create your own original cup noodles
package. Located 30mins north of Osaka city bytrain.

Moving around the city - The most convenient
way to explore Osaka city is by taking the Metroor train. In Osaka, there are a variety of railway
lines, belonging both to JR and other private
railways so planning ahead and knowing which
train goes where will help with your city
traveling and sightseeing.
Restaurants - Due to steep competition
amongst all numerous eateries, many
restaurants offer reasonable ‘lunch menus’, so
don’t forget to look out for them! Also, if there isa long queue at a restaurant, please make sure to05

check if there are any waiting lists (inside oroutside of the restaurants) and place your name onit.
What I have shared is literally the tip of the iceberg
as there are just too places to eat, shop and uniqueplaces to visit in Osaka. Listed are just some of mypersonal recommendation to friends and family
and I hope you will have an absolute blast in Osaka.
If you are looking for the great outdoors such as
mountains to trek or gardens or historical places
such as temples and shrines to visit, whilst I havenot covered much here, there is indeed a lot to
explore too. Lastly, if you have more time on yourhands, don’t not forget that Kyoto, Kobe and Nara
are nearby and can be visited as day trips out of
Osaka too.
No matter which season you choose to visit Osaka,
I am sure it will be a memorable one.
Singapore Airlines flies to Osaka daily. To book aflight, visit singaporeair.com

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06

JAPAN: A PHOTOGRAPHERS’ PARADISE
BY

SONIA

SINGH

-

NIPPON

When we wish to capture a moment, we
thinkof
memoirs
createdthroughphotography; it means telling stories ofdozens of places we have visited. Japan as adestination is endless and a photographer’sparadise.
With
stunning
landscapesenriched with nature, be it mountains,lakes, valleys, or even beaches, stretchingfrom north to south or from east to west,
each place in Japan definitely leaves a markon a traveller's mind with its beauty. And a
traveller would be happy to capture nature
through photography.
Using reflections in photography createsamazing images. One can use water,
mirrors, or even windows on a building or
skyscraper. Any sort of reflective surface

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can change an image into a work of art.
Reflection photography is the ability to lookat an image in a unique or distinctive way.
One needs to have perfect weather,lighting, and location to capture mirror
images. Many of us would find thereflection in the water attractive.
In the past few years, I have been able toview and capture beautiful landscapes,
especially through reflection photography
or landscape photography. Some of theplaces that I found attractive are mypersonal
favourites,
and
I
would
recommend travellers visit them during
their Japan tour, especially if you lovenature photography.

Kinkakuji Temple is a gold-covered Zen
Buddhist temple that is a gleaming sightin the heart of Kyoto and a must-see forany traveler. As you walk towards thepath of the temple, you can clearly see
the reflection of the temple in the water
surrounding it.
Kyoto is a treasure chest of picturesqueplaces. Every temple and shrine, has adifferent landscape, be it during cherry
blossoms or autumn or winter season,
when there is illumination with lightand sound show. Byoda-in Temple, Toji
Temple, Daigoji Temple, Daikaku-ji
Temple, and Rurikoin Temple are someof the places to capture the peacefulatmosphere.
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Mount Fuji: The stunning photos of the iconic
mountain are always at the top of Japan's
searches and looks captivating in all four
seasons. Mt. Fuji is surrounded by five lakes,
one of which is Lake Kawaguchi, a popular
sightseeing spot where one can see Mt. Fuji
reflecting in its surrounding lakes. Sakasa Fuji,
or Inverse Fuji, is a sight where Mt. Fuji issharply reflected upside down, reflected on
the surface like a mirror at Yamanakako Lake.
A "Double Diamond" view of Mt. Fuji can bewitnessed outside Yamanashi prefecture.
Especially famous are Tanuki Lake (Shizuoka
Prefecture) and Ashinoko Lake (Kanagawa
Prefecture) at the time of sunrise.
Gardens and parks like Shunjuku Gyoen
National Park in Tokyo, Kenrokuen Garden in
Kanazawa, Rikugen in Tokyo, or Ashikaga
Flower Park or Shirotori Garden in Nagoya,and many more, have picturesque naturalscenes at any time of year with great views.

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Castles in Japan are also impressive. At
Matsumoto Castle, Osaka Castle, Nagoya
Castle, and Takada Castle in Niigata
Prefecture, one will not get bored of taking
photographs throughout the day.
Ponds like Blue Pond in Hokkaido, Yumi Ike
Pond in Gunma, Siberian Iris at Hira Pond in
Shiga, and Sarusawa Pond in Nara are not tobe missed.
Japan’s Uyuni Salt Lake! Seto Inland Sea’s"Mirror of the Sky," where both you and thesky will be reflected.
Niigata's Tunnel of Light in Kiyotsu Gorge:This 750m-long tunnel provides access to
one of Japan's three great valleys, theKiyotsu Gorge. Within the tunnel, Kiyotsu
Gorge can be seen from 3 different viewing
stations. Also, in the panoramic station at
the end of the tunnel, you can enjoy thespectacular scenery.

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Festivals like Saga International Balloon Fiesta ,Lantern Festivals and New Year Celebrations
are also a great way to capture reflections ofscenery.
Amusement parks like Universal Studios,Tokyo Disney Sea and Huis Ten Bosch are fun
too.
Even puddle reflections in Japan after rain are
also a great way to capture the hustle andbustle of the cities.
Japan bids an unparalleled chance for incredible
photography, as it offers rich landscape fromurban to rural, high rise buildings to shrines,
modern to traditional, stunning manmade tonatural sites waiting for to be captured throughthe individuals creativity. Once in Japan, you arenever short of photographic opportunity.

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KYOTO – DAY TRIP FROM OSAKA
BY

SHARADSHARMA-NIPPON

Kyoto the erstwhile capital of Japan and in1868 the capital shifted to present day
Tokyo. While you visit Kyoto, it is evident
that there is a constant tussle to balance
the old-world charm with the ultra-modern
cityofhigh-risebuildings
andextraordinary services. Kyoto has now
become a case study, as to how heritage
can coexist with ultra-development.
While on my solo trip to Japan, Osaka was
the gateway city and I had planned the tourin such a way that Osaka became my basefor few days and I took day trips to nearby
destinations, and Kyoto was one of themand it was pure love.
From Osaka-Umeda station, take the

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Hankyu train to Arashiyama station andchange train at Katsura station for
Arashiyama Station. It was a thirty-minutetrain ride and then fifteen to twenty
minutes of walk time to the famous
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. As it is one of
the most popular attraction, and you willfind a lot of people walking the forest
pathway and looking for that perfect
Instagram photograph. It is better to plan avisit to Bamboo forest in early hours of the
day and during the weekday, as there shallbe chances of encountering less crowd.
Nonomiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine and islocated in the middle of forest. The
Arashiyama Bamboo forest is open roundthe clock and there is no entry fee.

Take a little stroll to the nearby stations
operated by JR that are Saga-Arashiyama or
Uzumasa and take train to main Kyoto
station, it is second largest train station
after Nagoya and is one of the largest
building in Japan, including a hotel, movie
theatre, shopping mall, departmental store
and many government offices. Making it adestination in itself. Upon arrival take a bus
to Higashiyama District. It is one of thecity’s best-preserved historic district andmust visit for that Kyoto experience.
This district is between Kiyomizudera andYasaka Shrine, is approximately a twokilometre area and can be covered in twohours or even half a day is less for it.
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Some of the temples in this district are
Kiyomizudera Temple, Kodaiji Temple, Yasaka
Pagoda, Yasaka Shrine and Marayuma Park. Apartfrom these temples and parks, it has one of thebest collections of wooden buildings andtraditional merchant shops, which invoke afeeling of the old capital city. The Yasaka Pagoda
is visible from a distance and is a photographer’sdelight.
While most of the temple and pagoda in thislocality attract entry of approx. six hundred Yen,
and one of my personal temple to spend time is
Yasaka Koshin-Do Temple, the entry to thetemple is free, and it is open from 0900 to 1700
Hrs, its colourful ambience is photographersdelight. Temple is devoted to blue deity, having
its origin linked to an old religion Koshin, also thebirth place for see/hear/speak no evil.
Represented by three monkeys.

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While strolling in this old town, which has been
beautifully restored, do not miss visiting
Starbucks, located in a traditional machiya(wooden house) with a Japanese garden. It is theperfect place to stop and enjoy special flavours
designed for specific seasons in Kyoto.
Apart from this amazing coffee shop, you may
also stop for Kiyomizu-yaki pottery, sweets,
pickles, crafts, and other souvenirs being sold inthese traditional shops. For Indian food, head to
Maharaja restaurant, serving delicious North
Indian cuisine.
The famous Gion Matsuri festival starts from
Yasaka Shrine and is the most important festival
from Kyoto. The float festival happens in July,and in evening the streets are closed for traffic
and it becomes hub for great food, drinks andperformances.

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After the visiting Higashiyama district, take awalk to Kamo river, that runs through Kyoto
City and provides ideal place to relax during
afternoon or after a long walk. In summer,
restaurants open balconies looking out to theriver. There are pathways running alongside theriver on which one can walk along the river, andsome stepping stones that cross the river.
Sometimes you can even spot a maiko or geisha,traditional Japanese entertainers, along the riverbanks.
Later in the evening, take a walk to KyotoKawaramachi Station for a train to OsakaUmeda station. Return to base with memories tocherish forever. It is recommended to stay in
Kyoto for at least two days to explore andexperience the different sites of Kyoto, what has
been said in article is just a bit of Kyoto, and rest
is still to be visited.

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ASAGESHIKI, HIROSHIMA JAPANBY KANA KAWASAKI - HIROSHIMA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
Asageshiki, an original combined word with
two Japanese words- Asage means
breakfast and Asa + Keshiki means view inthe morning is a morning hiking tour in
Hiroshima, Japan.

the castle town from the Shinto priests.
Hiroshima Toshogu Shrine was built at thefoot of Mt. Futaba, which is in the directionof the demon gate (northeast) of Hiroshima
Castle in 1648.

A hiking tour through the crisp earlymorning air of Futaba Mountain, a forest of
sacred trees rich in nature. Enjoying
Nodate, traditional outdoor tea ceremony
with a guide on the mountaintops
overlooking Hiroshima City and the Seto
Inland Sea.

At the Kinko Inari Shrine, lined with morethan 120 bright red torii gates, was also
built as a god of fulfilling various wishes
such as business prosperity and family
safety over 250 years age. We will trek
through its seven different gods. The
panoramic view from the top of themountain, the Peace Pagoda offers aspectacular view of Hiroshima City, theSeto Inland Sea, and also Miyajima.

Through the tranquil forests of the Mt.
Futaba, admire the majestic and elegant
architecture of Hiroshima Toshogu Shrine,
and learn about the history of Hiroshima as

After enjoying the beautiful view, we go

down to Okumiya where is used to be astage long time ago. At this place, we havespecial breakfast and also experience
Nodate performed by tour guide. Okumiya
is wonderful place to see panoramic view ofHiroshima as well as the Peace Pagoda.
Asageshiki original breakfast is filled withlocal products and the bento box isreusable.
Since Asageshiki has a concept of“regenerative tourism”, as a local-based
tourism group clean the route regularly
with volunteers.
Why don’t you visit Hiroshima toexperience something new and deeper with
us?

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11

wines

for

HOKKAIDO-A LUXURIOUS SOJOURN
BY

HIRO

MIYATAKE-

BEAR

If you’ve been looking for a perfect postlock down getaway, Hokkaido is just theplace to be for a holistic holiday
experience. Explore Japan’s northernmost
island and discover a realm of spectacular
scenery, unique culinary experiences,storied heritage and endless adventures.
Covering nearly a quarter of the country,
it’s Japan's largest and most fascinating
prefecture.
In 2020, Japan was the most sought-after
destination especially with the Tokyo 2020
Summer Games capturing the world’s
attention for weeks. The cool environs of
Hokkaido were the host prefecture for the
Olympic marathons and race-walking
events. The world witnessed Japan’s

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legendary ‘Omotenashi’, the time-honoured
spirit of selfless hospitality that goes aboveand beyond.
Fall in love with Hokkaido’s pristine
panoramas renowned for its untouched
beauty and natural produce. Immerse inslow-paced travel experiences with guided
visits to organic farms to experience
traditionalfarming
andvegetable
harvesting first-hand. A visit to Hokkaido’s
vineyards is a must to savour handpicked
fine wines with a side of gorgeous natural
vistas. Wineries in Yoichi have harnessed
Japanese terroirs and curated a uniqueexpression,
distinct
fromEuropeanversions. What’s more, Three Michelinstarred Copenhagen restaurant Noma,

offersYoichi's
premium
connoisseurs to savour.

While here, don’t miss out on sampling
Japan’s celebrity Michelin-starred chef
Tomoyuki Takao’s ingenious Italian culinary
masterpieces crafted with the region’s
freshest
seasonal
produce.
He’sapassionate culinarian who hikes themountains cape and forages the adjoining
port
tohandpick
traditional
Ainu
ingredients and fresh seafood for his
gourmet specials. He’s known for curating
neo-Hokkaido cuisine by adopting thecooking methods of the Ainu - theindigenous people of Hokkaido.
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If you’re an outdoorsy kind of person say
yes to adrenaline-fueled adventures at
Hokkaido’s stunning ski destinations forskiing and snowboarding in winters andunrushed tee-offs at the lush golf courses
in summers. Step into a ginormous frozen
sea and experience Ryuhyo’s awe-inspiringdrift ice that stretches from Hokkaido’s
northern coast all the way to Siberia. Set
off on ice-walking tours trekking throughthe ice-covered wonderland and enjoy thisunique seasonal phenomenon.
Fuel your wanderlust with a staggering
range of sightseeing opportunities amid
nature's exquisite artistry poised in
Hokkaido. The best time to enjoy Sakura
season here is in April when cherry
blossoms frame the cityscape in vivid hues.
From massive mountains, active volcanoes,

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meandering rivers, lush meadowlands andthe wide ocean – Hokkaido is a haven for
nature enthusiasts and adventure junkies.
Discover a plethora of luxe hotels offering
world-class hospitality and captivating
cityscape views you can’t get bored of. An
ever-growing collection of design-led
hotels continue to push the envelope andredefine luxurious getaways here.
From the ultra-luxurious ‘Haku Villas’ withan infinity onsen hot-spring to ‘Park Hyatt
Niseko Hanazono’ offering minimalist
aesthetic and stunning views of theAnnapuri mountain ranges to ‘Higashiyama
Niseko Village’, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in
Hokkaido’s snowy wilderness. You’ll be left
spoilt for choice with a wide assortment
from world-class ski resorts to the serene

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seclusion of ryokans.
Slated to open their doors to discerning
travellers soon are Rosewood Niseko, Aman
Niseko and Six Senses Niseko reinforcing
Hokkaido as the destination of choice forluxurious holidays and inspiring escapades.
Begin planning your next holiday as thisserene paradise is all set to welcome global
travellers. Check Hokkaido off your travel
bucket list with personalized travel plans
crafted by Bear Luxe Japan. With an arrayof seasonal attractions and natural marvels,
any time you pick is absolutely the righttime to experience the captivating charmsof Hokkaido.

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13

SAPPORO SNOW FESTIVAL
BY

NIBEDITA

ROY

-

JNTO

It all started when a group of students usedtheir imagination and the best quality snowof the world to carve out some popular
sculptures in the Odori Park in 1950. With
time it has matured to a neon-lit, week long,international crowd puller festival of the
Hokkaido, located in the northern most partof Japan.
It takes place in the early February in 3 sites
in Sapporo namely Odori Park, Tsudome
Site and Susukino Site. The 72nd Festival willtake place in Hybrid mode from 5th
February,22 to 28th February,22. This year,
snow sculptures that main attraction of thisfestival in Odori Park will appear from 5th
February,22 to 12th February,22. People also
can enjoy this event online by learning how
to make small snow structures or byparticipating in photo contest.

INDIA

OFFICE

Sapporo can be reached from New Chitose
Airport by JR train in 37 minutes. Shuttle
bus service is available between the Snow
Festival sites during this season.
In the Odori Park people can enjoy the
essence of Ainu tradition along with cuttingedge technology, anime, different sports
like skii jump. Also, international diplomatic
relations are celebrated here in form of the
Snow Festival. Depending on the theme
different snow sculptures and activities arearranged every year.
In the Tsudome site, the fun activities like
Family Tube slide, Snowball Challenger,
Snow Kickboard, Ice Glass making, Indoor
kids park make it the main attraction forpeople traveling with their families.

In the Susukino Site on a theme of “Finding
Delight in Ice” 60 snow sculptures arecarved which can be touched and climbed.
A walk along the Illumination Road will take
into the Ice bar where hot beverages can berelished. Photo opt with the “Ice Queen”
will bring you numerous hearts on the
Instagram.
Waiting till the evening to experience themagic of lit up snow sculptures isworthwhile. You can take back the sweet
memories of the festival in terms of thetaste of local food, wine, beer or souvenirs
available there.
*The schedule of the festival may change orcancel depending on the Corona Virussituation.

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JAPAN-LEADING GOLFING DESTINATIONBY

BENNETTJ.

GALLOWAY

The Japanese are well known for taking agood idea and making it better and golf is
no exception. Courses in Japan tend to be
far above international standards andnowhere else in the world can you findsuch lavish facilities in such staggering
numbers. Virtually every famous course
designer has played a part in creating avariety of great courses while the attention
to detail and strict management ensuresthey are immaculately groomed andmaintained.
The Gotemba valley in Shizuoka Prefectureis home to the southern half of Mt. Fuji andeasily accessible from Tokyo by car or train.
This fertile area has undoubtedly the best
views of the famous mountain you’ll find-THE

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GROUP

anywhere in Japan. With all the land gently
sloping away from Mt. Fuji, the area
beckoned for golf course construction.
Luckily the citizens of this golf crazed
nation were only happy enough to oblige
and with the help of some world famousand domestic course designers, havecreated some of the best courses
surrounded by the most spectator andmemorable scenery you’ll find anywhere in
the world! Couple this with the uniqueculture and fine local cuisine and you’ve got
a must experience new golf destination.
Japan has been crazy about golf since it was
introduced more than century ago and it
has long been an intricate part of its
business culture ever since. Today there

K.K.
are more than 2,300 courses in Japanoutnumbering Scotland. Nothing is morememorable than hitting a perfect tee shotstraight down the fairway with Mt. Fuji soclose it literally towers over you! So should
you find yourself in Tokyo with time on
your hands, don’t hesitate to take a day outof your life for an unforgettable golf get-away.
Courses once were open to members only
but now welcome the public too, often atvery reasonable prices. Golfers looking to
try something different will love golf inJapan. It's a slight twist from the grand oldgame you might be used to, but just replace
your scotch whiskey with Sake and you've
got a golf experience you'll never forget.

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SAKE - JAPANESE RICE WINE
BY

KYOKO

NAGANO-SAKE

Do you know sake? It is Japan's national
alcohol drink which has a history of over2500 years. It is deeply rooted in Japaneseculture and tradition and sake making is anintangible cultural asset of Japan. If you like
Japanese animation, you might have seen
the movie "Your Name” where the main
character priestess chewed the rice andspit it in a container - eventually it became
holy sake (primitive form of sake) calledkuchikamizake, which was used for
ceremonial purposes.
The current sake making style wasestablished in the Edo period (400 yearsago) and sake is brewed alcohol, notdistilled. If you visit Meiji Jingu shrine or

LOVERS

INC.

some famous shrines, you will see sakebarrels offered there.
Our main business is exporting sake (notyet to India) and we handle over 100 craft
sake breweries products nationwide but wealso conduct sake brewery tours andtasting events so the tourists can get toknow more about sake and the brewery’s
history and their story. Sadly, the sakeindustry in Japan is diminishing but gaining
popularity overseas.
Let me introduce Toshimaya Sake Breweryin Tokyo. The history of Toshimaya goesback to 1596 when they started off as a sakeretailer, the longest history among the sakebreweries located in Tokyo. Sake making

usually starts from October and ends
around March. If you come to the brewery
during the sake brewing season, it might beinteresting to visit the brewery in fullaction. Not just you get to see inside thebrewery, you will get to taste different
kinds of sake. If you have more than 10
people in the group, we can also set up asake and food pairing event inside thebrewery. When you visit the brewery, you
can taste the fresh and delicious sake
which is only available at the brewery.
There are unpasteurized fresh sake which
you can't get in India too. India imports
only 0.2% of what the United States has
imported and sake is not yet known so be
sure to try some while you are there!

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THE DRAGON ROUTE
BY

ADRIANNAVARRO-MOTO

The Dragon Route cuts through Aichi, Gifu,
Toyama, and Ishikawa prefectures, fromsouth to north across the Chubu region andnext to the Japanese Alps, in the central
part of Japan. It is gaining popularity as oneof the hidden gem destinations among
motorcycle enthusiasts all over the world.
It was given this name because the shape of
the area looks like a mystical rising dragon
with the Noto Peninsula as the head.
The countless attractive features of thisarea include a wide range of traditional andhistorical culture landmarks like Nagoya
castle, the World Heritage site of
Shirakawago with their famous traditional
gassho-zukuri
farmhouses,theswordsmith town of Seki with their Katanas

TOURS

JAPAN

INC.

craftmanship and Keta Shinto shrine, a holy
spot dating back over 2,000 years. It
enshrines the deity Okuninushi, who is a
god people pray to find true love.
In addition, the route also takes you
through fun sweeping mountain roads andbeautiful natural landscapes that change
from season to season like Kenrokuen
garden, designated as one of the three mostbeautiful landscape gardens in Japan. You
will also have the chance to ride on
Chirihama with the motorcycle, the only
beach driveway in the country. The sand isso compact that you can drive right next to
the water.
And we can’t forget the abundance ofdelicacies from land and sea that they serveat the traditional Ryokans! (Japanese style
hotels). Did you know Japanese cuisine has
been officially recognized as a UNESCO
Intangible World Heritage? The route also
gives you the chance to stroll around Himiwith its charming small town’s fish market.
The northernmost part of the route ends
up at a luxury hot spring resort by the sea
at the Noto peninsula. Nothing like a hotbath at the hot springs after a day of riding
to relax the body and have a wonderful
sleep.
Can you imagine? Riding through Japan on
a rising dragon shaped route, exploring allthese fascinating places in the country on
your favorite motorcycle. Is like a dreamcome true!

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17

BARAZUSHI - A FOOD CULTURE
BY

JESSE

EFRON

-

KYOTO

BY

THE

SEA

DMO

The Tango region of Kyoto by the Sea is just
2-hours from Kyoto City by limited express
train, and has a food culture that dates
back to Japan’s first ancient kingdom. For
generations, people in this region havebeen making a unique sushi-dish calledbarazushi, and it is so popular in Japan thatpeople want to try it at least once during
their life.

pickled-ginger, kamaboko (fish cake), andshiitake mushrooms. The pieces are cut andserved so that you can see the layers whileeating it. People also add seasonal
ingredients to create barazushi thatmatches each season (like burdock root,
bamboo shoots, and kampyo).

What is barazushi?

Making barazushi means so much to people
here. Mothers and grandmothers makebarazushi for festivals, a tradition passed
down
through
generations.
It’saconfirmation of social
andfamilialbonds, and a way of communication,connecting families, relatives, neighbors,and the community. Even though it was

It looks a little like lasagna, and while there
are different varieties, it is often made in awooden box called a matsubuta, and has alayer of sushi rice, crumbled grilledmackerel, another layer of sushi rice, and avariety of toppings like shredded egg, red

Why barazushi?

originally made for festivals, the tradition
soon spread to the Obon holiday, birthdays,
and occasions where relatives and friends
gather. Now there are restaurants andhotels in the region that specialize inmaking this dish as well. And there aresomesplendidvariations
thatcanaccommodate different diets as well. For
example, Centrale Hotel Kyotango makes avegan version that tastes just like theoriginal recipe! You can find sushi
anywhere in Japan, but you’ll only findbarazushi in Kyoto by the Sea!