Sparkling Japan: Introduction to the Chubu Region in Winter | Offer you various choices of plan on travel to Japan FOR INDIVIDUALS FOR COMPANIES (MICE) SUNRISE TOURS 50TH ANNIVERSARY! English (US) Japanese (JP) Chinese (CN) Chinese (TW) Destinations Travel Plans Who We Are Contact Us HOMETRAVEL PLANSSPARKLING JAPAN: INTRODUCTION TO THE CHUBU REGION IN WINTER BACK TO TRAVEL PLANS SPARKLING JAPAN: INTRODUCTION TO THE CHUBU REGION IN WINTER WAJIMA – SPARKLING LANDSCAPE OF JAPAN: SENMAIDA POCKET PARK ILLUMINATIONS “AZE-NO KIRAMEKI” Senmaida light-up Senmaida spring Among the many Senmaida (rice terraces) found throughout Japan, the ones in Wajima are distinguished from the others as terraced rice fields facing the raging waves of the Sea of Japan. These Senmaida are located roughly halfway between Wajima and Sosogi next to National Highway Route 249. These small rice fields create geometric patterns and continue onto the coast. The 1,004 fields are listed as a National Scenic Beauty. The evening sun that sets in the sea from spring to summer is reflected in the rice fields, so the landscape of these beautiful rice terraces has become familiar to many tourists and photography enthusiasts as the perfect place to take photographs. Noto’s Satoyama and Satoumi (mountains and coastline closely connected with the livelihoods of people) was listed as a World Agricultural Heritage site in June 2011 with the white rice Senmaida becoming the symbolic terraced rice fields of this. An illumination event called “Aze-no Kirameki” (sparkling rice field ridges) is held on these terraced rice fields from mid-October until mid-March of the following year. At this event, 21,000 solar power LEDs (placed in PET bottles) are set up on the ridges of the rice fields after cultivation has finished. The Senmaida become shrouded in a fantastic sparkling space and this event has gained a great reputation as a centerpiece of winter tourism in the region. On November 14, 2012, this was certified by the Guinness World Records as the largest ever display of solar power LEDs. Seeing the fantastic illuminations that sparkle every 30 minutes from pink to yellow is undoubtedly a memorable experience as an opportunity to see a new kind of Japanese landscape! After you have warmed your heart with these illuminations, you can then take a soothing trip to warm your body as well with the hot springs in Wajima. NAGASHIMA RESORT – SPARKLING GARDEN: NABANA-NO SATO “WINTER ILLUMINATION” The winter tradition that will start again this year called “Nabana-no Sato Winter Illuminations” (approximately 30 minutes by car from Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture / Nagoya) will be held for a limited period until around March 31, 2015. Eight scenes (e.g. the spectacle of the mysterious Niagara Falls and lively waterfalls) that are composed in about eight minutes under the theme of “spectacular landscapes and Niagara Falls” are produced using the latest LEDs among the illuminations on a colossal scale of about 20m in height and 120m in width. This year will mark the 50th anniversary of this event with the new introduction of a “flowerbed tunnel” that has a total length of about 100m. It is also possible to enjoy the transience of the colors of the four seasons that change in the “sparkling” tunnel with the latest LEDs creating an image of restful and magical yellow rape blossoms in the sparkling pink that gives the impression of lotus flowers. Why don’t you soak up the romantic mood by checking out the wonderful illuminations that were selected as the best in the “Illumination Category” of the “Landscape Awards” by 4,000 professionals from across Japan in 2013? We recommend you see the gradient over the sunset by coming to the event one hour before the sun goes down. Don’t forget to go shopping in Mitsui Outlet Park Jazz Dream Nagashima, which boasts 240 stores, on your way back home! Light's tunnel Niagara falls SNOW RESORT NAGANO – SPARKLING SNOW Matsumoto castle and snow mountains 写真提供：信州・長野県観光協会 Nagano is called the “roof of Japan.” The Winter Olympics was held here in 1988 with people from across the world getting caught up in the whirlpool of excitement that accompanied this event. The winter season will see tourists from all over the planet descend on Nagano seeking the “sparkling” powder snow resorts (e.g. Hakuba, Nozawa Onsen and Shiga Kogen) that are not even outdone by Hokkaido. There are many other attractions to be found here in addition to skiing. The national treasure Matsumoto Castle, which has a relatively high rate of sunny days even in winter, has the oldest – built at the end of the 16th century – five-storied (fivefold roofs) and six floor castle tower existing in Japan. You should not miss out on seeing the “sparkling” contrast between the black walls of Matsumoto Castle that have withstood the wind and snow over many years to protect the castle tower as it was during the Warring States Period (1467-1568) and the snow-capped peaks spanning the Northern Alps that tower above in the far distance. (Matsumoto Castle is closed from December 29 to January 3.) Furthermore, you can also find Jigokudani Yaen-Koen approximately one hour from Nagano Station. This park – famous for its snow monkeys – has a harsh environment at an altitude of 850m in which around one third of the land is covered in snow throughout the year. The ancient people who saw the steep cliffs and the steam of the hot springs rising from everywhere named this place “Jigokudani” – which means the “Valley of Hell.” However, this place is a paradise for monkeys. Troops of monkeys have lived in the pristine nature here since olden times. Since the park was opened in 1964, this land has become widely loved by people from around the world as a place where it is possible to observe the fascinating ecology of Japanese macaques up close and as a place where monkeys enjoy the hot springs. Please see the following website for more information: www.go-nagano.net. FUJI DREAM AIRLINES – SPARKLING HOSPITALITY: REGIONAL AIRLINE BASED IN THE CHUBU REGION FUJI DREAM AIRLINES (FDA) is a new regional airline that was the first to fly from “Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport,” the closet airport to Mt. Fuji, in July 2009. This airline connects provincial cities in Japan with small regional jets to provide safe and comfortable air travel across the country. The airline’s jets have “sparkling” coloring that are different for each of their new aircraft – their first jet was red, the second was light blue and then pink, green, orange, purple, yellow and tea green have followed since. What color jet will you fly on?! You will be welcomed onto these jets that have spacious and soft leather seats with free drinks, small baked sweets and attentive hospitality. ©FUJI DREAM AIRLINES Only Regional Airline Based in Matsumoto Airport FDA provides round trip flights of approximately 90 minutes once a day from both Fukuoka Airport and Sapporo New Chitose Airport to Shinshu-Matsumoto Airport. Please be sure to use this airline to fly from Sapporo New Chitose Airport, which is close to ski resorts in Hokkaido such as Niseko and Rusutsu, to Shinshu-Matsumoto Airport, which is the closest airport to the ski resorts of Hakuba, Shiga Kogen/Nozawa Onsen and the castle town of Matsumoto. There is also a convenient schedule from Fukuoka Airport that connects you to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flights departing from Amsterdam and locations across Europe, Singapore Airlines flights departing from Singapore and Thai Airways International flights departing from Bangkok. Great News: JTBGMT is the sole sales agent able to sell special fares for individual foreign customers and group rates for foreigners which are available from one person one-way flights for both FDA New Chitose ⇔ Shinshu-Matsumoto Airport and Fukuoka ⇔Shinshu-Matsumoto Airport! Additional benefits are also available to further discount your trip if you make a reservation at the same time as booking accommodation in Matsumoto City. Please feel free to contact our members of staff for more information! For more information, please get in touch CONTACT US BACK TO TRAVEL PLANS TOP NAVIGATION Home What's New Destinations Travel Plans Who We Are Contact Us JTB GLOBAL MARKETING & TRAVEL INC. 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