Japan Centennial Celebration Getaway Sweepstakes

Spring 2012 will be a special season as it marks the centennial anniversary of Japan's Gift of Trees to the U.S. To celebrate this anniversary, we're giving you and a guest the chance to explore Japan inside and out. Read through all 6 itineraries, pick your favorite, and enter for your chance to win your dream vacation! Enter Now >>

In April 2012, the start of an unprecedented era in commercial facilities begins with the opening of Shibuya Hikarie, a new commercial tower which is taking the concepts of shopping, dining, entertainment and business to new heights.
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During the 24-day period from Jan. 27th (Fri.) to Feb. 19th (Sun.), participating restaurants will be offering special lunch and dinner menus at reasonable prices. Some are also offering a special children's menu.
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2012 is a great year to visit Japan! Tourists will receive a splendid welcome (or welcome back!), as renowned hotel companies will be opening new world class hotels and resorts in many major destination areas.
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JAPAN

Drift Ice Sightseeing in Hokkaido
When the temperature starts dropping, Japan is full of wonderful winter attractions.
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Cherry Blossom Viewing
As the temperatures start to warm, Japan's iconic cherry blossoms (sakura) begin to bloom, slowly spreading their fragile beauty from Okinawa in the south to Hokkaido in the north. For More >>

Chusonji Fujiwara Festivals
The Chusonji Fujiwara Festivals in commemoration of the Fujiwara clan will be held in May and November at the newly added UNESCO World Heritage site in Hirazumi, Iwate Prefecture. For More >>

Tokyo Design Festa
For two days in May (Sat. 12th and Sun. 13th), the Tokyo Design Festa will be held in the West Exhibition Hall of Tokyo Big Site (Tokyo International Exhibition Center convention hall). For More >>

U.S

Shochu & Awamori Tasting Contest


Qualifying Rounds: February 6-11, 2012 at 16 restaurants and bars in New York City
Final Round: February 15th, 2012 from 7pm to 9pm at Kitano Hotel, 18th Floor Banquet Room
Entry Fee: $30, Grand Prize: $2,000 + 2 Round Trip Flights to Japan. For More >>

The 2012 Boston Globe Travel Show


Dates: February 10-12, 2012
Place: Seaport World Trade Center, Boston
The Consulate General of Japan and JNTO will once again have a booth (#660) in the Asia-Pacific section.
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Bay Area Travel and Adventure Show


Date: February 18 and 19, 2012
Place: Santa Clara Convention Center
JNTO Booth Number: #819
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New York Time Travel Show


Travel Trade: March 2, 2012
Open to the Public: March 3-4, 2012
Place: Javits Center, NYC
JNTO will have a booth. See you there!
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©Felipe Smith
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General Tours: From Japan's Inland Sea to the Alps (11 days: April 12 to 22, 2012)
($4,799 per person, based on double occupancy. International airfare is additional)

Special Offer: Take off $600 per couple
when you pay-in-full at time of booking!

This escorted Small Group Journey to Kyoto, Kanazawa, Takayama and Tokyo includes 5 World Heritage Sites like the Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park, ancient Nara and the farmhouses of Shirakawago. With never more than 16 guests, you'll enjoy authentic cultural encounters not possible in a larger group… Dine with Geisha, try your hand at noodle making, sample fine regional sake – and marvel at Japan's celebrated Cherry Blossoms in the country's prettiest towns and most scenic Alpine regions. For details, please see here.

Orient Flexi-Pax Tours: Tokyo & Kyoto + Mt. Fuji (7 Days) (from $1,665, land only)

Orient Flexi-Pax Tours welcomes you to Japan. Our 7-Day package for just $1,665 per person (land only) includes visits to the cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and an excursion to Mount Fuji. Package includes Superior First Class hotels, airport transfers, bullet train and comprehensive sightseeing. Optional "Cherry Blossom" tours are available during the end of March through early April. Japan is waiting for you. Visit us at www.orientflexipax.com for our most imaginative and comprehensive variety of Japan travel offerings ever. For more, please visit here.

Pacific Holidays: Historic Japan
(10 Days / 8 Nights) (from $4,840, including air, with weekly guaranteed departures)

Embark on a 10-day journey to the historically significant sites of Japan. Visit Tokyo's Imperial Palace and Tokyo Tower. Drive along the slope of Mt. Fuji and cruise Lake Ashi. Take a bullet train to Nagoya, where you are transferred through the Japanese Alps into Takayama, 'Little Kyoto'. Visit Shirakawago, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. Explore Kyoto, Japan's ancient capital, where you see the Golden Pavilion and the Nijojo Castle before returning to the US. For more, please visit here.

Destination Japan / H.I.S. : Tokyo Anime Freedom 2012
(March 21-29, 2012) (Price: $1555 - Land Only Price)

The tour has been created for people who are crazy about Anime, Manga, and Video games, and to find out what's happening in cosmopolitan Tokyo now, while seeing the cultural side of Japan as well. It includes admission to the Tokyo International Anime Fair 2012 and Ghibli Museum, a full-day Tokyo sightseeing tour, and a shopping day in Tokyo escorted by one of our staff, hanging out in popular areas like Akihabara, Harajuku, and Shibuya taking local trains. For more, please visit Destination Japan.

Quiz: Where in Japan?

Wakayama prefecture is known for its world heritage sites. Please name the two world heritage sites in Wakayama. One is known as a Japanese monastic center situated on a small plain at the top of a mountain, where about 120 temples are scattered around. Lodging facilities are available for visitors. The other one is known as the "holy ground where the gods dwell," which has a pilgrimage route that has led pilgrims from Kyoto to this area since the 11th century.

Hint: Please check the below site for additional hints!

URL: http://www.wakayama-kanko.or.jp/world/english/index.html

Prize: 5 Lucky Winners will be chosen from among all correct answers submitted to receive a special area pass "Kansai Wakayama Pass" worth 5,500 yen (about $70*).

How to enter: You can enter through February 29, 2012, at http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22EKVBY4B2S/

Let's review the quiz for the Newsletter Vol. 17 (November issue). The answer is Sakai (City). Out of 236 replies, 219 (92.8%) had the correct answer!

Thank you for reading our first newsletter in 2012!

Now that you've read the newsletter, do you know what's special about this year? (If not, go back to the top!!) This is the centennial anniversary of Japan's Gift of Trees to the U.S.. 3,000 cherry trees in Washington, D.C. symbolize the long lasting friendship between two countries. Isn't it amazing that we actually have kept great ties with each other for such a long time?

To commemorate the centennial, there will be a number of events and festivals going on throughout the country. We will announce some of them in coming issues, so don't miss out. Something exciting may happen in your own town!

Please stay connected with us and celebrate this memorable year with us!