Traveling to Japan? Book a room at Ryokan [Archives:2005/906/Last Page]
Irena Knehtl
[email protected]
A ryokan is a traditional Japanese-style inn, which has been a central part of Japanese culture for centuries. The earliest ryokans were built along the Tokai Highway for travelers journeying between the capital city of Tokyo and the Imperial Palace in Kyoto. The simplest ryokans were actually homes offering extra rooms for travelers. Others, more elaborate, were offering little luxuries to exquisite elaborate cuisine.
Today, there are around 63,000 ryokans in Japan, of which 1,800 are high quality establishments belonging to the Japan Tourism Association. Many are located close to hot springs. Besides offering relaxation and calming views of the gardens, the blue sky or the stars above during the evening, the onsen (Hot springs) are places to meet friends, swap gossip and jokes, and practice Japanese. Rooms usually contain reading material in English explaining the inn's history and ryokan customs.
Gracious service is norm in Japan. The Luxury Ryokan Collection (LRC) in conjunction with Hong Kong TravelOptions group, is a brand of 15 finest ryokans across Japan. It offers added services at some of Japan's most exclusive inns. All painstakingly selected to launch the collection under the name Luxury Ryokan Collection. Reservations are available through LRC's web site which allows visitors to obtain detailed information about the collection of ryokans for travelers with a taste for the finest things in life.
Unique both in concept and execution it is meant to break the language barriers and promote them internationally. Reason that ryokans were not readily available outside Japan. Exclusive services include interpretation from some 150 languages, free mobile phone service, transportation, guide, VIP excursions. Key markets include the USA, China, Hong Kong, Germany and United Kingdom.
Ryokans go back to medieval times and are part of national treasures in Japan, each with its own rich history. Here once can experience the true essence of Japan and where one would want to return often. The exquisite beauty and allure of the ryokans themselves assure a memorable experience.
Web site: www.luxuryryokan.com
Yemen and Japan
Japan is the second largest economy in the world. Yemen remains an important market for Japanese goods and Japan one of the main single donors to Yemen. The Japanese assistance has been instrumental to Yemen, and begun to include municipality projects. It continued to cover technical expertise, infrastructure projects and projects in the field of education, health, training, culture and environment. The focus now is on projects related to poverty reduction strategy,millennium development goals, human security, such as de-mining and assistance to the most needy. In the future also partnerships in the field of construction, Japanese direct investment, as well as assistance to Yemen`s economic, administrative and financial reform will be high on the agenda.
Yemen participated this year in Expo Aichi 2005 in Nagoya under the motto “The Wisdom of Nature””. Some 120 countries participated. The Expo was attended by some 15 Million visitors. It offered an excellent opportunity to introduce and promote Yemen to the Japanese public and internationally.
——
[archive-e:906-v:14-y:2005-d:2005-12-26-p:lastpage]”
