Kyoto’s unique culture, cuisine, craftsmanship and design promoted to lure Middle East residents to Japan’s ancient capital
(Dubai, 20 April 2014) Kyoto City has
opened a promotional office in Dubai to encourage Gulf nationals and
residents to visit Japan’s ancient capital for holidays and leisure. The
opening of the office, which takes immediate effect, makes the office
the first in the Middle East by a Japanese tourism authority.
Kyoto is Japan’s
ancient imperial capital, home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and
most of Japan’s cultural and traditional arts and crafts traditions,
including Kyoto’s famous geiko and maiko (apprentice geiko) as well as Japanese kaiseki cuisine among others.
Says Mr.
Yoshikazu Kuki, Director of Kyoto City Tourism & MICE Office: “It is
with great pride and enthusiasm that we are the first Japanese tourism
authority to open a permanent promotional office in the Middle East.
While Kyoto is an ancient city, our outlook is extremely modern. We
warmly welcome visitors from the Middle East to experience our unique
culture, shopping, sites, activities and cuisine, as well as our
internationally renowned “omotenashi” hospitality.”
To make Kyoto even more hospitable for Muslim travellers, Kyoto City
has been working closely with its local tourism and hotel industry to
ensure cultural and religious needs are well taken care of. Local
seminars have been held regularly to educate the travel industry on the
importance of providing Halal and Muslim-friendly cuisine and other
services and amenities that would be appreciated by guests from the
region. In late 2013 a select group of leading UAE travel agents were
invited to Kyoto to experience what the city has to offer as well as
speak to the local tour operators and hoteliers to provide their
expertise and advice on how to cater for Middle Eastern guests.
Mr Kuki added: “After a long investigative, consultative and training process supervised by Kyoto Muslim Association, Kyoto is now trying to prepare for welcoming Muslim guests. In fact we have launched a special online Muslim Friendly Kyoto website http://www.kyoto.travel/
With a history
that expands 1,220 years, 1,000 of which were as the capital of Japan,
Kyoto has a rich tapestry of attractions, shopping and cultural
experiences suitable for urban lifestyle travellers that enjoy the
juxtaposition between traditional and modern worlds that only Kyoto can
provide. Museums dedicated to “anime” or Japanese animation stand side
by side a working Japanese Edo samurai period working film studio,
Karaoke boxes and vibrant night entertainment comfortably exists in a
city where exclusive maiko performances and tea ceremony and can be
enjoyed.
As the capital
of Japan for over 1000 years, Kyoto was the kitchen of the Imperial
Court. Top ranking nobles inherited a multitude of refined cuisines,
including specialties unique to Kyoto such as “Kaiseki-ryori” and
vegetarian friendly “Shojin-ryori”, as well as “Obanzai” for everyday
dining. Today Kyoto remains the home of traditional Japanese cuisine,
and there are many specialty eateries for sushi, tempura, soba, and
ramen. Kyoto is also famous throughout Japan for Japanese sweets.
Accommodation in
Kyoto is diverse allowing visitors to experience five stay luxury at
both modern contemporary hotels, as well as traditional family-run inns
that offer privacy, bespoke service and a real insight to Japanese
traditions, hospitality and cuisine.
Kyoto is famous
for its many temples, shrines and gardens which are immaculately
manicured throughout the year. With four distinct seasons Kyoto’s
changing landscapes permeate all matters of the culture from the
seasonal cuisine offered, to the iconic scenes of some of Kyoto’s most
famous landmarks surrounded by snow, cherry blossom, verdant summer
growth or the fiery hues of an autumnal forest.
Commented
Mr. Kuki: “The pleasures that each season brings are unique, making
Kyoto a city that can not be visited just once, but at least four times
to truly experience our culture and the intrinsic beauty that Kyoto
offers. Kyoto truly has a unique experience and different face for each
season. A common point of discussion and debate even amongst us Japanese
is which season is the best to enjoy Kyoto. It’s a difficult choice,
and we would love as many Middle Eastern residents as possible to join
that debate with their own perspectives.”
Heading the Kyoto Convention & Visitors Bureau (KCVB) Middle East Office is Takao Yamamoto of AVIAREPS. As part of KCVB’s promotions within the Middle East, KCVB
will be participating at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai in
early May 2014 for the first time. Travel professionals eager to learn
more of what Kyoto has to offer are encouraged to visit the Kyoto stand at the fair which will also include co-participants from Kyoto based hotels.
For further information regarding Kyoto please visit the official Kyoto Travel Guide at: http://www.kyoto.travel/ or contact the Middle East office at: Tel: +971 4 375 3297
About Kyoto Convention & Visitors Bureau
Kyoto Convention & Visitors
Bureau is composed of Kyoto city officials and over 200 tourism &
MICE related businesses. It aims at promoting tourism in Kyoto through
activities such as participating in international tourism expositions,
inviting overseas travel agencies and media to Kyoto to familiarize them
with tourist & MICE venues; and improving the environment for
international tourists and business visitors. The bureau is also
commissioned by the city of Kyoto to manage the Kyoto Representative
Offices which are located in the U.S., Taiwan, South Korea, China,
Australia, France, UK, Germany, Hong Kong and Dubai in the United Arab
Emirates.
