(New York, NY, November 3, 2011) – Japan's recent new tourism landmarks will signify Japan's cultural and industrial richness. Cherishing the unique history as well as advancing the efficient technology, the new facilities showcase Japan's both past and future.
Dutch Trading House Museum
Nagasaki opened the 400 years old warehouse that was used by the East India Company in September 2011. Nagasaki was the first base in Japan for the European merchants and travelers, since the self-defensing samurai-run Japanese government only opened a small area in Nagasaki for the Westerners. The warehouse was originally built by the East India Company, and the September opening made the un-Japanese looking architecture into a museum of the European influence in the Hirado district, how the East India Company reached to Nagasaki, and Nagasaki's unique encounter with the European (particularly Dutch) culture in the era when Japan was closed to the rest of the world.
More Japanese Cities in Michelin
Michelin started releasing the 2012 guides with two more Japanese cities for the world famous restaurant guides. Nara, the very first capital of Japan, joined the Kyoto/Osaka/Kobe Restaurant Guide from the 2012 edition. Michelin has already given the most number of starts to the Japanese guides, and the 25 restaurants in total are added from Nara. Hokkaido, Japan's northern island with the Olympic quality powder snow and endless agricultural lands, will be showcased in the Michelin Restaurant Guide, which is exclusively released in Japanese.
Fly Nonstop to Tokyo from New England
Japan Airlines will begin nonstop service between Boston Logan and Tokyo's Narita International Airport starting April 22, 2012, and the airline will operate the route using its brand-new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. This first route to directly link Boston with Asia will launch with four weekly flights (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays), and increase to daily service from June 1, 2012. The route will also be a code-share by American Airlines, who entered into a joint business agreement with JAL in April 2011.
Tokyo Sky Tree
Japan's capital city is getting a new digital transmission tower in the era of digital broadcasting and mobile devices. Named as Tokyo Sky Tree, the new transmission tower is 634 meter high (2,080 feet), and will be completed as the world's tallest free-standing tower. Equipped with Japanese high-tech structures and employed the traditional architectural method of center column vibration control from the five-story pagoda, the Tokyo Sky Tree is the latest seismic proof tower. The tower easily surpasses height of the current Tokyo Tower (250m, 820ft) and other skyscrapers in Tokyo, creating a new skyline of Tokyo. The tower's grand opening is on May 22, 2012.
Hikarié, Shibuya
A new commercial tower emerges near the iconic enormous crossing in Shibuya. Hikarié is in the final stage for the opening in summer 2012, in the vicinity of Shibuya train station. Housing theatres, galleries, event space and shopping floors, Hikarié will become the ground zero of Tokyo's art, culture, contents, and the information. In tandem with many other theatres, galleries, cafés, clubs and stores, Shibuya has been culturally influential, and Hikarié will absorb and produce pop culture trends.
Global Financial Table in Tokyo
International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank will meet in Tokyo for the 2012 Annual Meetings' venue. The two largest international finance organizations picked Tokyo as an alternative venue for the 2012 event after Egypt, the original host country, gave up to host the meeting. Starting from October 9, 2012, the Japanese capital city expects more than 20,000 visitors related to the meeting. This is the first time to have IMF and World Bank meeting in Japan since 1964.
For more information contact: Nori Akashi, Public Relations Manager at nakashi@jntonyc.org.
