Tokyo Marathon 2007
The 1st Tokyo Marathon is scheduled to be held on February 18 (Sunday), 2007; registration has been open since June 18, 2006. The 2007 Tokyo Marathon expects to draw 25,000 athletes for the Marathon and 5,000 athlete entrants for the 10km Race.
For details, visit http://www.tokyo42195.org/outline_e.html
Multilingual Bus Tour in Hokkaido
JTB (Japan Travel Bureau) is offering a “Multilingual motor-coach tour” in 4 different languages – English, Chinese, Korean & Japanese – provided by wireless receivers. The 1st of these tours to be offered, the “Furano & Biei Audio Guided Tour,” runs every Friday & Saturday from July 1st to September 30, 2006.
Log on to: http://www.jtbgmt.com/sunrisetour/agent/
Koyasan (Mt. Koya) Audio Guide Rental Service
The Koyasan Tourist Association is now renting out audio guides to travelers who visit this World Heritage Site. The Audio Guide is available in English, French, Chinese, Korean & Japanese. For details on the rental service,
Log on to: http://www.shukubo.jp/eng/10_audio.html
Access to Koyasan and Discount Pass
Nankai Railways provides easy access to Koyasan. It takes about 1 hr. and 20 min. from Osaka’s “Nankai Namba” Station to Koyasan on the limited express train “Koya,” (1 hr. 40 min. on a normal express train) after which it is just a five minute cable car ride up the mountain.
Nankai Railways offers a convenient discount pass, the “Koyasan Free Service,” which includes a round-trip train ride from Osaka’s Namba Station to Koyasan, free bus rides within Koyasan, discounted admission to temples & other sites, and discount coupons for buying souvenirs. The price for adults is 2,780 yen (a savings over the regular fare of 3,350 yen). On the limited express train, the “Koyasan Free Service” costs 4,000 yen (17% off the regular fare of 4,870 yen). For detailed information on Mt. Koya,
Log on to: http://www.koya.org/eng/