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.
DUBAI – 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.
Said 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/muslim_friendly_kyoto1.html which is available in English, Arabic, Bahasa Malaysian and Turkish. There visitors can find out the location of our city Mosque, Muslim friendly hotels, restaurants offering Halal dining and much more.”
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.
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