Yamaga, Kumamoto prefecture is a town that remains as quaint as a post station. In winter, the entire hot spring town is decorated with lanterns made from bamboo and Japanese umbrellas. The festival, counts its ninth anniversary this year, and will be held for two months until the end of March in conjunction with the starting of a full Kyushu shinkansen line service.

Thousands of candle lights illuminate the town. Not to be missed are, February-only performances titled “Yamaga Fuzei Monogatari(Story of Yamaga Flavor)” in “Yachiyo-za”, a theater that was built 100 years ago. You can enjoy the strong sounds of the Yamaga drum performance, and the elegant dance performance of girls who lift gold and silver paper-lanterns over their heads.

Yamaga Toro Roman/ Hyakka Hyakusai (Romance of the Lantern Festival)

Event sites: In front of Yachiyo-za Theater, Buzen Kaido street, Kongojyoji temple, Yunohata Koen Park, Kosenji Temple and others
Event Period: Every Friday and Saturday during Feb. 4 – Mar. 26, 2011 * A part of the lanterns are lit from Mon., Mar. 14 to Thurs. Mar. 17, 2011.
Lantern time: 19:00 – 22:00 (Lit starts around 17:30)
Inquiries: Yamaga Romance of the Lantern Festival Execution Committee (c/o Yamaga Onsen Tourist Association)
Tel.: 0968-43-2952
http://yamaga100.com/

Yamaga Fuzei Monogatari(Story of Yamaga Flavor)

Venue：“Yachiyo-za” a national important cultural property
Priod: Every Friday and Saturday during Feb. 4th – 26th, 2011
Doors open:：19：30
Curtain time: 20:30, about 70-minite performance
Admission fee: 500 yen (festival seating, tax incl./current ticket only)

Sat., March 12 – Sun., March 13, 2011
* From and to Kansai
One-night stay with four meals.

Meet at Itami Airport in Osaka and/or JR Shin-Kobe station (transfer to the airport via courtesy bus)
Whirling waves of Naruto tour.
Seafood of Naruto Strait.
Viewing ningyo joruri

Dinner at “Ihawa”, a Japanese restaurant.
“Konjyaku-monogatari-gumi” a group of Awaodori dancers will perform in the parlor of the restaurant.

“Ryozenji temple” the first site – “Gokurakuji temple” the second site – “Konsenji temple”, the third site pilgrimage tour on foot (about 5 km)

Lunch at a Japanese restaurant in Tokushima city.

Tour participation fee (per person): 48,000 yen
Only dinner　meal with Awaodori dancer(March 12th）JPY 28,000-

Additional charge for single use of a room: 3,000 yen

Note: The tour will only operate with over 15 people .

・ One-night hotel stay in a standard-twin room.
・ Meals (One Breakfast at the hotel), (Two lunches at Japanese restaurants), (One dinner in the parlor of a Japanese restaurant with a group of Awaodori dancers, about 1 hour)
・ There will be no tour conductor present.

Co-organizer: Zenkoku Ryoriryotei Kumiai（National Association of Cuisines and Traditional Japanese restaurants）, Tokushima Ryoriseikatsu Eiseidougyou Kumiai (Niigata Traditional Japanese Cuisine Restaurants Association), Tokushima Ryorigyo Kumiai Rengokai (Tokushima Food Business Association), Ifys Co., Ltd., Adventure Japan Inc.

Tour Leaflet PDF >>

Thus., February 17 – Fri., 18, 2011 * From and to Nagaoka, Niigata prefecture
One-night stay with three meals.

Lunch at “Kobayashi-ro”, a Japanese restaurant that was established in the Taisho Era, which boasts a modern Japanese atmosphere.

Follow the tracks of Ryokan, Introduction to Shodo (Japanese Calligraphy), etc.

Dinner at “Kamogawakan”, a Japanese restaurant in Nagaoka city.
The dishes served use Nagaoka and local ingredients accompanied by local sake tasting.

Visit a brewery town, visit several soy-source and sake breweries.

There will be several events held in the city and local towns / Individual guides are available * with separate charge.

Tour participation fee (per person): 40,000 yen
Additional charge for single use of a room: 3,000 yen

・ One-night hotel stay in a standard-twin room.
・ Deluxe rooms are available with a extra charge of 10,000 yen (per person)
・
・ Meals (One breakfast at the hotel), (Owo lunch at “Kobayashiro” Japanese restaurants), (One dinner at “Kamogawakan” Japanese restaurant with sake tasting set plan)
・ Admission fee
・ The tour conductor will not be present.

Tour conductor: Iitabi Co., Ltd. （The commissioner of Japan Tourism Agency authorized travel agency No. 1737） Person in charge: Yoshida / Yanaze
2F Eagle Hamamatsucho Bldg. 2-7-17, Hamamatsu-cho Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0012

TEL: 03-5405-4053 Open hour: 9:15 – 18:15, (Closed at Sat. Sun and national holidays)

Hotel: Hotel New Ohtani Nagaoka or equivalent class hotel 2 persons per room.

Co-organizer: Zenkoku Ryoriryotei Kumiai（National Association of Cuisines and Traditional Japanese Restaurants）, Niigata Ryoriseikatsu Eiseidougyou Kumiai (Niigata Traditional Japanese Cuisine Restaurants Association), Niigata Ryorigyo Kumiai Rengokai (Niigada Food Business Association), Ifys Co., Ltd., Adventure Japan Inc.

Tour Leaflet PDF >>

Adventure Japan magazine Vol.8 released.

Special present :

• A) A one-day hotel stay ticket (for 2 people) is provided by The Rose Hotel Yokohama (Blackout dates may apply.)
• B) A 3,000-yen food coupon from Maimon-Sushi (10 People)
• C) Betta’s products given to 3people

Password  (seacret word) is found on Adventure Japan Vol.8.

You will find there the magazine on Twitter and fill up to apply form or e-mail.

If you apply by e-mail , following details must need.

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For appling by E-mail (magweb@adventurejapan.net)

Choose present

A) The Rose Hotel Yokohama one-day hotel stay ticket
B) Maimon-sushi food coupon
C) Betta’s product

1. Seacret Word :
2. your name :
3. Age :
4. Natinality :
5. E-mail :
6. Contact (Tel / Skype) :

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The fair is a world-class animation festival, and a lot of animation-related companies will participate in the Fair. The number of visitors has been constantly increasing; more than 130,000 people from all over the world visited the 8th TAF held last year. During the last fair, various activities including active business deals and award- giving ceremonies, events from popular TV animation programs and a live concert of animation songs was held.

During the fair period, the first half is for business visitors , each exhibitor develops business contacts globally whilst the last half is for general visitors who can enjoy various events and exhibitions in the event site. Last year, events such as “Dragon Ball” and “Sengoku BASARA” as well as an “Ani-song live” were popular among visitors. An award presentation ceremony of “Tokyo Anime Award” and screenings of animation works also took place.

• Venue: Tokyo Big Site（7 minutes walk from Rinkai Line Kokusai Tenjijo station, 5 minutes walk from Yurikamome Kokusai Tenjijo Seimon station）
• Period: Thursday, March 25 – Friday, March 26, 2010 (Business Day) Saturday, March 27 – Sunday March 28, 2010 (Public Day)　10:00-18:00
• Entrance fee　Adult 1000 yen（800 yen）Junior and Senior high school student 500 yen（400）yen
  ※（advance ticket）
• http://www.tokyoanime.jp