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Hatsu-mode
January 2006
Narita, Japan
Revered as one of the most visited temples, Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple is visited
by an incredible amount of people wishing for health and peace in the New Year. Trains
in Tokyo and Narita run all night on New Year's Eve and all day on New Year's Day
bringing people coming to celebrate Hatsu-mode all during the month of January.
Click here for more information.
Past Perfect
By Kristin Johannsen
From Voyageur, Carlson Hospitality Worldwide's in-room guest magazine
Step back into the days of the imperial shoguns with a shore excursion to Tokyo’s oldest neighborhood, Asakusa.
It startles me to think that racing, restless Tokyo was born from peaceful water.
Literally. Fourteen centuries ago, legend has it, a pair of brothers were fishing
in the Sumida River , just upstream of today's harbor, when their nets hauled up
a shining golden statue: the Buddhist deity Kannon. A temple was built to enthrone
the image, and around it would grow the shogunate capital, called Edo —the name means “river
mouth.” After the fall of the last shogun in 1868, Edo was renamed Tokyo.
> more
Pacific Passages
 On September 8, the all-suite, all-balcony, 700-guest m/s Seven Seas Mariner will
cast off from Seward , Alaska , setting a course for Tokyo . The 12-night Pacific
crossing will include stops at Kodiak Island, Dutch Harbor , Petropavlovsk , Hakodate
and Sendai , before reaching Tokyo . Then, on September 20, the ship departs Tokyo
for Hong Kong on a 14-night voyage with stops at Osaka , Hiroshima , Tianjin , Shanghai
and Keelung on Taiwan . The Mariner's return trip from Hong Kong to Tokyo , also
14 nights, begins October 4. Ship amenities include pool and whirlpool, casino, and
four restaurants. Fares start as low as $3,798 for the Seward–Tokyo cruise and $5,936
for the Tokyo–Hong Kong sailings. Radisson Seven Seas Cruises' Web site, www.rssc.com,
has features for cruisers, travel agents and meeting planners.
Carlson Hospitality Worldwide distributes Voyageur free of charge to guests
staying at participating Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts,
Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Park Inn hotels, as well as Radisson Seven
Seas Cruises. If you are interested in an annual subscription, the cost is $20.00.
Checks should be made payable to Pace Communications and mailed to Voyageur ,
1301 Carolina Street , Greensboro , NC 27401 . Be sure to include mailing address
information. |
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Wednesday
29°/26° |
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Thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. Warm. |
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Thursday
28°/25° |
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Tons of rain. Mostly cloudy. Warm. |
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Friday
29°/24° |
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Sprinkles early. More clouds than sun. Warm. |
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Convert to Fahrenheit >> |
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About
Tokyo
Just east of Tokyo, the prefecture of Chiba occupies a peninsula jutting into
the Pacific. Warmed by the Kuroshio current, the district enjoys a moderate climate,
even in the winter, and takes pride in its agricultural and fishing industries.
Thanks to the presence of Narita International Airport and Chiba Port, the area
is also a leader in distribution and shipping.
In recent years, Chiba has made a concerted effort to court convention and tourism
traffic, capitalizing on the presence of the airport and proximity to Tokyo. This
push was assisted immeasurably by the building of Tokyo Disneyland, which annually
brings in excess of 10 million people to Chiba. Makuhari Messe, an enormous convention
center, also bolsters the local economy. Plus, Kazusa Akademia Park, a research-oriented
complex devoted to technology industries, ups the ante, adding yet another facet
to the district’s diversity. Growth and modernity, however, don’t
negate the region’s historic allure. Known as Boso in previous days, Chiba
takes culture and heritage seriously too. In Chiba City, the prefecture’s
capital, you’ll find the Natural History Museum and Institute (with exhibits
about Boso’s past), Chiba Castle, Chiba Temple, and the Prefectural Arts
Museum (which boasts works by area artists, as well as selections of Western art).
Near the airport, the 1000-year-old Naritasan Shinshoji temple is a huge draw,
especially during New Year’s celebrations; it features a pagoda, a park,
and beautifully detailed halls. Once you’ve taken in a bit of culture, don’t
neglect shopping, though. Chiba Sogo, reputedly the world’s largest department
store, offers a wealth of possibilities, as do Nikke Colton Plaza Shopping Mall
and Tokyo Bay LaLaport. And for a terrific view of Chiba Port from 370 feet up,
take time to scale Chiba Port Tower, a dramatic, all-glass structure that’s
the city’s signature.
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