14 Sep 2015
With the prospect of cooler winter days on the horizon, culture vulture families are being encouraged to treat their families to the ultimate half term break this October with a trip to Japan's cultural capital Kyoto. By escaping the late October chill and choosing Kyoto, travellers can enjoy the city at one of its most beautiful times of the year when autumn welcomes the return of the dramatic foliage season and the city transitions into a palette of orange and red shades.
Experience Becoming A Japanese Ninja For The Day
Families wishing for a flavour of becoming a super hero can experience becoming a 'ninja' for the day with a visit to the newly-opended Ninja Dojo and Store. Guests can don a selection of protective ninja clothing allowing wannabe ninjas to experience knife throwing on a traditional tatami mat in safe conditions. Visitors are taught how to use traditional Japanese throwing knives shuriken and kunai and a host of other ninja swords. The studio is open daily from 10:00am - 6:00pm, and for more information, visit ninjadojoandstore.com/#wrap.
Time For Hello Kit-Tea
When it's time to stop for tea, there's nothing that says you're in Hello Kitty's homeland like a Hello Kitty-themed tea house. 'Tea House Hello Kitty Saryo,' a collaboration between a Japanese Style Tea House and Hello Kitty, offers people of all ages and from all corners of the world to enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine Hello Kitty-style. The tea house sells countless Kitty treats from every day dim sum decorated with Hello Kitty stamps, to matcha green tea lattes with the famous face on the foam. For more information, visit gotochikitty.com/feature/141112_kyotoktsaryou.
Discover Japan's Rich Manga Art Culture
Built in 1929, Kyoto's International Manga Musuem is Japan's first museum devoted to the manga art culture. It offers a stunning array of materials with everything from 19th-century Japanese magazines and books to popular contemporary works from Japan and abroad. The museum features roughly 200,000 manga and manga-related materials with special exhibitions and fairs offered throughout the year demonstrating the traditional art offering. For more information, visit kyoto.travel/en/thingstodo/museums/87.
Explore Kyoto on Two Wheels
Just 30 minutes from central Kyoto is the mountainous Arashiyama district. The best way to discover the area is on two wheels, allowing riders to whisk through the lush fields, bamboo groves and alongside the calming rivers. There are many temples and shrines scattered around Arashiyama, allowing family members a glimpse into Kyoto's rich historic past as the former capital of Japan. Tenryu-ji Temple is the headline attraction in Arashiyama, a sprawling Zen temple with one of the finest gardens in Kyoto and wonderful mountain views. For more information, visit http://kyoto.travel/en/planyourvisit/course/31.
Packages to Kyoto this half term include:
Eight Day Tour to Tokyo, Kanazawa and Kyoto from £4,419 Per Person
Jacada Travel is offering an eight day Classic Japan Explorer tour including 3 days in Tokyo, 2 days in Kanazawa and 3 days in Kyoto. Price includes return flights from the UK on 17 October 2015, transfers, private tours, bullet train transfers and luxury accommodation. Price starts from £4,419 per person and is based on four people travelling. For more information, visit www.jacadatravel.com.
To find out more about Kyoto, visit kyoto.travel/en.
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About KCVB
Kyoto Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official partnership for international tourism representation of the City of Kyoto, Japan. Kyoto's diverse history and reputation as Japan's original capital and cultural centre provide a wealth of opportunities for tour operators and travel agents. The city is home to the Imperial Palace whilst also being the only place where 'real' geishas can still be seen, its old temples and Zen gardens interspersed with urban living means that Kyoto is a striking contrast of heritage and modern city. Its location just 25 minutes from Osaka and 2hrs 15 minutes from Tokyo, make it easily accessible from Japan's two main international gateways.
For more information or imagery, please contact:
McCluskey International
Fiona Anderson / Lauren Hill
T: 020 8747 2170
