Our event team are currently in Japan, putting the finishing touches to many arrangements for your Rugby World Cup adventures.
We wanted to share with you some of the fantastic experiences on offer for when you are in Japan…
Yokohama
Yokohama is packed full of life, with an amazing music scene and wide inviting streets. Our team have said that a trip to Yokohama would not be complete without trying out some ramen noodles at the famous Ramen Museum. They are the tastiest noodles they’ve ever had!
Sarah, Event Team Leader, noted that one of the most prominent landmarks in Yokohama is the neon Ferris Wheel that lights up the night sky. This creates an unmissable beacon for you to use as a reference point throughout your stay in the wonderful city.
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It’s worth pointing out that if you just fancy some good old fashioned British delicacies like bangers and mash with some classic ales to match, then right at the heart of the city there is a pub called the Full Monty. As an extra bonus, it will be showing a whole host of the games from the Rugby World Cup 2019, so you can keep up to date with what’s happening around the tournament (when you’re not too busy cheering on the Red Roses of course!).
If you’d like a bit of downtime and tranquillity, then Marcus, our Senior Event Operations Manager, recommends the Sankeien Gardens. For a small entry fee, you can saunter along an array of ponds, small rivers, flowers and wonderful scrolling trails, while absorbing all of the beautiful surroundings. There are also houses on display as museum pieces showing traditional Japanese living. You can even take part in a Japanese tea ceremony if you join in on one of our excursions.
Nagoya
Sarah also ventured out to Nagoya to see what was on offer. Her first stop was at the wonderful Atsuta Jungu Shrine which offered a sense peace and tranquillity. The gardens and florae were immaculately kept, and the building had not long been refurbished. The best part about it all is that it is completely free for you to venture around the grounds and take photos.
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Another place Sarah said was definitely worth visiting is the Nagoya City Science Museum. It is home to one of the largest planetariums in the world and is very unique due to it's globe shape. The planetarium regularly offers shows that are extremely interesting, even if it is only to look at the stars and other elements of nature being projected on the huge spherical screen.
The food in Nagoya is a special treat! “Nagoya-Meshi” is the term used for their local cuisine, which are dishes inspired by foreign cultures that have a local twist on them. Our team found that it had some of the most unique flavours they’d ever tasted. This kind of food cannot be found in either Tokyo or in Kyoto, so make sure you make the most of it while you are there.
Odawara
Even just a short trip to Odawara provides you with plenty of options for exploration and discovery. Just minutes away are beaches, mountains, hot springs, fishing villages, zen temples, fields of green tea, deep forests, and so much more for you to experience.
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Emma, one of our Events Co-ordinators, said that the obvious choice for something to do in Odawara is the Odawara Castle. Esteemed in history, the castle keep is four stories high on the inside. The interior of the structure features amazing exhibits on the history of the castle as well as displays of items such as armour and swords used by the Hojo Clan back in the 15th Century. Once Emma had looked around at all the artefacts and historical items, they ventured to the top floor which offered magnificent views of the park and surrounding city.
Nagasaki
Sarah cited that one of her best experiences in Nagasaki was when she visited the Glover Gardens where she saw the famous house that Thomas Glover once lived in. He was well known for bringing modernism to Nagasaki. For a small fee, you can enter the picturesque gardens that also give you a gorgeous view of Nagasaki.
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Her next trip took her on the boat to Hashima island, where Mitsubishi mining company’s main site used to be. This intriguing location is now a world heritage site as it is completely abandoned with no habitants on the island.
Her final stop took her to the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. When she arrived at the museum, she was able to hear from a survivor of the nuclear bomb, who is over eighty years old. Sarah loved learning about her experiences and hearing the tales she had to tell. She thought the museum was extremely interesting and provided all sorts of information about the area and how it was affected as a result of the disaster.