JNTO recently hosted an Izu, Shimoda, luxury famil with 7 agents escorted by Stephanie Sng from JNTO Sydney Office
Participants on the famil were as follows: Adam Burke, Scenic, Dorothy Chambers, World Journeys, Fanny Gibert, Renaissance Tours, D’arne Haines, Holland Clarke & Beatson (New Zealand), Wendy James, Kaleidoscopic Travel, Kerrie Kaesler, MTA, Petia Davis, Captains Choice and Stephanie Sng, JNTO
Agents were taken on the Royal Express, a luxury cruise train from Yokohama to Shimoda and Shimoda to Izu Kogen, chartered for this famil, where they were treated to French cuisine, an on-board violinist and pianist, and handcrafted sushi.
During the famil, the group experienced the hydrangeas (a native flower to Japan) in full bloom at a Hydrangea festival at Shimoda Park, visiting the Bamboo Forest of Shuzenji Onsen, staying at Arcana Izu, an Auberge-style resort located in a sacred green forest by the Kano River with each suite having a private onsen facing the river and forest, seeing two UNESCO listed world heritage sites, the Nirayama Reverberatory Furnaces and Mt Fuji, and taking part in an Edo Kiriko glass-cutting experience in Tokyo and a ‘Nerikiri’ Japanese sweet making workshop.
The tour ended with a full day of pre-matched business sessions at the Japan Luxury Showcase held at the Conrad Tokyo. The event was attended by 53 overseas buyers including those from Oceania, North America and Europe, and domestic sellers from 62 companies including luxury hotels, DMCs and experiences.
Feedback from agents
“The JNTO Luxury Famil and Showcase has been a wonderful opportunity to expand my knowledge on products and destinations in Japan that I knew very little about, and some I did not even know existed. It provided the platform to network, form relationships, and discuss these products. I have come home feeling inspired & excited about Japan and all the wonderful experiences that this country has to offer.” – Kerrie Kaesler
“Thanks so much to JNTO for the wonderful first time experience of Japan. With the luxury Royal Express train journey along the Izu Peninsula and our beautiful accommodation and dining experiences along the way it truly was a trip to remember. A big thank you for the amazing hospitality and the warm embracing culture to make this a very memorable famil and a destination of many possibilities for the future” – D’arne Haines
