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News 1. Japan Lifts Ban on Growing Human Organs in Animals 2. South Africa to Launch Vaccine Trial After First Coronavirus Case 3. California Becomes First State to Ban Fur Sales Articles 1. The Benefits of Growing Human Organs in Animals 2. South Africa's Response to Coronavirus and Vaccine Trials 3. How California's Fur Ban Will Impact the Economy Videos 1. Growing Human Organs in Animals Explained 2. South Africa's Coronavirus Response and Vaccine Trials 3. California's Fur Ban: What You Need to Know

Zen, Waterfalls & Forests: Interview with Jesse from Kyoto by the Sea | Arigato Travel

Just 2 hours from Kyoto and 3 hours from Osaka, you can find the breathtaking northern Kyoto Sea region. This serene area is home to a collection of picturesque cities, including Ayabe, Fukuchiyama, Ine, Kyotango, Maizuru, Miyazu, and Yosano. Kyoto by the Sea helps tourists find authentic Japanese stays, like boathouse Inns, outdoor wellness experiences, and food trails! With a collection of 100 restaurants to indulge in, stunning natural landscapes, and countless heritage arts to explore, it is the perfect guide to a Kyoto stay. Join us as we interview Jesse about all the stunning destinations and attractions these cities have to offer! Hello! Can you please introduce yourself? Hello, and thank you. I’m Jesse, originally from the US. I’ve been at Kyoto by the Sea for ten years now, and for the last six, I have been working as the Overseas Promotion Manager for Kyoto by the Sea DMO (destination management/marketing organization). Kyoto by the Sea is passionate about showcasing the beauty of the seven cities that make up the northern Kyoto area! Could you share the story behind how the company was founded and why this mission is personally meaningful to you? The company was founded to help promote the northern reaches of Kyoto Prefecture, a location even Japanese people aren’t often aware of. The most asked question we get is, “Kyoto has a sea?” We have created a long-term strategy to help the region through tourism, the pillars of which are local culture, local economy, and environment. We build everything with these in mind. Kyoto has so much to offer visitors and has become a popular tourist destination! How does Kyoto by the Sea provide a unique experience that sets it apart from the more traditional attractions in the city? The area is known as The Origin of Japan and is the birthplace of Japanese civilization, as it is home to Japan’s first ancient kingdom. Close to the Asian continent, it has always been a place where cultures converge, and as a result, the people here are adaptive and creative, and have been honing their cooking skills for thousands and thousands of years! Kyoto by the Sea has many food experiences to choose from! What are some of the most popular for first-time Kyoto visitors? This region is home to some of the most outstanding seafood in Japan. Seafood lovers will want to visit in winter for crab or yellowtail. Year-round visitors can try delicacies like barazushi (a lasagna-looking sushi dish) or the unique comfort food, curry yakisoba. The area is also home to one of Japan’s four historic naval bases, where locals found a traditional navel recipe book that restaurants have selected choice recipes from. Heritage Arts are such an important part of Kyoto’s traditions! Could you share some of the unique heritage art experiences visitors can participate in to gain a deeper understanding of the region’s cultural history? The region really shines with heritage arts. We have curated a variety of experiences by welcoming local artisans ranging from a lantern maker, a mother-of-pearl weaver, sword smiths, heritage paper makers, lacquerware artisans, ancient wisteria weaving, kimono silk weaving, and tatami makers. The wellness experiences are an important part of Kyoto by the Sea’s offerings. What inspired you to include these experiences in your travel packages? This region is a mecca of wellness and longevity, home to the world record holder for the World's Oldest Male, and the highest concentration of people over 100 on the planet. We have created a variety of wellness experiences designed to give people a better understanding of how people live here, and ways they can incorporate some aspects of their lifestyles into their own lives. Forest bathing can be another great way to enjoy nature in Kyoto and relax! What are some locations in Kyoto where visitors can enjoy this experience? Japanese shinrinyoku, or forest bathing, is an excellent way to experience nature from a Japanese lens. There are some excellent areas in Kyoto by the Sea, such as a former village that has been all but reclaimed by nature, or an ancient shrine abutted by mountains and enormous trees. But even Kyoto City’s botanical gardens are an excellent way to appreciate nature with Japanese flair. Kyoto by the Sea was awarded the Top 100 Green Destination Award in 2024 - congratulations! What are a few of the most unique parts of this region that truly make it stand out from other areas in Japan? Thank you! Our sustainability approach has been years in development. We work hard to ensure that we are focused on supporting artisans and locally run businesses. We also play a small part in showcasing Japanese artisans with the hope of not only sharing them with guests but preserving the crafts for the future. Kyoto by the Sea has some amazing and unique stays that visitors can book! Could you share more about the options and what makes them such a special experience for visitors? Kyoto by the Sea has a wide variety of unique accommodations that contrast many of the stays in Japan. We offer farm stays, seaside stays, hot spring inns by the sea, luxury accommodations in uniquely renovated merchant houses and boathouses, as well as traditional ryokan. The cuisine is also a big part of why people stay here overnight, as the ingredients here are locally sourced and as fresh as possible. Anything else you would like to share with our readers? Wherever you go in Japan is sure to be an amazing combination of culture, food, and hospitality, but I highly recommend visiting at least one location that’s outside of the cities to get a deeper flavor of what Japan has to offer. Thank you so much for taking the time to be interviewed! We had an amazing time learning about Kyoto by the Sea and cannot wait to visit soon! Follow Kyoto by the Sea on: Kyoto by the Sea: https://www.kyotobythesea.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uminokyoto_official/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uminokyoto Youtube: www.youtube.com/@海の京都-w6x Featured Photo Credit: Kyoto by the Sea After checking out Kyoto by the Sea's many great experiences, reach out to our team of Travel Experts to book more wonderful activities in Kyoto!

TASTE OF YANAKA: THE OLD-FASHIONED CAT TOWN | Arigato Travel

At first glance, Yanaka’s charm is definitely the historical appearance of the buildings, with a shopping district that offers a little bit of everything. Looking closer, you may notice the popularity of a certain animal, with cat statues being stationed around the streets, cat-themed goods, cat-themed food, and possibly even stray cats themselves. Holding a reputation both as an “old town” and a “cat town,” Yanaka is a charming area of Tokyo with plenty of beautiful sights to explore and a deep history, visible in the many temples in the area. SIGHTS TO SEE Tennōji Temple The Tennōji Temple, founded in 1274, is the oldest temple in the Yanaka area, sitting on the edge of the Yanaka Cemetery. Most of the temple has been rebuilt due to damage from war and fire, resulting in some slightly modern-looking architecture. The most notable feature may be the large Buddha statue, cast out of bronze, but in the past, there was also a five-story pagoda, which was unfortunately a casualty of a fire, leaving only remains. The temple also houses one of Yanaka’s Seven Lucky Gods, Bishamonten. Address: 7 Chome-14-8 Yanaka, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0001 Yanaka Cemetery As one of the largest cemeteries in Tokyo, this is the resting place for a handful of extremely important figures in Japanese history, from shoguns to scholars to novelists. The area has become popular as a location particularly for cherry blossom viewing, as there are lush trees hanging over all of the paths. Historically, it used to include Tennōji Temple, with the central cherry blossom lane leading to it but was divided formally to separate the Shinto and Buddhist religions. Still, both are great locations with a serene air and a deep background. Address: 7 Chome-5-24 Yanaka, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0001 Asakura Museum of Sculpture Asakura Fumio was a sculptor who is sometimes known as the “father of modern Japanese sculpture.” His personally designed studio was set up in Yanaka, which was also where he lived, and had set up a school to teach pupils. After his passing, the studio was opened as a museum, where his works are displayed. There is also a rooftop garden, which is the oldest in Tokyo, where Asakura had his students study gardening. Address: 7 Chome-18-10 Yanaka, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0001 THINGS TO DO Yanaka Ginza Yanaka Ginza is one of the liveliest areas in Yanaka, a street with rustic and friendly vibes full of shops and food. Leading up to the street is Yūyake Dandan, a staircase named for the famous sunset view it offers. Another very unique aspect that sets Yanaka Ginza apart from other shopping streets is the surprising presence of cats! While walking, you may notice stray cats strolling around, and there are many shops selling cat or maneki-neko (lucky cat) themed merchandise.  Address: 3 Chome-13-1 Yanaka, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0001 Café Nekoemon Keeping up with Yanaka’s cat themes, one fun activity that you can try is decorating a small ceramic cat! Café Nekoemon is a small cafe offering tasty snacks and drinks, but what sets it apart from other cafes is that you can order a ceramic statue of a maneki-neko, decorate it with felt pens, and then take it home with you. The food is also cat-themed and is perfect to pair with the arts and crafts for when you get hungry while decorating! Address: 5 Chome-4-2 Yanaka, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0001 WHERE TO EAT Yanaka Ginza Street Food With such a famous shopping district, there are tons of street food options to discover just from walking around, but here are a couple of unique treats! Niku no Suzuki The specialty of this extremely popular shop is its menchi-katsu, which is a blend of Japanese and Australian beef coated in breadcrumbs and fried. These gained immense fame for having a nice crisp shell and an explosion of flavor from the patty with every bite. The store also has a delicious “Toro Toro Yakibuta” grilled pork with a special sauce, but at minimum, the meat croquette is a must-try! Address: 3 Chome-9-15 Yanaka, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0001 Waguriya Specializing in chestnut flavors, Waguriya sells all kinds of treats with chestnuts from Ibaraki prefecture, such as mont blanc, a chestnut cake that is quite popular in Japan. One of Waguriya’s most famous products is their soft serve, which is great to pick up as a snack to go. Address: 3 Chome-9-14 Yanaka, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0001 Yanaka Shippoya Returning to Yanaka’s cat theme, Yanaka Shippoya sells donuts that look like cat tails. These donuts are made freshly every day, with each tail and flavor having a distinct pattern. Yanaka Shippoya also sells other snacks like ice cream, but their best-selling item is the “tiger tail” donut, which is flavored with cocoa and white chocolate.  Address: 3 Chome-11-12 Yanaka, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0001 Restaurants Burari Burari is a ramen shop with humble appearances, and is located in an unassuming alley. However, their chicken ramen has actually been given recognition by Michelin guides before! They serve a simple menu with a few options: ramen with a creamy broth or clear broth, and tsukemen. For ramen at a relatively low price but a rich chicken broth, be sure to seek out Burari! Address: 5 Chome-52-5 Higashinippori, Arakawa City, Tokyo 116-0014 Yakuzen Curry Jinenjo Yanaka A local curry shop run by one person with a great passion, the curry served here is full of vegetables and Japanese medicinal herbs that are beneficial for health. Despite the name “medicinal,” the curries are delicious, the produce is fresh, and there are different flavors, such as with chicken or even seafood, making a healthy meal here very enjoyable! Unique toppings such as black sesame are available here for their health benefits as well. For a one-of-a-kind curry, Yakuzen Curry Jinenjo Yanaka is worth a visit! Address: 5 Chome-9-25 Yanaka, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0001 Yanaka is a peaceful area with architecture and scenery that reflects a calm atmosphere, yet its community is full of life and personality. Whether you're looking for a traditional experience or that perfect unique dish you can't find elsewhere, this is the neighborhood for you. There is no end to the many amazing things available in this often overlooked nook, and we can't suggest it enough. Give it a visit if you’re interested in a unique spot in Tokyo that is full of history, delicious food, and cats! Featured Photo Credit: Arigato Travel Visit the lovely area of Yanaka with a local expert!