Japan Week 2014 Comes to Grand Central Terminal

NEW YORK, March 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Japanese culture, cuisine and tourism come to Grand Central Terminal with Japan Week 2014, a three-day festival organized by the Japan Tourism Agency and Japan National Tourism Organization and supported by the Consulate General of Japan in New York. Japan Week will spotlight unique features of Japanese culture from the last 100 years to the present in Vanderbilt Hall March 6-8, 2014.

Japan Week offers programs for the entire family. The west half of Vanderbilt Hall will transport visitors 100 years back in time when the Industrial Revolution had just begun. At that time, there was great influence from Western culture, which fast-forwarded modernization in Japan. The following programs will take place in the west half:

• The Visit Japan booth will include representatives from 23 different organizations ranging from travel agents and hotels to Japanese local governments.
  • Start planning your next trip with special tours such as JTB USA's travel package for the Jewish community, Kintetsu International's exclusive private sake tour and SITA World Tours' journey of Tokyo and Kyoto on a budget. Choose between Kyoto and Osaka with Amnet New York, take a cruise with IACE Travel of Hokkaido or Kyushu, or join Nippon Travel Agency on the road from Tokyo to Kyushu. Visit the booth for exclusive promotion discounts.
  • Sadaharu Ishiwari is an Amezaikushi, an artist exclusively trained in traditional Japanese candy craft who will sculpt detailed animals out of sugar. Today there are only about twenty professional amezaiku craftsmen left in Japan. Go to the Visit Japan booth to answer a quick survey to receive one of his sweet creations.
• Sakai City will take viewers on a virtual reality tour inside the Ancient Tomb of Emperor Nintoku, which was created in the 5^th century, and the insides of which have never been open to the public. Sakai City is also historically known for its samurai swords and tools that can cut through stone. These have evolved into high-quality kitchen knives today, some of which will be on display.
• At Virtual Reality Theater, view 100 years of Japan's vibrant culture through captivating images providing a rare insight into rural Japan giving viewers the feeling of traveling back in time. Witness how JTB aided the evacuation of Jewish refugees from Europe in "Transit to Freedom," a moving documentary by the New York Film Academy. And a virtual reality movie takes viewers inside Kumamoto Castle.
• The Sake Bar will be pouring 16 unique regional sakes and other beverages ranging from green tea to whisky. Expert sake sommeliers will be available to answer any questions and if you're hungry, Abura soba, Kanazawa curry, Kanimeshi, and other bento boxes will also be sold, created with the 100-year theme in mind.

The east half of Vanderbilt Hall will showcase modern Japan and a glimpse into its goals for the future, including the following programs:

• Delta Air Lines will demonstrate their relaxing and luxurious 180-degree flat-bed seats with featured amenities offered in BusinessElite® class and offer an exclusive Delta Vacations promotional package only when you visit their booth. One lucky visitor to the booth at Japan Week will win a free round-trip ticket to Japan's Narita Airport from JFK, in addition to sweepstakes offered online at japanweek.us.
• Takumi Japan will introduce Japanese artistry, including hand-blown glass house wares, wooden keyboards and USB's, gold lacquered iPhone cases, and more.
• JR East will present high-end models of their trains, distributing tourism information, and playing a 3D video about Shinkansen bullet trains and tourism in Japan. They are also introducing a Japanese train enthusiasts' club known as The Japan Rail Modelers of Washington D.C., which will exhibit a 50-square-foot Japanese-themed train model.
• SEIKO WATCH CORPORATION will unveil and sell their new Astron watch. Visitors will be able to try on this breakthrough timepiece and enter into a contest to win one.
• NTT DOCOMO will present the Automatic Voice Translation smartphone app, in which face-to-face conversations are automatically voice-translated.
• Fuji Television Network will promote "Time Trip View," that allows viewers to experience Edo Castle in it's original state, and connect with Sharp Electronics Corporation's new large screen LED TV's to view the castle in outstanding brightness and color. Understand the gift-giving culture of Japan at the Japan Shopping Tourism Organization booth where you can receive your own omiyage by answering a survey. Also, Museyon is offering free downloads of their book "Cool Japan" from March 6 – 12, available at their booth and also through Barnes & Noble.

In addition to the three-day festival at Grand Central Terminal, New Yorkers can experience Japan Week in a variety of ways, including the following:

• New York Times Travel Show, through March 2, 2014: Japan Week 2014 will be promoted in the Japan Booth at the New York Times Travel Show, which features 500 exhibitors representing more than 150 countries in the Javits Center. Stop by the booth for more information about tourism throughout Japan.
• International Restaurant & Foodservice Show, March 2 – 4, 2014: The International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York is a leading food and beverage trade show, open to the restaurant and foodservice industry only. Information about Japanese Restaurant Week will be available at this event.
• Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, March 11, 2014: The Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra will debut in the U.S. as part of the 100-year Anniversary. The performance will be conducted by Eiji Oue on the third anniversary of the Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011, featuring Mayuzumi's Bugaku, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, and more in Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall.
• Japanese Restaurant Week, through March 16, 2014: Japanese Restaurant Week will feature NYC-based Japanese restaurants serving special dishes that reflect the 100-year theme as well as local Japanese specialties.

About Japan Week
Founded in 2012, Japan Week is a promotional tourism event aiming to encourage travel to Japan. It is a cooperative effort between the Japan Tourism Agency, Japan National Tourism Organization, diverse businesses, local Japanese governments, and supported by the Consulate General of Japan in New York. The multi-dimensional event is open to the general public and promotes Japanese tourism through culture, food and beverages. For more information about Japan Week, please visit our website, www.japanweek.us, "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JapanWeekNY and follow us on Twitter at @JapanWeekNY. For more information about travel to Japan, please visit www.japantravelinfo.com.

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SOURCE Japan Week