Tokyo Metropolitan Government announces a Tokyo City Promotion to be held at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London in January 2009 to increase and welcome visitors from the UK.

Celebrating ‘COOL TOKYO,’ the event is designed to illustrate the best of traditional and modern that the capital city offers.  It will showcase traditional crafts, cutting-edge trends, elegant artistry, and fast fashion and technology in a salute to old, new and everything that makes this global mega-lopolis unique.

The Tokyo City Promotion is the first of its kind in the UK, aiming to attract visitors to Tokyo through live dance and drum performances of Japanese traditional artists in addition to a traditional ‘Ukiyoe’ exhibition, which includes the prominent painter Hokusai’s renowned work, and several famous animation showings, including “Astro Boy.”

Visitors will be able to try their hand at origami (Japanese paper folding), along with calligraphy, and can participate in a tea ceremony. Also on offer is the opportunity to have a customised photo taken against a scenic backdrop of the city. A robot will introduce the latest technology and visitors can enjoy an interactive booth providing the latest sightseeing information. Admission is free.

The fact that Tokyo has been used in several international films has contributed much to Tokyo’s new status as one of the capitals of global cool and the city hopes to continue capitalising on this recent trend by exposing even more consumers to everything Tokyo has to offer the discerning traveller.

Akira Kojima, Senior Director of the Tourism Division of Tokyo Metropolitan Government says: “Tokyo has been selected as one of the candidate cities for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and will continue evolving into a competitive player to host the Olympics. Tokyo City Promotion is a fantastic opportunity to promote the exciting range of tourism product in the city – being such a multifaceted destination, the event will offer a diverse day out for those wishing to find out more.”

Tokyo Day

Date: 31 January 2009

Time: 10am – 8pm

Location: Royal Horticultural Halls, Lawrence Hall,  Greycoat Street, London SW1P 2QD

Admission: Free

For further information on the event please visit   www.tcp2009.com

15 December 2008