Sundowner: Autumn/Winter 2019

More documents

Info

OLYMPIC GAINS WHEN IT COMES TO TRENDING TRAVEL DESTINATIONS, JAPAN IS THE NAME ON EVERYONE’S LIPS. TWO OF THE WORLD’S MOST EXCITING SPORTING EVENTS, INVESTMENT IN TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE, AND A HEAVYWEIGHT ARTS AND CULTURE SCENE ALL MEAN THERE’S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO VISIT THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN, SAYS IANTHE BUTT 40 | AUTUMN/WINTER <strong>2019</strong>
JAPAN Cities that never sleep, all jagged skyscrapers set against paths of vermillion torii gates leading to beautiful Shinto shrines; ancient forests where centuries-old Buddhist temples sit hidden away on deserted mountaintops; and a pale-pink explosion of cherry blossom in springtime which trumps all others. It’s no wonder Japan tops many people’s travel wish lists. Right now the country’s having an unprecedented visitor moment; last year the Japan National Tourist Organisation (JNTO) reported a record number of overseas visitors – some 31.2 million visited in 2018, a whopping 8.7 per cent increase over the previous record-breaking numbers seen in 2017. And things show no signs of slowing – kicking off the excitement, Japan hosts the Rugby World Cup (20 September to 2 November). It’s a big deal, as it’s the first time the tournament has been held in Asia, and as well as cheering on their own teams, overseas fans will be interested to see how hosts Japan fare after their surprise triumph over South Africa in 2015. It’s expected that over 400,000 overseas supporters will arrive during the six-week period, with the glitzy opening ceremony getting things going at Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium, and the final clash taking place a bullet train ride away at the International Stadium Yokohama in Kanagawa. The country’s also ramping up to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games next summer, which will see the planet’s fittest sportspeople compete for medals across disciplines including five newly added to the Olympic roster – baseball, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing. The Tokyo Games will likely further boost foreign tourist arrivals with international visitor figures for 2020 predicted to inch close to the 40 million mark. To handle the ongoing influx, significant investments in infrastructure are being made. In January, an International Tourist Tax of 1000 yen (around £7.40) was built into airfares and cruise tickets. This small levy, nicknamed the ‘sayonara tax’, will be spent on a raft of improvements including more contactless payment points, multi-language information and audio-guide tours at key tourist sites, and national park maintenance. Free public wifi spots are also being upped and upgraded, with wifi now available at all bullet train stations. By the time the Games roll around, eight out of the nine bullet lines – the trains famed for their kingfisher-bill inspired noses and up to 320kmph speeds – will have on-train wifi networks. If you’ve not managed to secure seats at either of the mega sporting events, however, there are plenty of other hot tickets and new attractions to explore. In Tokyo, last year the MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM: teamLab Borderless opened, the world’s first all-digital art museum. It’s a mindbending experience; flowers which bloom on floors, petals that appear to fall apart as you walk over them, cascading hyperreal waterfalls, and rooms where you can draw a sea creature with wax crayons, then seconds later have it scanned and see it come to life, bobbing across the walls. The Museum of Contemporary Art has also just reopened, revamped after a three-year closure, and the Tokyo DesignArt Festival (18-27 October), now in its third year, is going from strength to strength. Outside the capital the Setouchi Art Triennale, a nine-month extravaganza which takes place every three years across 12 islands on the Seto Inland Sea, will be in full swing around the same time as the Rugby World Cup. Alongside the year-round draws of the impressive natural scenery, Tadao Ando-designed buildings, and Yayoi Kusama’s surreal oversized pumpkins, are stacks of cool exhibitions and impressive site installation pieces. So whether it’s watching world-class sports, or taking a deepdive into arts and culture, Japan has it covered. abercrombiekent.co.uk | 41
Page 1: AUTUMN/WINTER 2019 Out of Africa WH
Page 4 and 5: ORIGINAL, LIMITED-EDITION ART DECO
Page 6 and 7: A&K VILLAS ADDS CORFU Set in the ce
Page 8 and 9: Sweetening the deal We’re always
Page 10 and 11: IN THE KNOW BE THE FIRST TO STAY IN
Page 12 and 13: DUE SOUTH 12 | AUTUMN/WINTER 2019
Page 14 and 15: the Tehuelche, chronicled by Darwin
Page 16 and 17: America’s (lesser-known) sweethea
Page 18 and 19: East Nashville NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
Page 20 and 21: HIT REFRESH WITH ITS LIMEWASHED VIL
Page 22 and 23: unlocking the artistic and commerci
Page 24 and 25: auhaus BEYOND BERLIN, LOOK TO THE M
Page 26 and 27: 1 2 five bauhaus beauties With anni
Page 28 and 29: 48 HOURS IN SINGAPORE SINGAPORE IS
Page 30 and 31: tropical heat BALI, THANKS TO ITS B
Page 32 and 33: CANGGU AN INSIDER’S GUIDE FORTY W
Page 34 and 35: MEET THE GUIDE AHMED ABUL ELLA ALI
Page 36 and 37: 36 | AUTUMN/WINTER 2019
Page 38 and 39: A SOAK IN THE SUNKEN BATH CAME WITH
Page 42 and 43: FEELING INSPIRED BY THE GAMES? READ
Page 46 and 47: GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM BILBAO With its s
Page 48 and 49: GREAT, WHITE, STARK 48 | AUTUMN/WIN
Page 50 and 51: WHILE I DREAMED OF GETTING TO THE S
Page 52 and 53: KENYA - A&K’S BIRTHPLACE & THE HO
Page 54 and 55: CREDIT: WILDERNESS SAFARIS/TEAGAN C
Page 56 and 57: WHERE APES ARE LORDS OF THE MANOR:
Page 58 and 59: FEED THE Soul WITH EVERYTHING AUSTR
Page 62 and 63: ESCAPE THE HEAT AT THESE COOL SPAS
Page 64 and 65: RESTORATIVE RETREAT BAROS, BAA ATOL
Page 66 and 67: PETRA JORDAN’S ROCK STAR A&K’S
Page 70 and 71: 70 | AUTUMN/WINTER 2019 behold; a h
Page 72 and 73: THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS INDEPENDENT
Page 76 and 77: ACCESS THE WORLD OF CINEMA WORDS: J
Page 78 and 79: FIVE VILLAS YOU’LL WANT TO BOOK N
Page 80 and 81: A&K PHILANTHROPY Delivering the C.U
Page 84: REST. ASSURED. We may be celebratin

Sundowner: Autumn/Winter 2019

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?