JAPAN THE TOURISTS MECCA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2550, 26 August 1915, Page 9

JAPAN THE TOURISTS MECCA

I3ie present unfortunate state of affairs in Europe, which has been turned into a gigantic theatre .of war, had rendered it very hazardous, not-to'say im-r possible, for people to , undertake pleasure, trips to the Continent. With the doors of Europe thus practically shut to. tourists, how are they to justify their yearnings for foreign travel? It is hardly necessary to remind them that Japan, as . a tourist land of varied attractions,- has a great claim on the interest of: the travelling public, especially at the present juncture. Though the statement is perhaps superfluous,-we may remind the travelling piiblio.' abroad of the. plain fact that absolute peace reigns throughout the Japanese Empire—its- quite tiny share in the world-shaking struggle having come to. an end.'.with the fall of Tsingtao. •' As everything in the .nation's daily life is going, on as regularly and smoothly as usual, Japan is prepared to give every satisfaction to any foreign tourist who may visit, her shores. • Moreover the period for national mourning for the late Empress Dowager having expired,; the country is once more in. a jubilant and bright mood, and two important events should make the present a very memorial .'year to the people and a- very attractive one to the tourist. One. is the coronation of His Majesty the- Emperor, which is to take place in November at Kyoto, the old capital, and the other is the grand tercentenary of tho. death of Tokugawa Iyeyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogmiate, the celebrations being held in three periods—June, .September, and October. All things point to Japan as the objective of tourists in America, Australia, and elsewhere iii this year of European turmoil. • Pleasure, hospitality, comfort, peace will greet the foreign tourist everywhere in this Mecca of travellers, wherein each year sees a marked advance in accommodation, transit facilities, and all that goes to minister to the comfort, convenience, and enjoyment of visitors from other lands. V This opportunity is taken to direct the attention of intending tourists to Japan to the fact that the services in our "Japan," the tourists' guide to Japan, connected with iransit facilities from abroad, may differ from time to time, and soma may be temporarily withdrawn; but up-to-date information regarding such alterations will be promptly supplied to anyone applying to. the Tokyo head office of the Japan Tourist Bureau, its branch offices at home and agencies abroad, or to Burns, Philp and Company, Ltd., who ropTOIganfcJbpQ humjiat • •