This week, we continue on our journey around Japan in search of cross-cultural adventures and experiences. At the British Hills hotel in Fukushima, you can get a taste of England by joining a cooking class. Conducted in English, you will not only learn to make delicious British specialities like scones, you can also pick up some English language skills. After the class, enjoy the scones with some authentic English tea. Originally set up in 1994 for students to learn English, British Hills is now open to the public who want to experience a ‘mini England’ in Japan. There are eight lodging buildings here, featuring country houses of various styles from the 12th to 18th century. Even the keys to the rooms are designed in 17th century British-style. The deluxe suite is done up in traditional British-style, from the furniture in the living room and bedroom to the design of the bathroom. Guests will also be delighted to find Harry Potter-style cloaks, with the British Hills emblem on it, in their room closets! For those who want to relax in a spa, there is a heated swimming pool with a jet bath. Other types of rooms include a tasteful twin-room with a kitchen, and a luxury suite with a mid-century atmosphere. The hotel also has a lounge for the guests, where you can relax and feel like an aristocrat.
Dinner is served in a large dining hall with a high ceiling and long tables. Its design is based on Oxford architecture and you will feel as if you’ve entered the world of Harry Potter. Enjoy a luxurious dinner comprising Panna cotta prosciutto, a Western-style egg pudding with plenty of foie gras, and a traditional British dish of succulent roast beef. The chef will even cut the beef according to your preferred thickness, right in front of you. For dessert, there is a choice of five cakes, served with seasonal fruits. End your day by ordering a glass of scotch at the British pub. The next morning, enjoy an authentic buffet breakfast in the large dining hall. You may wish to buy some British souvenirs – such as a stylish tea cup set – from a kiosk in the hotel. Before leaving the hotel, exchange your remaining British pounds for Japanese yen. The friendly staff of the hotel will send you off and you will leave this mid-century English world in Michinoku with beautiful memories.
The next inter-cultural adventure takes place in Nasu. Start your trip by taking the Tohoku bullet train from Tokyo Station to Nasu-Shiobara Station. From the station, take a scenic bus ride through the Japanese cedar forests to the Nasu highlands. Nasu town in Tochigi Prefecture is a highland town, which features the Nasu spa and a mountain lodge area. Your first-intercultural adventure starts at the Nasu safari park, which features animals from all over the world. Hop on board the “lion bus” and see animals such as Bengal tigers, white lions, camels and African elephants. You can even get up close and personal with some of the animals and feed them from the bus window. The 40-minute safari experience is guaranteed to thrill you.
Next, make your way to the Yuai no Mori Road Station, from where you can take a pick-up bus to a Mongolian inn in the Nasu highlands. Your experience of Mongolian culture begins when you see the driver, who wears a Mongolian costume. The Mongolian village, Tenger is an inn located in nature. The staff will take you to the hotel lobby, which looks like a museum. Various traditional Mongolian items are displayed here, such as the silk clothes that Mongolian aristocracy used to wear in the olden days. There is even a corner where you will see a photograph of Mongolia’s president who visited the inn in 2003. There is also a leather artifact belonging to Genghis Khan, which was presented by the ex-president of Mongolia, who was impressed by the efforts made to introduce Mongolian culture to visitors. At this unique inn, you will see several gers, a portable tent accommodation used by nomads. They look like Kamakura (snow hut). The white gers here blend in well with the nature of the Nasu highlands. Each ger is small - Mongolians move around a lot so they prefer things in compact sizes. All the furniture in the ger, such as the tables and beds, has been directly imported from Mongolia. Gers are made of wood and felt and thus are easily assembled or taken apart. It takes four people an hour to assemble each ger. However, there is a touch of modernity in this inn. It has flush toilets and bathrooms, and each ger is equipped with a TV and air conditioning for the comfort of guests. There are 14 gers here, each featuring a different interior and furniture. Each room is also decorated with a pattern particular to Mongolia.
To get a taste of Mongolian culture, try your hand at cooking some traditional Mongolian dishes. The Mongolian staff will teach you how to make dishes such as Bozu, which is made of minced lamb. Next, try on the Mongolian ethnic costume called Dale, and get a souvenir photo taken in front of a ger. You can also indulge in one of the three Mongolian sports of horse racing, Mongolian sumo or traditional Mongolian archery – under the guidance of a Mongolian instructor. After enjoying the gorgeous sunset in the Nasu highlands, relax in the inn’s refreshing hot spring located in the reception building. The source of the hot spring is 800m under the ground, and will help you relieve the weariness of the trip. Dinner is served at the inn’s restaurant. Start with Mongolian sake, before tucking into the hot pot which comes with two kinds of soup - creamy soy milk or a spicy alternative. After this comes the Mongolian dish called Tsoi-wan. It is a traditional dish where steamed dough is cut thinly like noodles, and seasoned with Mongolian rock salt. This is then fried with vegetables and lamb. There is also a boiled lamb dish called Chanasunmahha. The night does not end here, however. After dinner, enjoy a folk music concert at the restaurant, performed by a group of professional Mongolian musicians, who have been awarded the cultural medal in Mongolia. The men play the Matouqin, which has been called the "cello of the grass field". You will also be introduced to a traditional singing style called Khoomii, which requires you to sing two tones at the same time. Give this unique singing style a try while immersing yourself in the rich musical sounds of Mongolia. The next morning, you will be served a stylish buffet breakfast prepared Mongolian-style. This trip to the wonder world of Mongolia will leave you feeling closer to the culture and traditions of Mongolia.
The next adventure is in Chiba. Travel for 1.5 hours by express train from Tokyo to Onjuku in Chiba. Here, you will enjoy a unique Arabian experience. Onjuku is a beach town by the Pacific Ocean. As you walk along the white sandy beach, you will come across a statue of a camel. Actually this is the setting of the song “Desert Moon” (Tsuki no Sabaku), which mentions an Arabian palace. It is said this beach is the inspiration behind this famous fantasy song. There is a “Desert Moon” (Tsuki no Sabaku) memorial museum here, where items related to song writer Masao Kato are displayed. His autographed manuscript of “Desert Moon” and his works as an illustrator are also exhibited. Next, visit a 130-year old sweet shop, which sells delicious camel cookies. You can even buy the famous Desert Moon cake as an Onjuku souvenir.
From Onjuku, head to Kamogawa in Chiba Prefecture. Kamogawa is a beach town boasting one of the top beaches of Japan. Enter a different world as you walk along the beach lined with palm trees and watch people surf. Visit a scenic spot here called Kamogawa Matsushima, well known for having one of the best views in Japan. After this, go to an exotic white inn in Kamogawa, designed in Egyptian and Arabian style. Start with a tour of the lounge, which features beautiful lanterns and furniture from Egypt, and even a mannequin donning Arabian clothes. Go to a restaurant, which has been decorated with traditional Egyptian crafts and latticed windows. The patio is done up in Arabian style and creates an exotic mood. The owner of the inn had lived in Egypt for six years, and was inspired by the beauty of the port of Alexandria, which is often described as the pearl in the Mediterranean Sea. Some of the guest rooms are done up in Mediterranean-style, and feature a superb view of the surroundings. The inn also has a gallery filled with paintings of Egypt created by famous painter Utako Nunomura. She is actually the inn owner’s mother, and her artworks are famous in the Middle East. Her colourful paintings give the inn an air of fantasy. She even teaches guests porcelain art, where you paint pictures on earthenware. The session takes about an hour, and the finished works will be baked and sent to you in about a week – what a unique souvenir! .
The fun doesn’t end here. There are lots of other activities to try out to make your trip truly memorable. Try on some ethnic costumes from Egypt and Arabia and feel like an Arabian prince or princess. Get a photo taken to make another memorable souvenir. Reserve an open-air jet bath and relax while you enjoy the gorgeous view. Dinner is served in a restaurant designed like an Egyptian home. Begin with an Egyptian drink made of hibiscus before feasting on traditional dishes, one of which is “Jew's marrow” soup. It is said that this dish makes your skin smoother, and was even enjoyed by Cleopatra! Organic vegetables, grown by the inn owner’s father in a garden by the sea, are used in the dishes. In fact, the owner’s father is also in charge of cooking. The main dish is called Open Sesame. A traditional dish of Egypt, it is actually a meat loaf filled with minced meat, sesame and beans. The multi-course dinner consists of five dishes, including dessert. After dinner, enjoy a belly dance show, which is performed once a month by professional dancers. Join in the fun to get a truly Arabian experience. The next morning, after breakfast, sip on some sweet Egyptian coffee. End this unique trip by heading to a tourist spot - the Uomizuka observation deck – which offers a panoramic view of the ocean
