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www.travelweekly-asia.com | 11 DESTINATION Japan FAST FACTS • Yokohama is the birthplace of rugby in Japan and will host the Rugby World Cup final this year. •New hotels are expected to open yearly in Yokohama leading to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, including Oakwood Yokohama and Hyatt Regency Yokohama. •Yokohama recorded 29 million day trips by foreign visitors in 2018. •Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pegged goals for tourist arrivals to hit 40 million by 2020 and 60 million by 2030. •Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau has released plans for developments all the way till 2027, including hotels, entertainment and various mixed-used zones. Rugby's birthplace: Yokohama Not many know that Yokohama is in fact the birthplace of rugby in Japan, making it an apt choice to host the World Cup final. Yokohama has also hosted other international sports events, such as the final matches of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016, as well as the ITU Triathlon Yokohama and Yokohama Marathon last year. "The marathon scene in Japan is huge and big city marathons tend to be popular with overseas runners. Of course, there are also those who have done the big marathons and are looking for unique ones such as food marathons and character runs," said JTB's Lim. Bookings usually include race entry slot and accommodation. A good example would be JTB's Yokohama Marathon 2019 package. Out and about The capital of Kanagawa Prefecture and second-most populous city in Japan, Yokohama offers a seamless blend of urban skyscrapers alongside harbour-front views, especially at the Minato Mirai 21 area. The address is home to the central business district, as well as popular tourist spots – including Queens Square Yokohama, which houses offices, shops, a concert hall, hotel and the Minato Mirai station underground. Tourists also enjoy the area in the evening to catch views of the Cosmo Clock 2, a giant Ferris wheel at Cosmo World Amusement Park. When it comes to relaxation, tourists and locals alike go to the leading name in town: Minatomirai Manyo Club. The massive spa is open 24 hours all through the week, where it's not uncommon to see visitors alternating between nine floors of spa facilities, public baths, different sauna types, before catching their naps at the hotel rooms or private sleeping capsules. There's even a floor dedicated to feasting, and the entire eighth level given to a kid's play centre and arcade, complete with internet stations. For travellers in town for sport, spectators can make their way from International Stadium Yokohama towards the Yoshidamachi, Noge, and Yokohama station areas, home to numerous sport bars and pubs, and more likely than not, friendly faces to continue chatting about events, complete with big screens tuned in to the action. Building towards 2020 In anticipation of the Rugby World Cup and Olympics, Yokohama city has been building for the future. This includes "planning scheduled transportation services between International Stadium Yokohama and main attraction points in the city centre, and various tourist incentives in the works," said YCVB's Furukawa. YCVB has also released plans for Yokohama all the way to 2027, the developments including hotels, entertainment and various mixed-used areas. In the Yokohama station area, the newly opened Entertainment Asobuild offers a sports community area, handcrafting zone, space for kids play and an amusement bar lounge for adults. Families travelling with kids in tow can additionally look forward to Yokohama Anpanman Museum, opening in July this year after relocating to the Minatomirai area. In 2020, Yokohama city is set to welcome seaside line Keikyu Kanazawahakkei train station and the Yokohama Stadium in Kannai area. Fans of Gundam can also look forward to Gundam Factory Yokohama at the Yamashita Pier. In 2021, South Korean mega tech brand LG will open their global R&D Center in Shintakashima area, and in 2024, the Yokohama United Arena will open in Kannai area, replacing the current indoors Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium, paving the way for even more sporting events and capacity for bigger crowds. Hotel pipeline With new attractions, infrastructure and the upcoming major sporting events, it's no surprise that hoteliers are cashing in. A slew of hotels will be opening their doors in Yokohama, such as the massive APA Hotel & Resort Yokohama Bay Tower in September, offering 2,311 rooms, and at least five hotels in 2020, including Oakwood Yokohama and Hyatt Regency Yokohama. In 2022, The Westin Yokohama will add 373 rooms into the mix, the luxury hotel situated right next to the upcoming K Arena "Music Park" -- a mixed-used development housing an exhibition hall, arena and hotel in one. After adding these upcoming hotels with existing ones, Yokohama will eventually offer more than 20,000 keys. In anticipation of the Rugby World Cup and Olympics, Yokohama city has been building for the future. Yokohama International Stadium PHOTO CREDIT: YCVB Sports tourism is a growing segment, according to Nobuyuki Furukawa, chairman of Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau

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