From sushi to ramen and everything in between, Tokyo's gastronomy was spotlighted at an industry event that had media, industry partners, food enthusiasts, and Open Jaw salivating at the innovative food concepts that can only be found in this trendsetting city.
The Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau highlighted some of Tokyo's new developments - and especially its larger-than-life foodie scene - at an industry event on 29JUN at Toronto's Ki Modern Japanese + Bar.
Speaking with Open Jaw at the event, Shin Kawai, Director, Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau in Canada, told Open Jaw that food is a defining element of Tokyo, offering an unparalleled experience that caters to every palate and budget.
"Canadians enjoy gastronomic experiences a lot and they look for experience-oriented trips. That's why we're doing this event," he said.
"The purpose is to introduce Tokyo as a place where food is very special. Food is a window to experience another culture, so that's why we're introducing food as a main theme."
Taste Tourism in Tokyo
Tokyo's allure goes far beyond anime, sumo wrestling, cosplay, technological prowess, daring street style, and pristine nature (though these are each captivating in their own way). As Open Jaw learned, Tokyo is also a culinary mecca for everything from traditional delicacies to mind-bending creations.
Think:
- Latte art of a cat floating in your morning cup of coffee.
- Over 150 brands of prestigious wagyu beef.
- Sake from the purest water sources.
- Themed cafes featuring your favourite cartoon characters.
- Unmatched fine dining (Tokyo has by far more Michelin-starred restaurants than anywhere else in the world - yes, even Paris).
- And street food that rivals the gastronomic wonders of a five-star restaurant.
"What's nice about the food experience in Tokyo is that from a low-cost convenience store all the way to a three-star Michelin restaurant, you will get very high-quality food no matter what you choose," Kawai said.
Pushing the Boundaries of Conventional
The last time Open Jaw attended a Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau, it was FEB 2020 and the destination was gearing up to host the Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games later that summer. Inevitably, these events were derailed with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Tokyo never got a chance to fully shine.
But that means now, it's got even more to show off.
"Tokyo was preparing for this big international event for years, including building new hotels, new attractions, and new commercial facilities. You will find a lot of new areas and new developments," Kawai says.
Canadians Rely on Trade's Tokyo Intel
As an international destination with an entirely distinct language and unique culture, Canadians travelling to Tokyo often prefer working with a travel advisor to get expert trip planning services and peace of mind in the event of unforeseen circumstances, Kawai says, emphasizing that "the trade is very important."
He adds: "For this type of once-in-a-lifetime and long-haul trip, people tend to rely on travel advisors, especially through this experience of COVID. We saw that there were so many unexpected things than can happen. With a travel advisor, you know that if something happens, you have someone you can rely on. For these reasons, travel advisors are playing a very important role to introduce Japan and Tokyo."
"Tremendous Leisure Demand"
Canadian travel to Tokyo remains strong, as the allure of this captivating city continues to attract a steady influx of eager visitors from across the country.
"Canadian people really like Japan and Tokyo, and the Canadian response is one of the best compared to other countries," Kawai says. "There is a lot of pent-up demand to visit Japan, and Tokyo is a gateway."
Air Canada's Joey Lanthier, Senior Manager, Revenue Management - Asia Pacific, agrees that Canadians are gobbling up the chance to visit Japan. He says the airline is seeing "tremendous leisure demand" between the two countries.
Planned capacity next winter compared to this summer ranges from 1,100 to 1,200 daily seats each way between Canada and Japan. AC offers double daily service between Toronto and Tokyo International Airport (HND) through OCT, changing to 10 times per week for the IATA winter season.
The YVR and YUL services to Narita International Airport (NRT) are daily year-round except for Montreal during winter, with 4 flights per week.
The other long-haul AC markets with double daily service are YYZ to LHR and FRA, and YUL to LHR and CDG, so Japan joins a rather special group of top, high-demand markets, notes Lanthier.
Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, and WestJet also offer direct flights from Canadian cities to Japan.
Tokyo and Japan Travel Specialist Program
Travel advisors can complete an e-learning program with the Japan National Tourism Organization to become a Japan Travel Specialist.
For Tokyo resources, the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau has photo and video footage, and Tokyo travel news and information to help advisors understand and sell the destination.
