Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion). At right is the Kyoto Gozan Okuri-bi or the bonfire guide to spirits. Photo By ISABEL C. DE LEON

MANILA, Philippines — It’s been almost a year since a massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami and nuclear power plant accident shook, swept and changed the lives of the people of the Tohoku region in Japan. With help coming from the global community, Japan is now recovering as fast as its Shinkansen (bullet trains).

“We are trying hard to turn this hardship into a blessing,” says Japan’s Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe.

Japan, indeed, is blessed. For a tragedy of such magnitude has not tarnished its people’s strength and beauty, resilience and discipline, warmth and hospitality in welcoming visitors from all over the world. Japan is also blessed with amazingly breathtaking and beautiful places scattered all over its islands, prefectures, regions, cities, towns and villages.

For eight days, we (with Philippine Star’s Bum Tenorio) "turned Japanese", on the invitation of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Embassy of Japan, and leap-frogged from Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo-Sapporo-Otaru-Niseko-Kobe-Nara to find out for ourselves what Ambassador Urabe called as endless discovery and hospitality that were waiting for us in Japan.

It was winter time in Japan, and the temperature range was from five degrees Celsius (high) to -17 degrees Celsius (low). Our suitcases were already groaning from the weight of our gear. Thank heavens for Cebu Pacific, our carrier to Osaka, because aside from the comfortable inflatable neck pillow and eye cover that were given to us, we also got additional free baggage allowance of (blip, blip) kilos!

People All Over Japan Are Waiting For Your Visit

Japan has lured untold numbers of adventurers since Marco Polo first introduced it to the world back in the 13th century as “Zipangu – the Land of Gold.” It may not be a land of gold today as it is better known as the Land of the Rising Sun,  but Japan’s riches lie in its great cultural variety, colorful and inspiring natural attractions that are beautifully interwoven by distinct four seasonal changes, not to mention the overflowing hospitality of its people. Anywhere you go, there would be warm shouts of Yokoso! (welcome!), and once inebriated with the succinctly potent Japanese sake, the Yokoso! turns into a rousing Kampai!

From MOFA officials led by Director for Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department Toshio Yamamoto, Yokoso! Japan Ambassadors, tourism experts, the International Hospitality & Conference Service Association from which our interpreter guide Kanao “Kaye-san” Shiga came from, Japan National Tourism Organization, Japan Tourism Agency, to the frontline people we met throughout our exploration of Japan, we were welcomed big time. And so, Bum-san and I were humming the lyrics of the songs – "Big in Japan," "Turning Japanese," "Sukiyaki," even the "Do-Re-Mi" (when we were being mobbed by deer in Nara) and the locals were happily singing along with us. Those who couldn’t were left just scratching their heads.

Next Sunday: Cheap in Japan

Cebu Pacific flies to Osaka three times a week—Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. For reservations and inquiries, please call 702-0888 or visit www.cebupacificair.com.