Press Tour for the APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) in Japan

– Experience the Hokkaido Winter and Snowy Sapporo –

From May 24 to June 6, 2010, the APEC Japan 2010 Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT), the Senior Officials’ Meeting II (SOM II) and Related Meetings will be held in the City of Sapporo, Hokkaido. The APEC 2010 MRT Hokkaido-Sapporo Executive Council has planned a tour for foreign correspondents in Japan ahead of these meetings to offer opportunities for them to experience various aspects of the city’s appeal in winter. Applications for participation in the tour are invited as outlined below.

• Itinerary Outline
• Application Form (Download, Word format)

Schedule

February 2 (Tuesday) – 3 (Wednesday), 2010

Itinerary

Sapporo Snow Festival (Odori and Tsudome sites)

The 61st Sapporo Snow Festival will be held at three sites – Odori, Tsudome and Susukino – from February 5 (Friday) to 11 (Thursday – a national holiday), 2010. Members of the press tour will see large snow sculptures being made at the Odori site – a rare opportunity, as most tourists visit the site after the figures are completed. At the Tsudome site, they will observe tube slides and other sculptures in the making. Offering snow slides, snow rafting and more, this site allows children and adults alike to come in contact with the snow in Hokkaido’s natural environment.

Sapporo Central Wholesale Market’s over-the-counter area (lunch)

Shops in the over-the-counter market deal in fresh local products won in auctions at the Central Wholesale Market. For lunch, participants will enjoy rice bowls topped with plenty of fresh seafood.

Tourism PR presentation and informal interaction with the Mayor of Sapporo

The City of Sapporo creates new tourism attractions for the city through various initiatives such as Sweets Kingdom Sapporo promotional activities and bridal tours. It also works closely with neighboring municipalities to disseminate information as part of the Greater Sapporo Tourism Region. Participants will listen to a presentation on these efforts, followed by informal interaction with Sapporo Mayor Fumio Ueda.

Social dinner

This event will be held in a hotel adjacent to Odori Park; participants will enjoy a meal of local food and beverages with a view of snow sculptures being made for the Sapporo Snow Festival. Attractions will also be scheduled so that participants can experience Hokkaido’s culture.

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Sasara rotary-broom snow remover

The Sasara rotary-broom snow remover – a special feature of winter in Sapporo – is designed to remove snow that has piled up on streetcar rails. Tour members will see the vehicle clearing snow with its rotating bamboo brushes.

Sapporo Ainu Culture Promotion Center (Sapporo Pirka Kotan)

Attendees will learn about the life, history and art of the Ainu, who have cultivated a unique culture in this northern land, at Sapporo Pirka Kotan – an experience-based Ainu cultural facility. An Ainu guide will show visitors around the exhibition rooms, and an Ainu dance demonstration will also be performed.

Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium and Sapporo Winter Sports Museum

The Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium was used during the XI Olympic Winter Games held in Sapporo in 1972. From the observation lounge, tour members can enjoy panoramic views of the cityscape, the Ishikari Plain and Ishikari Bay. A close-up view of the ski jump’s starting line will give some idea of how jumpers feel before they leap. There will also be a chance to enjoy inner-tube sledding on the landing hill. For lunch, dishes cooked with carefully selected fresh local lamb will be served.

Shiroi Koibito Park

Participants will observe the processes of the Shiroi Koibito cookie production lines in the park’s factory, which include sandwiching chocolate between oven-fresh langue de chat cookies, cooling, best-before date printing and packaging. The park is decorated with a six-meter-high Christmas tree, approximately 90,000 electric bulbs and roughly 250 snowman ornaments. Members will also have the chance to enjoy chocolate drinks served in original cups at the facility’s lounge, which offers fine views over the area.

Itinerary Overview – Press Tour of the APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) (projected)

Day 1: February 2 (Tuesday)

• 08:00 Depart Haneda Airport (ANA flight 53)
• 09:35 Arrive at New Chitose Airport
• 09:45 Depart New Chitose Airport (heading to Sapporo)
• 11:10 Tour and gather news materials at the Sapporo Snow Festival’s Odori site
• 12:40 Tour the Central Wholesale Market’s over-the-counter area
• 13:00 Lunch (Kikusui sushi restaurant)
• 14:20 Tour and gather news materials at the Sapporo Snow Festival’s Tsudome site
• 15:50 Sapporo City Hall (tourism presentation and informal interaction with the Mayor of Sapporo)
• 17:50 Social dinner (Stay overnight at Sapporo Korakuen Hotel)

Day 2: February 3 (Wednesday)

• 08:30 Leave hotel
• 09:00 Inspect and gather news materials about the Sasara rotary-broom snow remover (at the Streetcar Operating Office)
• 10:15 Tour and gather news materials at the Sapporo Ainu Culture Promotion Center
• 13:00 Lunch (at Lamb Dining Okurayama)
• 13:50 Tour and gather news materials at the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium
• 14:45 Tour and gather news materials at the Winter Sports Museum
• 15:35 Tour and gather news materials at Shiroi Koibito Park
• 17:50 Arrive at New Chitose Airport
• 18:30 Depart New Chitose Airport (ANA flight 74)
• 20:10 Arrive at Haneda Airport

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Open to

Holders of Foreign Press Registration Cards issued by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, etc.

Price

10,000 yen per person (including transportation, meals and accommodation, extending from departure from Haneda through return to Haneda)
*Details of payment methods and other information will be provided in due course.

Capacity

Limited to the first 20 applicants on a first-come first-served basis

Application

Complete the designated application form (download, Word format) and send it to the contact below by e-mail or fax between December 14 (Monday), 2009 and January 8 (Friday), 2010.

Remarks

1. Please contact us by e-mail with any questions about this tour (Japanese language preferred).
2. Photography and filming will be restricted during some parts of the itinerary.
3. The APEC 2010 MRT Hokkaido-Sapporo Executive Council shall not be liable for any damages arising in the course of the tour for reasons not attributable to the Executive Council or other people/organizations concerned with the tour. The Executive Council will take out domestic travel accident insurance for all tour participants.
4. The itinerary is subject to change due to inclement weather or other reasons.

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