Before the welcome Reception on Aug.6^th, a Board of Directors Meeting was held between 12 noon and 16:00 pm at the ball room.  Zone Directors, Country Presidents, and leaders from 11 countries attended.  Mr. Collin Toomey, the 3^rd Vice President also joined and expressed his appreciation for organizing the Congress. Members and Spouses joined a group for a Kuala Lumpur City tour.   

The welcome reception of the Congress opened its doors an hour late.  It opened with the word of �gSalamat Datang�h by Ragu, President of Les Clefs d�fOr Malaysia. Also, a Representative of the Malaysian Tourism Board gave the welcoming address and opened the Congress by beating a gong.

Our second day started with a full day of presentations by 9 countries. Country Presidents and members reported on the �gUpdate of Tourism and Hospitality Industry�h of each country.  There were many beautiful video scenes.  Japan also presented a report with Power-point and DVD for 20 minutes and explained the concept behind the Japan Tourism Agency which was created in 2008 and which is conducting a campaign named �gVisit Japan-Yokoso Japan. �h  At the end of the day, we were invited to a BBQ dinner at an amusement park named Lagoon.

On the third day of Aug. 8^th, members divided in 6 groups and had a group discussion about �gSolidarity of Asia. �h  Later we tried to find �gHow�h & �gWhat�h for the theme, and we also exchanged our findings through presentations in the afternoon.  The main conclusion was that we should �ghave good and frequent communication�h by Internet, e-mail, etc.

The final evening came to a close with a Gala Party Dinner.  It started with an official ceremony.  We all had a good time and enjoyed fun and games and a unique show.  By the conclusion of the congress, we felt strongly that �gwe are one family. �h

The final day started with a Malacca tour for those who could take part, departing on the time of the departure flight.  3 Japanese delegates joined the tour and we also enjoyed a lunch together and the singing of Country songs such Sukiyaki Song by the Japanese delegates at a Malay restaurant in the afternoon.  It was an honour that Mr. Collin Toomey also accompanied us all the way through this congress.

With our saying �g See you again, �h the 6^th Asian Congress came to a conclusion.  We all have wonderful and enjoyable memories of our time in Malaysia.

Etsuko Higashide
President of Les Clefs d�fOr Japan / Chef Concierge

Hotel New Grand

Kunoya
6-9-8 Ginza Chuo-ku, Tokyo. Open everyday. 11am-8pm on weekday and Sat.
11am-7:30pm on Sun. and Public holiday.
Old traditional Japanese sundries shop on Chuo Street. They have bags, accessory case. Furoshiki is a material, and it will be good souvenir. It is very light to take it back to your country. It is good for ecology as well.

Tokodo
3-21-12 Akasaka Minatoku, Tokyo. Open Mon.-Sat. Closed on Sun. and Public holiday. 10am-8pm on weekday. 11am-6pm on Sat.
If you are looking for good ceramic, Tokodo could be one choice. It is also interesting to look around in the shop. They have selection of ceramic.

Kyukyodo
5-7-4 Chuo-ku Ginza, Tokyo. Open Everyday. 10am-7:30pm on weekday and Sat. 11am-7pm on Sun. and Public holiday.
Kyukyodo is pretty Japanese paper shop on Chuo Street. They have traditional paper with selection of pattern. Gift cards, letter sets. etc.

Kyotokan
2-1-1 Yaesu Chuo-ku, Tokyo. Open everyday except last Wed. in March and September.
They have products from Kyoto. Crafts, DVD, Sake, Sweets and etc.

Natsuno
6-7-4 1F Ginza Chuo-ku, Tokyo. Open everyday. 10am-8pm on Mon.-Sat. 10am-7pm on Sun. and Public holiday. Chopstick shop. It is getting very popular to take your own chopstick everywhere for ecological reason lately.

Indenya
2-12-15 Minami Aoyama Minatoku, Tokyo. Open everyday. 10am-6pm.
They produce products with deerskin with traditional pattern with lacquer.
Their products have been loved with people who love real flair.

Hakuichi
11-7-21 Minamiaoyama Minatoku, Tokyo. Open 11am-7pm. Mon.-Sat.
Closed on Sun. and Public Holiday.
They have products which gilded with gold. Very impressive.

An early start from Tokyo is the best advice as it takes approximately 2.5 hours to reach in total with a number of different train transfers required.Take the Limited Express train (1 hour 50 minutes and all seats reserved) or the Rapid train (2 hour 10 minutes and no reserved seats) to Tobu Nikko station on the Tobu Nikko Line from Tobu Asakusa station.It is important to note that most trains do not go directly to Tobu Nikko station and so it is necessary to transfer at Shimo-Imaichi station to trains that come from the opposite side of the platform. One-way tickets range from 1,320 yen for Rapid trains to approx. 2,740 yen for Limited Express trains. There are also trains available from Shinjuku station but they tend to run infrequently and so it is necessary to be sure to check the schedule, and it is approximately 2 hours by Limited train and 3,900 yen one-way from Shinjuku.

If you already have a Japan Rail Pass, please be sure to take the Bullet train (Tohoku / Yamagata Shinkansen�jfrom JR Tokyo station which is only 40 minutes, and change at Utsunomiya station to the JR Nikko Line, which then takes around 45 minutes to JR Nikko station. It is 5,630 yen for one way tickets.

The Best Day Trip from Nikko :

Nikko Station �¨�@Kegon Falls�@�¨ Chuzenji Lake �¨ Irohazaka�¨Rinnoji Temple �¨ Toshogu Shrine�@�¨Nikko Station

At Tobu Nikko station, visit the tourist information center (Open from 8:30-12:00, 13:00-17:00) to obtain English language pamphlets and maps. From here, take a local bus for Yumoto and get off at Chuzenji-ko approx.40-60 minutes depending on the traffic conditions. ChuzenkiLake and KegonFalls are right next to each other and it is recommend not to take this route in autumn because it gets very crowded and sometimes takes 3-4 hours to travel the Irohazaka Slope.It is however no problem if you just visit Toshogu Shrine and RinnojiTemple which are well worth a visit whilst in the area.Bus fare is 1,100yen per ticket and payment is made to the driver as you get off the bus.

Iroha-zaka ---It is said that Iroha-zaka was given its name (from "saka", meaning slope) because it has 48 curves, the same number as the 48 characters that make up the basis of Japanese writing

KegonFalls --- There are 48 waterfalls in Nikko, but Kegon falls is the most famous and one of Japan�fs three great waterfalls. Water flowing from Lake Chuzenji-ko falls straight over a sheer cliff of97-meters and there is excellentnatural beauty to be enjoyed around the falls.

ChuzenjiLake --- This lake is approx. 25 km in circumference and has a maximum depth of 163m, and is the major lake representing the Nikko area. The lake`s height above-sea-level is 1,269 meters which makes it the highest in Japan. Approx. 20,000 years ago lava dammed up a ravine by the eruption of Mt.Nantai and it has now become the basic landscape of today's LakeChuzenji.

RinnojiTemple --- The red arched sacred �gShinkyo�h Bridge, which for 3 centuries was closed to everyone but the shogun and his emissaries – to take an optional walk across the bridge will cost 500 yen.From here, stone steps lead up into the woods where the Toshogu Shrine complex is found.To gain entry to the complex of temples in the area, purchase a 1,000 yen combination ticket. The first temple you come to will be RinnojiTemple.After viewing Rinnoji�fs 8.4m-high gold-plated wooden images of Budda, continue on to the Toshogu Shrine.

Toshogu Shrine --- It could take up to 2.5 hours to fully enjoy the wonders of the shrine.It is set in a forest of ancient Japanese cedars, and was built as the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the last shogunate of Japan, which ruled from 1600 to 1868. As many as 127,000 craftsmen were involved in construction of the shrine, using the highest level of technology available at the time. The complex consists of12 lavishly decorated Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines and contains famous wood carvings such as the �gThree Wise Monkeys,�h which symbolizes the phrase �gsee no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil,�h there is a series of 8 carved boards on which the life of a monkey is illustrated, from birth to pregnancy, caricaturing human lifeand the �gSleeping Cat,�h symbolic of the Spirit of Ieyasu. The two-story "Youmei-mon Gate", decorated with brilliant colors and over 500 sculptures, is particularly famous.

*Other Sightseeing spots worth a visit*
Tamozawa Imperial Villa --- From Toshogu Shrine, it is a brief 20 minute walk to the Tamozawa Imperial Villa built in 1899 for Prince Yoshihito, who later become the Taisho emperor.It has been recently restored and the villa is now comprised of 106 rooms (37 of which the public may visit), and it is especially remarkable for its nail-less wood framing and layered paper plastered walls.The plain wood and elegant, reserved architecture of the villa is a nice change to the gaudy red and gold leaf of the Toshogu Shrine.

*Lunch in Nikko*
Try the healthy and delicious local specialty, yuba, or soy milk skin.A particularly good yuba restaurant is Masudaya, located on the right side of the main street just after the local fire station on your way back to Tobu Nikko Station.
The Nikko Kanaya Hotel, located near the SacredBridge, also serves set lunches at reasonable prices and is highly recommended too for its quality of food.
When in the Chuzenji-ko area a place worthy of a visit is the Nikko Chuzenjiko Hotel which has the Mizunara restaurant located in the middle of a beautiful garden. The Mizunara restaurant�fs dining tables face out to LakeChuzenji.

Yokohama's modern era dates from 1859, when the port was opened to the international trade. For over 150 years, Yokohama has served as an important gateway between Japan and the rest of the world, playing a crucial role in Japan's modernization and internationalization. This port city is very organized and very beautiful town which is integrated new area in historical area.
In the city of Yokohama, and close to the city, there are many fascinating sightseeing attractions. Yokohama is only a very short trip to Tokyo, Kamukura, Hakone and Mount Fuji, major tourist destinations in Japan.

YokohamaBay Area
Yokohama is a port city and at the wharf of Yokohama Bay you can find many attractions. If you want to enjoy a great view of Yokohama bay and the wharf, you can take a boat cruise from Yamashita Park, Red Brick Warehouse( is called Akarenga which is historical warehouse renovated into a complex containing many stores, cafes and galleries) to Pukari Sanbashi in the Minato Mirai 21 area.

Yamate area
HarborViewPark, MotomachiPark and YamatePark including Motomachi fascinating shopping streets consists of yamate area. Stylish and fashionable streets, Motomachi and Yamate area, which used to be foreigners residential area.It is not only full of Yokohama�fs unique exotic charms but also very popular place for walking course in Yokohama.

YokohamaChinaTown (Chukagai)
The largest Chinatown in Japan. You can enjoy authentic Chinese food from hundreds of selective restaurants in area. It is quite enjoyable to walk around and observe how Chinese culture is blended into Japanese culture.

Minato Mirai 21
At Minato Mirai 21 (MM21), a new urban development to reclaim the seaside and harbor from industry, you will find Japan's tallest building, the Yokohama Landmark Tower and a very large Ferris wheel called Cosmo Clock 21, the city's new landmarks. This area has become popular among couples since the place will give you a sense of a seaside resort, right inside the city. There are many shopping malls and art museums for your enjoyment.

YokohamaArt Museum
YokohamaArt Museum owns many and excellent works including Photos. Their unique and original exhibitions are usually promoted.

YokohamaHakkeijimaSeaParadise
Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise is a leisure land surrounded by nature. It is located at the tip of YokohamaBay and is a new generation style amusement park. It is the home of one of the top aquariums in Japan. There is Japan's first surf coaster that swings out over the ocean, an exhilarating vertical fall amusement ride, Blue Fall.

Kamakura

Kamakura is a smaller version of the historic city of Kyoto. It is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Japan, along with Mount Fuji and the Hakone area. There are many temples and shrines in Kamakura surrounded with the natural beauty and sensitivity of traditional Japanese culture. You can also enjoy many seasonal flowers and views of Yuigahama bay.

Daibutsu, or the Great Buddha of Kamakura
KotokuinTemple, better known as Kamakura Daibutsu, belongs to the Jodo Buddhist sect. Construction of Daibutsu, an 11.31-meter-tall gilt bronze seated statue, was commenced in 1252. It was originally covered with gold leaf. The statue sat indoors, but repeated disasters destroyed the building that housed to give the open-air statue seen now. The Daibutsu statue is Kamakura's only national treasure that is a statue of Buddha.

Hachimangu Shrine
Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine is the symbolic shrine of the old capital city, Kamakura. A number of people come to visit this historic shrine every day.

This temple was founded in 1063 by Minamoto Yoriyoshi as a branch of Iwashimizu Hachimangu in Kyoto. It was originally located in Tsurugaoka near the Yuigahama coast, but was moved to the present location in 1180 by Minamoto Yoritomo to make it the core of the planned city of Kamakura. After being destroyed by a fire in 1191, the temple was rebuilt with the present layout. The view from Hongu, the main building of the temple, of the Kamakura city along the Wakamiya Oji street is magnificent.

Wakamiya Koji Street
Wakamiya Oji street, which is an approach road to the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine starting at Yuigahama beach. This street played a central role in building the landscape of Kamakura city. On the way to the shrine there are three sacred gateways called Torii along the street. They are numbered first, second, and third, from the beach side. Between the second and third gateways is a scenic spot called Dankazura, where the street is trimmed with a line of rocks on either side. This is one of the Japan's 100 most beautiful streets. Rows of restaurants and boutiques stand at both sides.

Hakone and Mount Fuji

Hakone area
The town of Hakone is situated in the southwestern part of Kanagawa, and is part of FujiHakoneIzuNational Park. Hakone is an internationally well-known holiday resort that includes many renowned hot springs. They have about 20 different qualities, nicknamed "Hakone Seventeen Spas." A view of Mt.Fuji is not the only view that you can enjoy in Hakone. There are a number of spots to visit, including O-waku-dani (where volcanic fumes still bear a trace of the Hakone Volcano), LakeAshi-no-ko (created in the crater of the Hakone Volcano), a stone Buddha and stone towers situated in Moto-Hakone, and cedar trees along Kyu-Kaido Street. Various methods of transportation, such as mountain railway, cable car, ropeway, and cruising boat, are available to bring you to these spots.

Mount Fuji
Mt.Fuji is 3,776 meters high and is the most beautiful and the highest mountain in Japan, situated at the border of two prefectures, Shizuoka and Yamanashi. With unrivaled magnificence and a beautiful cone shape, Mt.Fuji has often been selected as the subject of paintings and literature. It is not only the world-famous as a symbol of Japan but also very popular mountain to claim.

From Togendai, take Hakone Ropeway, the second-longest ropeway in the world, for 20 minutes to Owakudani, a sulfurous valley of hot spring. At Owakudani, try a black egg, boiled in sulfurous water.Each egg is traditionally said to add seven years to your life from old times. For lunch, restaurant Owakudani serves soba noodles and other Japanese dishes with a view of the surrounding mountains.From Owakudani, take the Hakone Ropeway for 10 minutes to Sounzan and transfer to the Hakone Tozan Cablecar for 10 minutes to Gora Station. As an optional information, there is a local Tofu store called �gGin Dofu�h located only a few minutes walk from Gora station. You can try �gShakuri Dofu�h which is really tasty tofu you can only eat there. It is open at 07:00am till everything is sold out, and close on Thursday.

From Gora Station, take the Hakone Tozan Train for 2 minutes and get off at Chokoku no Mori station if you have time. You can visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum where over 100 masterpieces are on display, set against natural backdrop of vast ground. It is open at 09:00-17:00 daily.

From there, take Hakone Tozan Train for 35 minutes back to Hakone Yumoto station.

We recommend you purchase a Hakone Free Pass, which gives you free usage of local trains, buses, cablecars, and sightseeing ships and discounts on admission to amusements in the Hakone area.

Kenrokuen-Garden

Originated more than 300 years ago during the Maeda Clan, in the Edo period. It is one of the best daimyo gardens, and one of the three most famous gardens in Japan. You can enjoy the Japanese atmosphere of its beautiful landscape at any time of the season.

From March1st to Oct.15th open daily 7:00-18:00, the rest of the year 8:00-16:30
Admission: adults 300yen, seniors 65years and over free (ID required), children age 6-18 100yen
Located 15 minuets by car from the hotel.

KanazawaCastlePark

The castle of the Maeda Clan. Many of the buildings were burned down in repeated fires, but several structures such as the Ishikawa Gate and Sanjikken Nagaya are still standing to this day. The new symbol of the castle gojikken Nagaya and some other parts were restored and can be observed.

From March1st to Oct.15th open daily 7:00-18:00, the rest of the year 8:00-16:30
Admission: Free of charge (Gojikken Nagaya, Hishi Yagura, Hashizume-mon, Tuszuki yagura: adults 300yen, children age 6-18 100yen 9:00-16:30)
Located 15 minuets by car from the hotel. Across the Kenrokuen-Garden.

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art

A modern museum located near Kenrokuen-Garden. This museum is one of the world�fs most advanced art museum. It allow you not only to look at modern art from all over the world, but also to experience it. Inside the round building there are exhibitions halls, shops, a library, and restrant.

Exhibition zone: Open from 10:00-18:00(Friday and Saturday 10:00-20:00)
Free zone: Open from 9:00-22:00
Closed on Monday (or next day when Monday is a holiday) and Dec.29st-Jan.3rd
Located 15 minuets by car from the hotel.

Naga-machi Buke Yashiki Ruins

The naga-machi area is known as samurai district. You can walk through the area that brings to mind the streetscape of the samurai days. There are samurai residences such as the Nomura residence and museums such as the ShiniseKinenkanMuseum. You can also find gift shops and fine pottery.

Nomura residence: April-Sept. open 8:30-17:30, Oct.-March 8:30-16:30 Closed: Dec.30,31
Admission: adults 500yen, high school students 400yen, junior high students and younger 250yen
Located 10 minuets by car from the hotel.

Higashi Chaya District

Known as the Geisha district. Its streetscape has maintained the atmosphere of the feudal period. You Can see and experience the traditional culture of Kanazawa. Shima is a national important cultural asset. Each building in this district may look alike but every shop is different. There are traditional craft shops, tea shops, and resutrants.

Shima: open 9:00-18:00Admission: High school students and older 400yen, younger 300yen
Located 10 minuets by car from the hotel.

Omi-cho Market

A market with a history of 290years.This market consists of 170 shops selling fresh sea food, vegetables and etc. There are also restaurants that sea food and sushi.

Open:8:00-18:00(depending on shops) Closed: national holidays(depending on shops)
Located about 5 minuets by car from the hotel or 15minuets by foot.