SINGAPORE: Orchard Road has been transformed into a mini Sakura Land, as part of the Discover Japan exhibition.
This exhibition aims to attract some 200,000 Singaporeans to visit Japan this year, to reverse the decline in the number of visitors due mainly to last March's earthquake and tsunami. In 2011, Japan received 111,300 Singaporeans, a 38.5 per cent drop from 2010, which registered 180,000 arrivals.
Officially opened on
Saturday, the exhibition is organised by the Japan National Tourism
Organisation (JNTO). The exhibition runs till February 26.
There are also plans to offer one-for-one package tours to Japan at next month's NATAS Fair.
The exhibition features 54 playing cards blown up to poster size, depicting Japan's 47 prefectures, and their culture and food.
The artist behind the cards, Yasuko Sensyu, was also on hand at the exhibition to display her skills.
The
larger-than-life size cards have a pending application for the Guinness
World Record for "the largest pack of playing cards".
Other
attractions include photo-taking panels, a glass container to showcase
Japanese hand-made artefacts, and live performances.
Motonari
Adachi, executive director at the Singapore office of the Japan National
Tourism Organisation, said: "Singaporeans fundamentally love Japan, and
we have confidence that we will be able to overcome any radiation
fears. We will organise a seminar for food safety, for Singaporeans who
have any issues regarding food safety."
-CNA/ac