Japan To Host Series of Sporting Events In The Lead-Up To The 2020 Olympic Games

 In the lead-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, Japan will play host to a series of noteworthy sporting events taking place across the country throughout 2018 and 2019. Made famous on the world stage for baseball and sumo wrestling, the country offers a wide variety of events of interest to sports enthusiasts and active travelers, including:

Nippon Baseball Series - October 27, 2018

	Koshien Stadium (Photo by Joshua Mellin)

Considered by many to be Japan's most popular sport, baseball was first introduced to the Japanese as a prep-school game by an American schoolteacher in the 1870s. Today, both Japan's professional and high school leagues (or Kōshien) are extremely popular, drawing millions of fans from around the country. Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league has even been compared to the United States' Major League; the league's reigning champions, the Tokyo-based Yomiuri Giants, have been nicknamed "The New York Yankees of Japan." The 2018 Nippon Professional Baseball series begins on October 27th and will take place in one of the many stadiums surrounding Tokyo. For more information and schedules, please visit: http://npb.jp/eng/

                                               

Cycling Shimanami Bike Tour - October 28, 2018

	© Cycling Shimanami 2018 Executive Committee

In October, approximately 7,000 cyclists from around the globe will come together for the Cycling Shimanami Bike Tour, Japan's most famous cycling event. Known throughout the world as a "Mecca for Cyclists," the Seto Inland Sea Shimanami Kaido is comprised of a handful of picturesque small islands. Unlike other cycling tours, the courses allow participants to travel from island to island via expressways and bridges. Participants will be matched with one of seven different courses based on their personal skill level and preferences. Throughout the tour, participants will enjoy major scenic attractions, including views of the Seto Inland Sea Shimanami Kaido. The tour will begin in Hiroshima at the Onomichi U2, a renovated warehouse and home to Hotel Cycle, a cyclist hotel with cycle-through check-in and café, bicycle shop, restaurant, bakery, bar and boutique. For more information, please visit: http://cycling-shimanami.jp/english/ 

Ōmato National Archery Competition, Kyoto - January 13, 2019

	Ōmato National Archery Competition

The Ōmato National Archery Competition is a special archery tournament held each year in Sanjusangen-do, a temple in eastern Kyoto, to commemorate the coming of age for young Japanese men and women. In celebration of their 20th birthdays, approximately 2,000 young adults from across Japan convene at the temple to participate in a contest of aim and skill. The yearly ritual is based on a traditional archery competition called the Tōshiya. After a master archer fires the first shot, the competition commences. Each contestant has two minutes to shoot two arrows at a target set 60 meters away; only those who manage to hit the target both times move on to the next round. Taking place from 9am to 3:30pm, the event is free and attracts many visitors every year. For more information and how to get there, please visit: https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/85/

Marathons Across Japan - January through March 2019

	Ibusuki Marathon 2018

Between January and March of 2019, Japan will host a number of marathons all across the country. Taking place in late January, the Amakusa Marathon is just a 90-minute ferry ride from Goto Island, home of the newly appointed UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, the Hidden Christian Sites. Also taking place in January is the Ibusuki Marathon (January 13); after the marathon, runners can unwind at the beachfront Ibusuki onsen. Taking place in February 2019 is the Kita-Kyushu Marathon (February 17), the OSJ Amami Jungle Trail Marathon (mid-February), Ehime Marathon (February 10) and Kochi Ryoma Marathon (February 17). In March, runners can participate in the Tokyo Marathon (March 3), the Kagoshima Marathon (March 3), Yoron Marathon (early March) and Tokushima Marathon (late March).

Rugby World Cup - September through November 2019

	Kobe City Misaki Park Stadium

First held in 1987, the Rugby World Cup is a men's rugby tournament that takes place every four years, at which 20 of the top teams from across the globe participate. The Rugby World Cup is the world's third largest sporting event after the Summer Olympics - which is also coming to Japan in 2020 - and the men's soccer World Cup. From September through November 2019, the Rugby World Cup's 48 matches will take place at 12 venues throughout Japan including Tokyo, Kumamoto, Yokohama and Sapporo. The tournament will kick off on September 20, 2019 at Tokyo Stadium and will conclude with a final match on November 2, 2019 at Yokohama Stadium in Kanagawa. For more information, please visit: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/?lang=en  

For more information, visit us on our Website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Google+. To contact the New York office of the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) directly, please e-mail jntonyc_press@jnto.go.jp or call 212-757-5641.

About Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

As the official tourism board of Japan, JNTO is involved in a wide range of promotional activities to encourage international travelers to visit Japan. Through a variety of campaigns and initiatives, JNTO is inspiring more American travelers to visit Tokyo, Kyoto and beyond, and is raising awareness of Japan in the lead-up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Medjet Launches Short-Term Travel Security Memberships For Winter Olympic Games

Medjet - the industry leader in air medical transport and crisis response memberships for travelers - today launched a new, limited-time offer of short-term MedjetHorizon memberships, just in time for the winter games in Pyeongchang. The decision comes in response to an increase in inquiries for its elevated travel security and crisis response membership option, MedjetHorizon, as well as the U.S. State Department's new travel advisory system. Although travelers have long had the option of purchasing short-term MedjetAssist memberships, which include air medical transport and repatriation services, this is the first time the company has offered its MedjetHorizon memberships on a short-term basis, giving travelers the added security of crisis response in the event of terrorism, political threat, hijacking and other threats. "In light of the current global climate, including increased tensions in the region in the lead-up to next month's games in South Korea, we are keenly aware of a sense of nervousness among travelers about their security while traveling internationally," says Medjet CEO and President, Roy Berger. "As part of our ongoing commitment to providing our members with the most relevant and timely travel safety protections, we have therefore decided to offer those planning travel over the next month the special option of a short-term MedjetHorizon membership." With air ambulance affiliates based in more than 50 locations worldwide, and a network of highly skilled air medical and security response staff providers located around the globe, Medjet provides MedjetHorizon members with its renowned 24/7 transport services, plus access to 24/7 crisis response benefits for ten major travel security threats, including acts of terrorism, political threat, natural disaster and pandemic. Available in intervals of eight, 15, 21 and 30 days, short-term MedjetHorizon memberships start from $184 for an eight-day individual membership and $310 for an eight-day family membership. The limited time offer is available through February 15, 2018 and by phone only (1-800-527-7478). Corporate and group rates are available. For more information about Medjet, please visit: www.medjet.com. ABOUT MEDJET: Medjet is the industry leader in travel protection and medical transport, forging a global network of air medical transport affiliates and security providers over the past 26 years. At any given time, Medjet has access to more than 250 private air ambulances and commercial medical escorts, as well as specially trained emergency medical and security personnel, ready to launch from both domestic and international locations 24/7. The company most notably differentiates from other players in the market through its commitment to arrange air medical transfer to the member's home country hospital of choice (not just "nearest acceptable"), regardless of medical necessity. Similarly, unlike other travel security and response membership programs, the company's MedjetHorizon option does not rely on hard triggers, such as government-issued evacuation orders, to act on behalf of members.