Dusit Thani Kyoto, recently opened in September, has unveiled its signature fine-dining restaurant, Ayatana.
Conceived exclusively for the hotel by acclaimed Thai chefs Duangporn “Bo” Songvisava and her husband Dylan Jones, the restaurant takes inspiration from the rich cultures of both Thailand and Japan. Its name origin is in Sanskrit, and refers to the six senses: sight, sound, scent, taste, touch, and mind.
Ayatana’s 2.5-hour journey begins in the restaurant’s open kitchen with a first bite that pays respect to Kyoto’s kyo-yasai (the prefecture’s famous vegetables), followed by five amuse-bouches that reference Shojin Ryori, the traditional dining style of Buddhist monks in Japan, which focuses on seasonal vegetables and wild mountain plants.
Next is a typical Thai-style family dinner, with six authentic Thai dishes with highlights of the season. Beverages, such as wine pairing and mocktails, are also available.
Diners will also experience Thai-inspired wagashi (a traditional Japanese confection) served with organic green tea specially created for Ayatana by the Dusit Tea Garden in Wazuka. For dessert, there are small bites from Kati, the property’s dessert atelier.
In addition, the soothing tones of a singing bowl are heard throughout the meal, believed to enhance digestion and promote a tranquil, rejuvenating slumber.
Ayatana is open daily for dinner journeys (excluding Tuesday and Wednesday) from 17.30 to 22.00, with last orders at 20.00. Price starts at 24,800 yen (US$170) per person. A lunch journey menu will be available beginning in November.
Advanced reservations are highly recommended.
For more information, visit Dusit Thani Kyoto.
A Swedish national, he is also fluent in Danish, Norwegian, English and Thai.
Japan is seeing the opening of more big-name and glitzy attractions, as companies seek to gain from the country’s tourism recovery.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo: The Making of Harry Potter, which opened in June, is the second theme park based on the hit film series after the one in London, which has welcomed 17 million visitors since opening in 2012.
Covering 30,000m2, the Tokyo site is also the world’s largest Harry Potter attraction. Operated by Warner Bros. Studio Japan, it features exclusive sets from the film series, interactive experiences including using a green screen, F&B options and shops, with entry for adults priced at 6,300 yen (US$42).
Attractions based on Japanese characters are also expanding, due to their popularity at home and abroad.
Building on its 60 billion yen (US$403 million) investment to open Super Nintendo World in 2021, Universal Studios Japan, in July, launched attractions based on several animation series including One Piece, Detective Conan and Attack on Titan.
Ghibli Park, which opened in Nagoya Prefecture in 2022, has also expanded this year to add two new areas: Mononoke Village, which unveils Japan as it was in the fifteenth century, and Irontown Village, featuring giant sculptures of creatures from Studio Ghibli films.
Growth in theme park attendance is important to tourism recovery as Japan seeks increased consumption by visitors.
Theme parks and amusement parks across the country are welcoming fewer visitors than pre-pandemic, with recovery at just under 80 per cent, but those visitors are spending more. Consumption per person exceeded 10,000 yen for the first time in 2022, according to data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
There are more products in the pipeline.
Tom’s City Circuit Tokyo Bay will open at the capital’s Odaiba waterfront in November, offering indoor and outdoor electric vehicle go-karting, as well as VR-based entertainment.
The company said the attraction can “help revitalise Tokyo’s night-time economy” as electric vehicles are quiet, allowing smooth operations at night.