London marks Oita’s fourth year!

Japan’s spa capital is Oita in the western prefecture. With more refreshing, lovely hot springs than anywhere else in Japan – perhaps even the world – it makes a perfect extension to any Japan vacation for holidaymakers looking for a totally refreshing experience.

Aside from its celebrated spas, Oita has plenty to offer in the form of art, history, exquisite cuisine, and natural beauty. Furthermore, you can expect a warm welcome when you arrive. To help travellers learn about our beloved prefecture, the Oita Prefectural Government established a tourist desk in London four years ago. We’ve held firm here in the UK and are even expanding our presence to France as well! If you’d like assistance while planning your trip – whether that be in French or English – don’t hesitate to get in touch. Now, let’s take a look at some of the amazing attractions that await you in Oita!

Beppu and Yufuin hot springs

Located on the idyllic western island of Kyushu, Oita Prefecture is known for its hot springs – onsen in Japanese. Oita pumps out hundreds of millions of litres of mineral-rich healing water each year to the people of Japan, who love a dip in a warm bath. You can treat aches, pains and many other ailments with it, as well as beauty and skincare treatments.

It’s a pleasure to visit the seaside city of Beppu, one of the largest in Oita. The mountains are right at the shoreline, and the city is built up into the hills where there is so much geothermal activity that steam billows out into the air from natural steam vents all around town. Onsen in Beppu specialize in a variety of styles, including the black sand bath, which clears your pores and leaves you feeling rejuvenated.

Yufuin, on the other hand, is Oita’s cultural heart. This is a charming town with art galleries, hip cafes, and trendy boutiques. As a result of its location at the foot of Mt Yufu, it is a great place to explore the wilderness and host several major art and literary festivals each year. The onsen culture in this region is also exquisite, and many people enjoy soaking in the minerals and the atmosphere for days!

Kyushu Tour

For the first time in October 2023, the Tour de Kyushu will take place as part of the UCI Asia Tour across the island. It is the third and final stage of the race that passes through Oita; the highlight of this section is a high-speed sprint down 700m before circling around the picturesque town centre of Hita.

Stay on a farm

A Farm Stay is a cosy night spent in the home of a welcoming host family on a range of charming working farms. This type of green tourism originated in Oita Prefecture, in the city of Usa.

Noson Mimpaku is a unique holiday philosophy which appeals to people of all ages and nationalities. Visitors have the opportunity to stay at the homes of local farmers and take in their authentic lifestyle, whilst also discovering a range of exciting destinations – from animal farms and fisheries to mushroom farms, tofu producers and more. Aside from these fascinating experiences, guests are even able to learn how to make delicious dishes using fresh ingredients! Oita is truly a special place that provides an unforgettable spiritual journey – whether it’s an exploration of the coast, a venture through rivers, hikes into the highlands or sojourns on remote islands.

Ferry to Osaka overnight

Flying to Oita Airport, taking a train from Hiroshima to Fukuoka, or taking an overnight ferry from Osaka or Kobe are all excellent ways to get to Oita from mainland Japan. There’s no better way to travel – and it doubles as one-night accommodation, too!

We recommend a cruise back to the mainland on an overnight voyage from Beppu to the lively city of Osaka. You will spend the night in a spacious, deluxe cabin, and wake up bright and early ready for your next adventure. In January, the Sunflower Kurenai – the first LNG-powered ferry to travel this route – set sail, and the Sunflower Murasaki set sail in April 2023.

We at the Oita desk in London would be only too glad to hear from you with any questions or requests, so please do not hesitate to contact us!

Queer Spirits is delighted to announce its triumph in a nationwide competition organized by Adobe and Enterprise Nation.

Queer Spirits, a drinks company owned by members of the LGBTQ+ community, is committed to crafting exceptional spirits while championing diversity and supporting their LGBTQ+ community. Among numerous entrants, they are one of the ten small businesses chosen to claim a coveted spot on Europe’s busiest shopping destination.

Oli Powell, who, alongside husband Jon Gronow, operates Queer Spirits as a passion project, expressed overwhelming joy at their competition victory. “We still can’t fathom that we’ve emerged victorious. It’s a dream come true and a testament to all the hard work we’ve invested. We’re just a pair of individuals from South Wales who aspired to create a magnificent gin to honour our community. Now, here we are, preparing to launch a store on the renowned Oxford Street.”

Jon added, “This competition has truly tested our resilience. Currently, we solely operate online and possess no prior experience with brick-and-mortar retail. To prepare everything within a two-week timeframe, we’ve had to think swiftly and confront challenges we’re unaccustomed to. We are immensely proud of our accomplishments.”

Queer Spirits’ distinctive gin, boasting an exquisite fusion of exotic botanicals and bold flavours, will prominently feature in a temporary retail space situated at 58 Oxford Street, promising an extravagant celebration of queerness.

“We acknowledge that we may be small players in a vast arena, but we genuinely believe that the more authentic queer brands flourish, pursuing their passions, the more vibrant and joyous our collective community will become,” expressed Oli.

During their two-day residency, commencing on May 24th, Queer Spirits will donate a portion of their proceeds to Kaleidoscope Trust, a UK-based charity dedicated to advocating for the human rights of LGBTQ+ individuals worldwide.

Alongside their collaboration with Kaleidoscope Trust, Queer Spirits has provided support to various LGBTQ+ organizations and events since its inception, including Blackstage, which highlights the achievements of queer pole dancers of colour, and Camden Bells, a grassroots football team that warmly welcomes women, trans individuals, and gender nonconforming people of all skill levels.

Sharing the pop-up shop with Queer Spirits will be fellow entrepreneur Elisabeth Ola, the visionary founder of TRU SKN, an innovative beauty company devoted to instilling confidence, empowerment, and inclusivity.

As part of the event, Queer Spirits will unveil their new bottle design, granting early access to shop visitors. However, the journey hasn’t been entirely smooth sailing, as Oli explains.

“Things haven’t unfolded precisely as we initially envisioned, which can be challenging to accept when your identity is deeply personal and close to your heart. Nevertheless, witnessing the growth of our brand amidst extraordinary circumstances has been an immensely enjoyable experience.”

In an exciting collaboration, Queer Spirits has partnered with Double Dutch, the award-winning mixer brand, to offer Gin & Tonic samples to attendees throughout the two-day affair. This joint effort aims to enhance the in-store experience for customers and tantalize their taste buds.

Exclusive merchandise, including t-shirts, tote bags, and candles, will also be on sale, proudly showcasing the brand’s name and signature pink color palette.

Join Queer Spirits at their pop-up shop located at 58 Oxford Street, where you can embrace authenticity, celebrate diversity, and relish in the fabulousness of Queer Spirits.

The highly anticipated Paseda360 National Coaching Awards 2023 is gearing up to acknowledge and commend the remarkable work of coaches throughout the United Kingdom.

This esteemed event serves as a platform to honour the finest coaching talent across various disciplines and proficiency levels, shining a spotlight on their accomplishments and significant contributions to the advancement of their clients and the industry as a whole.

Entries are currently open, welcoming nominations for categories such as Emerging Coach of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, Wellbeing Coach of the Year, Trusted Advisor Award, Transformational Coach of the Year, and many more.

The National Coaching Awards, organized by Paseda360, Global Coach Training, in collaboration with ScoreApp, the quiz funnel marketing app, and a group of sponsors who share a mutual commitment to promoting coaching excellence, are set apart by their purpose-driven nature. The awards will allocate funds for bursaries, providing Blue Light Career Leavers with the opportunity to retrain as coaches through Paseda360.

The winners will be unveiled during the prestigious awards ceremony scheduled for February 8th, 2024, at the renowned venue of The Royal College of Surgeons in London. The event promises an evening brimming with celebration and acknowledgment.

Expressing her enthusiasm, Angela Cox, the Founder and Master Coach of Paseda360, remarked, “The National Coaching Awards are a testament to the incredible coaches who skillfully blend resilience and empathy to empower their clients to unleash their full potential. We are thrilled to celebrate their achievements and the positive impact they make on their clients and communities.”

To enter a category or nominate a deserving coach, please visit: https://thenationalcoachingawards.com/

FirstAid4Sport, a leading provider of Sports First Aid essentials, is excited to announce the launch of its newly revamped website. The updated website comes with a range of enhancements and added features, all aimed at delivering an even more seamless and convenient shopping experience for customers.

“We understand that our customers are always on the move, and so are we. We have given our website a fresh look and made several improvements to make ordering Sports First Aid essentials easier than ever,” said Matt Peachey, Marketing Executive for FirstAid4Sport. “You will find a faster site, quicker search, a smoother and simpler checkout process, and our best-selling products showcased prominently.”

The redesigned website features a modern and user-friendly design, coupled with enhanced functionality and improved navigation. Customers can now enjoy a faster browsing experience, enabling them to find their desired products more efficiently. The improved search feature provides quick and accurate results, making it easier for customers to locate exactly what they need.

“We want to assure you that these improvements are an evolution, not a revolution, and the core essence of the website remains the same,” added Peachey. “Your logins will continue to work as they did on the previous website, and there is no need for any action on your part.”

While the website now resides on a different platform, customers can still expect the same exceptional level of service that they have come to associate with FirstAid4Sport.

“Although our website has evolved, our fantastic selection, value, product guidance, and commitment to outstanding customer service all remain unchanged,” assured Peachey.

FirstAid4Sport remains dedicated to providing an unparalleled shopping experience to its customers. With the newly redesigned website, the company aims to enhance the convenience and accessibility of acquiring Sports First Aid essentials.

For more information or to explore the revamped website, please visit their website.

Excite OOH, a fresh and independent outdoor advertising agency, has officially emerged onto the scene with a mission to revolutionize brand communication and audience engagement through outdoor media. With their innovative solutions and unwavering commitment to delivering measurable outcomes, Excite OOH aims to transform the way brands connect with their target audiences.

Excite OOH offers a comprehensive suite of services that encompasses media planning and buying, creative design, campaign strategy, and in-depth research and insights. By providing end-to-end solutions, Excite OOH empowers brands to maximize their outdoor advertising impact.

While primarily focused on the UK market, Excite OOH also extends its reach to European and US markets, enabling clients to expand their advertising horizons on a global scale. The agency’s international presence ensures that brands can tap into diverse audiences and amplify their message across borders.

Leading the charge is Elliot Ward, formerly the Business Development & OOH lead at One Day Agency, where he achieved impressive milestones, generating over £3,500,000 in revenue for the agency. Ward’s expertise in the field and his successful collaborations with renowned clients such as UNiDAYS, Jordan Tourism Board, Butternut Box, Codorniu, and DPD have set the stage for Excite OOH’s remarkable journey.

“We are delighted to announce the launch of Excite OOH. Our unwavering commitment to driving growth for brands and businesses is the driving force behind our agency. By combining our extensive industry knowledge, creative prowess, and cutting-edge technology, we are poised to deliver exceptional results for our clients,” expressed Elliot Ward, Founder of Excite OOH.

As Excite OOH emerges as a dynamic force in the outdoor advertising landscape, their passion for propelling brands forward and their dedication to leveraging innovative strategies and technology will undoubtedly reshape the industry’s landscape. With a focus on tangible outcomes and a client-centric approach, Excite OOH is set to redefine the possibilities of outdoor advertising.