Simon Heads For Japan on a Sponsored Photo-Journalist Trip

Friday 20 September, 2019 Written by Simon Collyer

INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITY - Not a normal week we can assure you, but the ABC and the quality of articles we write and publish is getting attention. We have had a huge surge in visits to our website this week. In fact, we are slightly baffled what has caused this sudden extra attention?

Next year is the Olympics. The 2020 Summer Olympics will begin on Friday 24 July and and ends on Sunday 9 August. People will learn a lot more about this fascinating and mysterious country.

Press Release

Simon Collyer, the Colchester based founder of the Association of Pension of Benefits Claimants CIC, also known as the ABC, has been given a prestigious opportunity to travel to Japan as guest of the Japanese’s authorities.

The mission set is to write about two tourist destinations, Wakura Onsen based on the coast, in the spectacular Noto Peninsular and Nozawa Onsen one of Japans leading ski resorts based in the Hokurike mountains, one of Japans leading inbound ski resorts. The government wants to attract European tourists to visit this location in the ‘green season’.

Both locations are in Ishikawa Prefecture and Simon and his guides will be travelling up the spectacular Dragon Route as it is called, to Wakura Onsen from Chubu airport in central Japan.

Onsen are hot volcanic springs which have waters in different colours depending on the minerals present. ‘Mixed bathing is out’ says Simon - bathers enter in the nude and put their towels on their heads once in the water to keep them dry. The springs are reputed to have significant health benefits.

Noto Peninsula 03 Noto Peninsula 02

Image: The Nobo Penninsular

There is a full programme of activity, Sea Kayaking to an uninhabited island, swimming with Dolphins in the wild, fishing and running about on the ocean inside a large inflatable ‘bubble’ that ‘floats on the sea’ say the organizers. Also watching Firefly squid and much more. The amazing ‘Notojima Aquarium’ is well worth looking up on YouTube’ says Simon.

Noto Peninsular

Image: A Peaky Blinders Haircut if ever we saw one.

The second venue Nozawa Onsen, is nestled in what is called the Japanese Alps is generally crowded with skiers in the winter. Guest journalists will be mountain biking guided by a famous mountaineer and guide. ‘A long ride, all downhill fortunately’ says Simon.

Nozawa Onsen

Image: Nozawa Onsen.

Ishikawa is known for its scenery and its culture, in particular exquisite lacquerware. The formal Japanese Tea Ceremony originated in the province.

Simon has appeared on BBC Look East and BBC Radio Essex this year and twice recently on the RT TV (formally Russia Today) evening news. Simons ABC organisation started to get noticed after they were invited to the final press conference by Prof. Philip Aston, the United Nations special reporter on poverty. The ABC has over 3,000 articles on-line and is known for the depth and quality of their articles. The ABC was founded to improve this image of those on state funding and to provide signposting and ideas. Simon was a core team member on the Via Sacra Walk with Sir Anthony Seldon in 2016 along the Western Front as it was in 1916, from Switzerland to the Belgian Coast.

Oldest Hotel in the world

Image: The oldest hotel in the world.

This will be a chance to increase my knowledge about Japanese society say Simon and build important contacts for the future. I am very privileged to be selected to go. Japan is an amazing country and Ishikawa should be on every travellers bucket list of places to go.’

Dolphins