Cliffs of Moher

There's a dear little plant that grows in our isle,
'Twas Saint Patrick himself, sure, that set it;
And the sun of his labor with pleasure did smile,
And with dew from his eye often wet it.
It grows through the bog, through the brake, through the mireland
And they call it the dear little Shamrock of Ireland.
(An Irish blessing)

No snakes will bite visitors to Ireland. St. Patrick drove them out of the Emerald Isle a long time ago. On March 17 there's only one place to truly celebrate his grand feat of banishing both serpents and pagans-the Land of Erin, an island carved into natural beauty by gouging glaciers and the restless Atlantic.Ireland is a place of myths, legends and other tall stories, the ancestral home of eighteen American presidents and the original fount of the "black stuff" (common vernacular for Guinness in Eire). The pace of life is far from Tokyo's, with all the best things still on tap.

Conmacnoise

Over 30,000 Japanese visitors a year choose this "exotic" island. It boasts more than a fair share of castles, golf links, fishing waters and enchanting rural scenes, but exudes an air of crazy genius and bubbling humor. Even funeral wakes can be a time for celebrating life, while St. Patrick's "day" gets drawn out to three on home turf. Best of all is the natural friendliness of the Irish towards visitors. As one travel ad suggests, who's ever heard a joke about an unfriendly Irishman?

The Irish have produced some of the world's greatest literature and drama. A great way to spend vacation time is to browse shelves of old books, where gems of forgotten editions await new owners at collectable prices. Even 3000 yen can buy a very attractive old spine and some great contents as well. You'll find special souvenirs at good prices in the antique shops.

Surprises also await the adventurous diner. As one British travel executive put it: "Rather like Mopsy. When it's good, it's very, very good and when it's bad, it's awful!" Some measure of just how good it can be is in the quality. Irish chefs at top hotels and restaurants work with fresh-caught salmon, grass-fed beef, plump poultry and garden-grown vegetables. Over the past few years, the tourism industry upgraded services, especially food preparation. The humble Irish Stew occasionally rises to gastronomic heights.

Drimnagh Castle

High cholesterol sufferers wishing to end it all only have to try the "Ulster Fry" for breakfast: eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, soda bread, potato bread, beans, tomatoes and mushrooms. There's no better start to a long day's touring than with a belch-inducing breakfast and reliable information.

Hire a car and see Ireland as it suits you. It's sometimes better to pay a little more for the air ticket with a flexible return date and let go of time completely, or until the money runs out. Car hire starts at 5000 yen per day. Journeys between the major touring sites range from two to four hours. With careful planning you can cover the "must" places with loads of time for lingering, and stops for non-drivers to wet their whistles. Exploring by rail can be cost-efficient, with a JY14,000 Rover Ticket covering the whole island for five days.

The horse ranks second to St. Patrick among cultural icons. The sex-and-gambling industry of thoroughbred studding and racing is extensive. A day at the races will bring a lot of Ireland into focus. It may even help towards the travel costs-or greatly add to them. Ireland boasts 25 racecourses for flat races and steeplechases. In the evening, greyhound racing takes over.

Slea Head

Ireland, like Japan, seems even more beautiful in or after a rainfall. Nature beneath soft rains or along misty vales is a dream to behold. On coastal golf links, the wild winds can take the ball to personal extremes or disasters. With a choice of 350 golf courses and greens fees starting at 1500 yen, Japanese golfers feel as if they've stumbled into paradise.

Fishermen only hope that heaven will resemble Ireland. Within 9,000 miles of rivers, 600,000 acres of lakes, and 3,000 miles of coastline, fish teem in unpolluted waters. It's the finest fishing in Europe, and mostly free.

Ballina Salmon Festival

After a day of hectic touring or playing, music is the best way to spend the night. Ireland happens to be a very musical place. From a solo lament or a foot-tapping jig at a music festival to concerts of world-class Irish performers, there's a song for everybody and everyone has a song. Hotels and pubs dish up grub and music a la carte, and all revelers are expected to sing out loud and long.

And so to bed... which can be in a big comfy house in the country with hearty breakfast from around JY3000 to JY9000 for a B'n'B.

So the next time you happen to be at the Western edge of Europe, go on over to "dear auld Ireland." A one-hour Aer Lingus round-trip flight from London to Dublin costs only JY26,000 and from Amsterdam only JY44,000.

As a bonus, all the natives speak English... and with a charming lilt. I've been told that Japanese visitors love the music in the speech, as beguiling as the island itself.

Welcome to the Tokyo Traveller, an information-oriented, value-seeking, adventure-bound and canny individual... just like you! This will be the space for TC readers to get some nitty-gritty travel information, read about current specials and take a look behind the scenes of the world's largest industry.

How fortunate it is to work in Tokyo and be able to fly off for a few days R'n'R in the sun for the price of one week's average wage. If you know how to shop around, the yen translates very favorably in the Asia-Pacific region. This buyer's market is forecast to be around for the next couple of years so there's no time like now to take advantage of the bargains.

The Internet helps a lot, though the information can be overwhelming. Two types of information change rapidly in travel. Airline seats and hotel beds change status hour by hour, but can be easily booked. The variety of attractive destinations and value-added deals are also important for an effective itinerary. Ireland was fascinating to explore on the Net, and there's no travel agent on this planet who could have provided such valuable and pertinent vacation information as the Internet did for Ireland. Would-be travellers could spend many long evenings logged on, going through all the great places to stay and the best deals in town. For those who'd rather pass their leisure time at their chosen destination, The Travel Planner is your passport to some of the best information around. Bon voyage!

Mike Jacobs