no. (^2)
How your
passport really
can be your
ticket to the
world.
Smile if you hold a
Japanese or Singaporean
passport: you have visa-
free or visa-on-arrival
access to 189 destinations,
the most in the world.
South Korea dropped into
a global tie for second
with a score of 187, while
Australia and New
Zealand passports come
in at ninth place overall at
- The top of the list is
dominated by European
and North American
countries, though both
the U.K. and the U.S. have
fallen from a No. 1 tie in
2014 to sixth place now,
scoring 183. That said, feel
for Afghanistan, which
comes in last place, with
its score of 25. Here’s a
breakdown of other Asian
passports:
180
180
189
189
139
58
146
64
42
168
70
49
49
176
187
74
51
164
69
46
Japan
Singapore
South Korea
Australia
New Zealand
Malaysia
Hong Kong
Brunei
Taiwan
Macau
Thailand
China
Indonesia
Philippines
India
Cambodia
Laos
Vietnam
Burma
Sri Lanka
Visa-free Countries
Source: henleypassportindex.comTRAVELANDLEISUREASIA.COM / AUGUST 2019 21
Sowaka, a 23-room ryokan with modern comforts, has opened in a renovated
machiya near Yasaka Shrine in the historic city. Combining traditional design
centered on original materials that date to the early 20th century with modern
additions such as heated floors and rainfall showers, Sowaka dwells on guest
privacy. Rooms include made-in-Kyoto amenities such as camellia oil facial kits, local
roasted teas and even natural mattresses from a supplier who has been in business
here since 1830. A Japanese garden sits in the middle of the property, visible from
the ryokan’s restaurant and bar. La Bombance, the restaurant, draws on produce
from Kyoto and is centered around an 11-meter African cherry wood counter with a
lowered kitchen where chefs are eye to eye with diners in the traditional kappo style.
ryokancollection.com; rooms from ¥53,015 per person per night.no. (^3)
All that is old is new again in Kyoto.