WELCOME TO FINLAND

Program 

Saturday, January 14

13.1.2023 AY062 HND-HEL 21:55-04:25+1
04:25 AY062 from Haneda arrives at Helsinki Airport
05:00 Meet your bus driver at arrival hall
Transfer by bus to Lahti Region
Welcome to Lahti!
Situated less than an hour from the Helsinki Airport by train or car the Lahti region is the southernmost part of the Finnish Lakeland. Lahti, the centre of this area, is situated by the lake Vesijärvi which is the southern point of the second biggest lake system of Finland, the lake Päijänne. Lahti is the leading green city in Finland and a leader of environmental work. In 2021 Lahti was nominated as the European Green Capital.  In February 2022 Lahti region was voted among the top 10 European travel destinations in the competition organized by the travel website European Best Destinations. In this voting Lahti was selected as the best sustainable tourism destination in Europe. In January 2022 the global news channel CNN included Lahti among the best destinations to visit in 2022.
07:00 Arrival at Lehmonkärki Resort
Lehmonkärki, a high-quality tourist centre located on the shore of Lake Päijänne, offers luxury for all the senses. Whether it's a business meeting, a break from everyday life or the most important celebration of your life, we'll help you make it memorable. We offer you stylish and high-quality meeting and accommodation facilities, a kitchen that offers flavours made from local ingredients and, above all, individual and first-class service. Clean water, beautiful nature and silence come as bonuses
The bus will take you directly to the cabins for check-in
Accommodation in log cabins by the lake: Villa Aallotar, Villa Tuuletar and Villa Ilmatar
Breakfast is served at the main building 
09:00​ Amazing activity Nature Floating
Nature Floating will take you to our beautiful natural waters in Lake Päijänne, where you can experience the feeling of weightlessness in anabandonment suit and being part of nature.
The dry suit will make you feel safe and keeps you warm in the water.  The flotation suit and thermal coverall are worn over your own clothes. We recommend dressing in layers and bringing spare clothes with you, as there is always a possibility of getting wet during water activities. Avoid big hoods and thick beanies. For those who wear glasses, we recommend contact lenses during the floating. It is good to tie up long hair.
While floating you get a new experience where you can exclude all external stimulus and just relax with yourself or with your group. Come and enjoy this amazing nature experience!
11:30 ​Lunch is served at the main building​
13:00​ Traditional Finnish sauna treatments and Lehmonkärki’s sauna world with four different saunas
After full activity morning, it is time to relax in sauna! Vellamo’s Traditional Sauna programme respects the ancient Fenno-Ugric nature wisdom, Finnish folklore and traditional herbal medicine. During the programme, you will hear stories of traditional Finnish beliefs, ancient spells as well as the effects of the sauna and the used remedies. You will also learn about the importance of nature in Finnish culture, Finnish folklore as well as herbal medicine and the powers of herbs and plants. The traditional sauna healer will guide you through the sauna session. Afterwards you’ll feel relaxed and as if you were born again!
17:00 ​Early flamed salmon dinner at hunting lodge

Sunday, January 15

08:00 Breakfast at the main building
09:30​ Departure to Lahti
10:30​ Guided winter activity (sliding snowshoe) at Salpausselkä UNESCO Global Geopark
The tour takes you to the heart of a typical Finnish forest and extensive terminal moraine ridge area formed during the ice age. Salpausselkä functions as the southern boundary of the lakes of the Finnish lake district. During the activity you get to enjoy Finnish forest nature, pure and fresh air and, of course, the geological history of the ridge area. You also get to see famous Lahti Ski Jumping Centre, located right next to our starting point.​
12:00 Lunch in the restaurant Gastropub Mylly in the city center of Lahti
13:00 Site inspection Solo Sokos Hotel Lahden Seurahuone & GreenStar Hotel Lahti
14:15 ​Short guided tour: Lahti harbor area Sibelius Hall (outside), Wooden Architecture Park (including piece by Kengo Kuma), Olavi Lanu Sculpture Park. By possibility we will also take a look of the Desucon Frostbite event in the Sibelius Hall
16:00​ Transfer to MALVA, new Museum of Visual Arts. Guided tour.
17:30​ Transfer to Restaurant Harald – hearty Viking themed dinner in unique surroundings
19:00 ​Transfer back to Lehmonkärki

Monday, January 16

Breakfast at the main building
Check-out
08:30 ​Departure to Lahti
09:15 ​Visit at Teerenpeli Distillery and tasting with small snacks
11:00​ Transfer to Helsinki
Arrival in Helsinki
Welcome to Helsinki !
Awarded with 'City of Design' status by Unesco, Helsinki is a modern city that offers functional design, unique gastronomy, and maritime appeal. The capital of Finland is filled with lively events all year round, but the peaceful archipelago and green forests are only a stone's throw away and can be easily reached by the efficient public transportation system
12:30 Short stop at Lapland Hotels Bulevardi
Meet your Japanese speaking MyHelsinki guide Makiko Lommi (+358 40 7661434) and Helsinki Partners host Sanna Salonen, Senior Advisor for Travel Trade (tel. +358 40 506 45 31) at the Lapland Hotel Bulevardi lobby.
NB! Luggage will be dropped off here ready for check in later.
Bus to Pikku-Finlandia
13:00 Lunch @ Pikku-Finlandia
Little Finlandia, a new wooden pavilion-like experience center, has opened in the middle of the most beautiful area of Helsinki. Finlandia Cafe&Wine's showcase is filled with a diverse selection. Here are many different delicacies for people that have a sweet tooth. The cafe is already known for its sea buckthorn semla buns! The experience is complemented by their special coffee or tea selection.
Visit to Oodi
Oodi is Helsinki's new Central Library and a living meeting place in the city centre on the Kansalaistori Square. Oodi is a venue for events, a house of reading and a diverse urban experience. It will provide its users with knowledge, new skills and stories, and will be an easy place to access for learning, story immersion, work and relaxation. Oodi is a library of a new era, a living and functional meeting place open for all.
15:30 Visit to Amos Rex
Amos Rex is a meeting place for art and urban culture, consisting of new underground exhibition spaces, the old Lasipalatsi building ("glass palace") from 1936 and its Bio Rex cinema, as well as a vibrant event forum on Lasipalatsi Square, which serves as the roof of the exhibition hall. The goal of the new museum is to produce unique experiences and surprising encounters
17:00 Check in to Lapland Hotels Bulevardi
In the middle of Helsinki´s bustling life filled with joyous discussions, you can find the Lapland Hotels Bulevardi and our luxurious rooms and fresh ingredients from the North. The harmony of the rooms recounts stories from the extremes and beauties of the nature. Following the Lapland's way, all details are made stylishly, without futile fuss. The soft steams of the room saunas offer you a novel relaxation, and in the design, bath tubs you can dive into the freshness of the rapids
Time to enjoy for example sauna at the hotel
19:00 Welcome dinner in Kulta restaurant
At the core of the restaurant, you can find the majestic and beautiful north at its best. They value their northern roots so much that they have brought with them from the north the purest ingredients such as game, reindeer, mushrooms, lichen and birch leaves.

Tuesday, January 17

Breakfast at the hotel
Check-out
09:30 Lobby call
Meet your Japanese speaking MyHelsinki guide Makiko (+358 40 7661434) at the lobby
NB! Take your luggage to the bus with you
09:45 Helsinki tour with design twist
The tour focuses on the fresh and surprising character of Helsinki. During the tour you will be introduced to the main attractions of Helsinki as well as to some of the hot spots of the local design scene and explore different types of urban phenomena and venues. You will also discover a few delicious secrets of Helsinki's food culture. Explore and be inspired!
11:45 Visit to Marimekko outlet
Marimekko is a Finnish design company renowned for its original prints and colours. The company's product portfolio includes high-quality clothing, bags and accessories as well as home décor items ranging from textiles to tableware.
13:00 Lunch at Maritori
Maritori is a cosy restaurant situated in Herttoniemi Helsinki, within the Marimekko house. Maritori offers a delicious and versatile lunch for Marimekko staff and and every foodie visiting the Marimekko outlet. Our kitchen staff is dedicated to prepare a lunch with love and passion and a huge amount of respect towards the fresh ingredients of the season. The colors and patterns of Marimekko give a unique spice for the restaurant. The Marimekko house also has two stores, which gives visitors a great opportunity to shop & eat.
14:00 Transfer to Scandic Helsinki Hub
Check-in at Scandic Helsinki Hub
Free time
18:30 Meet your Visit Finland host at the hotel lobby, a short walk to dinner (800 m)
19:00 Dinner at hotel Scandic Grand Central Helsinki
Walk back to your hotel

Wednesday, January 18

MATKA 2023 Workshop Day 

Breakfast at the hotel

Transfer by bus to Messukeskus, the bus collects buyers from following hotels, please note times are approx.
07:45 First stop at Lapland Hotels Bulevardi, Bulevardi 28
07:50 Next stop at Scandic Helsinki Hub, Annankatu 18
08:00 Last stop at Hotel Mestari, Fredrikinkatu 51-53
08:30 Arrival at Messukeskus

Program of the MATKA 2023 Workshop Day

20:30/20:45 approx. Bus to all hotels after "Party like a Finn"

Thursday, January 19

MATKA 2023 Trade Day

Breakfast at the hotel
Check-out

Transfer by bus from the partner hotels to Messukeskus, please note times are approx.
08:15 First stop at Hotel AX, Välimerenkatu 18
08:25 Next stop at Lapland Hotels Bulevardi, Bulevardi 28
08:35 Last stop at Scandic Helsinki Hub, Annankatu 18
09:00 Arrival at Messukeskus

MATKA 2023 Trade Day

Lunch (lunch coupons are given to you on Wednesday by your Visit Finland host)

13:30/14:30
Transfer by bus from Messukeskus to Helsinki Airport, one bus each hour until 17:30
No seat reservations, please leave on time for the bus transfers

Check-in at Helsinki Airport
17:55 AY061 to Tokyo
HEL-HND 17:55-14:25+1

Thank you for visiting Finland!