55 km away from Kuala Lumpur, off the Karak Highway are the Berjaya Hills. Formerly known as Bukit Tinggi ("High Hill"), the Berjaya Hills are the creation of the Berjaya Group, meant to rival the Genting Highlands. However the lack of a casino license has meant that it hasn't quite able to match the latters popularity.
However, it does have attractions that cannot be found in Genting. Aside for the recreated French Village called Colmar Tropicale, the Berjaya Hills also boasts of a Japanese Village.
Located 3,500 feet above sea level, the Japanese Village is the first of
its kind outside Japan. Not really a village in the sense that it is more of a Japanese Garden located in a lush tropical rainforest.
The garden was
designed by renowned Japanese architect, Kaio Ariizumi
and built by skilled craftsmen brought in from Japan. The small garden features attractions such as the Japanese Tea House, Tatami
Spa,
Botanical Garden, Ryo Zan Tei Japanese Restaurant and
Ume Tatami Suite.
Visitors can choose to participate in the Tea Ceremony (4
sessions daily)
where one will learn a little more about the Japanese
culture or to rent a kimono for a picture or two.
Japanese Village
Operation Hours: Daily, 11am - 4:30pm