Travel Apr. 09, 2009 - 03:35AM JST ( 7 )

The Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, has launched a solar eclipse promotion, which provides two guests with the opportunity to observe what could well be the longest total solar eclipse of the century, with a special accommodation package on July 22.

A total eclipse occurs when the sun is completely obscured by the moon. This upcoming celestial event is already attracting global attention as it is believed it will be the longest total solar eclipse to occur in the 21st century – lasting a phenomenal six minutes and 25 seconds, from 10:53:06 to 10:59:31 a.m.

The best location for observing the eclipse in Japan is on the southern islands of Tokara.

After checking in to Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, guests will begin their evening with a bottle of vintage champagne and a special menu of contemporary French dishes prepared by Mandarin Oriental’s Michelin-starred chef, all the while taking in the star-studded night view of the Tokyo metropolis.

The following day, guests will be transferred by limousine to the airport for a flight to the southern city of Kagoshima. There they will spend solar eclipse eve at an exquisite hot spring villa amid the stunning landscape of the Kirishima Mountains.

On the morning of July 22, a chartered Beechcraft Model 200T plane configured for aerial surveying and reconnaissance will allow guests to fully appreciate the extraordinary celestial phenomenon. The two-hour flight will follow the umbra, with the aircraft’s wide dome-shaped windows providing excellent views.

Observing from on high offers two distinct advantages: the ability to witness the eclipse three minutes earlier than spectators on the ground and to see the phenomenon in case of cloudy weather. In ideal conditions, both the pearly-white corona and red solar prominences are visible along the sun’s rim.

After flying back to Tokyo on a commercial flight, guests will enjoy another night at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, with a treatment at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo providing the perfect way to relax and unwind after this exciting journey

Available from July 20, the Solar Eclipse package starts from 15 million yen for two people and includes:

• Two nights’ Presidential Suite accommodation at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo
• A private in-suite dinner menu for two served by the hotel’s Michelin-starred chef
• A tailor-made two-hour spa treatment for two in a luxurious spa suite
• One night accommodation in a hot spring villa in Kagoshima
• Two-hour chartered flight in a Beechcraft Model 200T plane
• Return air tickets for domestic commercial flights between Tokyo and Kagoshima

This exclusive accommodation package is based on two people, and is for a minimum of three nights’ accommodation.