A NEWSPAPER read by more than 10 million daily readers has praised Conwy for its medieval atmosphere.

Following a visit from the senior editor, Izumi Miyachi, of Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper last October, the town was featured in an article celebrating the castle, its walls and the Smallest House Great Britain.

The Yomiuri Shimbun is a prestigious national newspaper and it claims the largest circulation in the world with more than 140 years of history.

The article as it appeared in the prestigious Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper

Ms Miyachi visited the town while on a business trip to Europe, adding a stop in Conwy after learning of how well Japanese tourists are being received in the town.

In a translation by Senior Wales Affairs Officer for Welsh Government in Tokyo Yoko Kobori, Ms Miyachi writes: ” There are 641 castled in Wales, which is in the South West in the island of Great Britain, and especially among them the castle of Conwy and it's town still has the atmosphere of the mediaeval period.

“The castle has a real presence and magnificently beautiful nature, wrapping up the complicated relationship between Wales and England with a gentle, all-encompassing warmness.

“This made me forget the flow of time for a while.”

Conwy has been enjoying an increasingly close relationship with Japan, after being named the only destination in the UK to be included in a list of the top 30 in Europe by Japanese tourism bosses, as well as the twinning of the town’s castle with a similarly aged structure in Himeji.

Cllr Bill Chapman welcomed the article ahead of a visit to Japan this month. Picture: Kerry Roberts

Cllr Bill Chapman, the former mayor of Conwy is set to visit Himeji during the Rugby World Cup in October to a follow up on a twinning agreement first signed in Conwy last year. He will also be heading out to Japan on Tuesday, January 22 to visit the British Consul General in Osaka, before going on to Himeji with hopes of promoting Conwy's businesses while there.

Cllr Chapman said:"Conwy being featured in this prestigious paper points towards increasingly strengthening links between the town and Japan. Being singled out by the editor means a lot for Conwy. It will almost certainly lead to increased numbers of visitors from Japan. Those who come are overwhelmed by the beauty of our ancient town and its surrounding landscape".