Crown Prince Fumihito, Crown Princess Kiko, and Prince Hisahito of Japan have concluded their visit to Bhutan and returned to Japan. It was the first overseas visit for 12-year-old Prince Hisahito, who is second in line to the Japanese throne.
The Crown Prince Family arrived in Bhutan on Saturday 17 August for a private trip on the invitation of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel where they were welcomed by the Bhutanese Royal Family at Paro Airport.
On last Monday morning, the family attended an audience with the King and Queen Jetsun Pema in the Golden Throne Room of the Tashichhodzong where the national flags of Bhutan and Japan were on display. The Royal Office for Media in Bhutan explained that the “Imperial Family were escorted in a ceremonial Chipdrel procession to the Dzong.”
The Tashichho Dzong is a Buddhist monastery, as well as a fortress that houses the offices of the King and government.
The visit allowed for the heir to Bhutan’s throne, three-year-old Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck (also called The Gyalsey) and Prince Hisahito to meet for the first time.
Prince Hisahito was able to try his hand at archery (Bhutan’s national sport), visit a public school and farm, and hiked some of the trails in his first trip.
The Crown Prince Couple visited Bhutan in 1997, and the King of Bhutan was a state guest in Japan in 2011. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s eldest child, Princess Mako visited Bhutan in 2017.
Out of precaution, Crown Prince Fumihito and his son flew on two separate flights with Crown Princess Kiko flying with her son both two and from Bhutan.
