Kilkenny's gearing up for an influx of Japanese tourists.
It's has been voted the prettiest town in Europe.
The Japanese Association of Travel Agents have compiled their list of the 30 prettiest towns across the continent and the South East town has topped the list.
Now the Marble City (or large town as many would call it) can claim to be the prettiest - JATA has spoken and Kilkenny outshone 29 other European destinations.
Travel agents were challenged to come up with 30 smaller destinations to promote to holidaymakers.
They made their decision based on criteria that included, assessing which places had low media exposure within Japan and no package tours available.
Kilkenny and it's rich heritage beat Berat in Albania and Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy to round off the top three.
1. Kilkenny, Ireland
2. Berat, Albania
3. Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy
4. Procida, Italy
5. Conwy, Wales
6. Lech, Austria
7. Hindeloopen, Netherlands
8. Lefkara, Cyprus
9. Rovinj, Croatia
10. Soglio, Switzerland
11. Visby, Sweden
12. Setenil de las Bodegas, Spain
13. Piran, Slovenia
14. Vlkolinec, Slovakia
15. Marianske-Lazne, Czech Republic
16. Quedlinburg, Germany
17. Bernkastel-Kues, Germany
18. Golyazi, Turkey
19. Reine, Norway
20. Sopron, Hungary
21. Koprivshtitsa, Bulgaria
22. Porvoo, Finland
23. Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, France
24. Riquewihr, France
25. Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium
26. Zalipie, Poland
27. Monsanto, Portugal
28. Ohrid, Macedonia
29. Kotor, Montenegro
30. Gura Humorului, Romania
