The Kunisaki Peninsula in Oita Prefecture is a sacred place where Japan’s native Shinto beliefs first intermingled with Buddhism newly arrived from the continent. Food culture and art, such as rice cultivation, writing, and stonemasonry from the continent also first took root here. The area is also the birthplace of worship of the Shinto deity...
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Navigating Japan -What your clients need to know to enjoy a smooth trip- On October 31 and November 1, we hosted a webinar concerning essential information for traveling in Japan.” The webinar aimed to provide helpful information for overseas travel agencies who offer journeys in Japan, particularly for companies planning to handle Japan tours for...
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As part of Japan’s efforts to support rural areas, the Japan Tourism Agency, an agency of Japan’s government, has been working on a local tourism project called Shinhakken (“New Discovery”). As part of this, Heartland Japan staff traveled to the small city of Shingu in Wakayama Prefecture on the southeast coast of the sacred Kumano...
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Sign up now for our latest webinar via the link below! We will be covering travel and culture tips to make your next experience in Japan even smoother and more enjoyable.Come join us! https://mailchi.mp/heartlandjapan.com/sign-up-now-for-our-new-webinar-insider-tips-for-running-tours-in-japan?fbclid=IwY2xjawGMTiZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHTQVnFLSt2uMYOtABu8Rhpn2C7_473uZqT3_M615PlNM3gjFZTnshlLEqg_aem_8Gh7bsII8CwMXByf2-MHRg
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On Tuesday, October 8, 2024, a seminar on sustainable tourism, sponsored by the Minami Kiso Town Tourism Association, was held, and was featured in the Citizen Times, a local magazine in the Chushin region of Nagano Prefecture. The seminar was held in a manner that avoided jargon so that as many people as possible could...
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In our efforts to promote sustainable tourism and strengthen tourism disaster prevention efforts, we visited Kuroshio Town for 2 nights and 3 days from 14th October. We conducted an on-site investigation including interviews with many local residents to assist in the creation of a disaster prevention handbook for foreign visitors. Going back 2 months… The...
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October is here, a time for indulging in a yummy chestnut-flavored treat or two. On October 8th, our very own Mikiko Hayashi had the opportunity to give a talk about sustainable tourism to the people of Nagiso, one of the most beautiful villages in Japan. One of the most well-known places in Nagiso is Tsumago-juku,...
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This trial tour (monitoring tour) in eastern Shimane, did not go to the usual hotspots Adachi Museum of Art, Matsue Castle or Izumo Taisha Shrine. Instead, Alex Kerr, an expert in Japanology and Oriental Studies and author of ‘Japan Landscape Theory’ and ‘Nippon Pilgrimage’, was invited to join the tour, meeting people, touching on local...
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The Matsumoto City Adventure Tourism Training Course was held for two days from October 1st, sponsored by the Matsumoto City Tourism Promotion Department. Guides who are active or just starting out in activities in Matsumoto City, Azumino City, and even outside the prefecture gathered on a clear autumn day at Norikura Highlands to begin the...
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From 24 September, we took a two-day/one-night whirlwind trip to Shingu City in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Following on from last year, this is a project aimed at building products for the European, American, and Australian markets. We are proud that the process of strengthening visitor volume is already in motion. This year, we will expand...
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An initiative is underway in the small town of Kuroshio on the southern coast of the island of Shikoku to improve the environment and develop sustainable tourism. To this end, the Shikoku District Transport Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has released a questionnaire to assist in the development of a...
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From September 17th, we travelled to Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture for a 2-night and 3-day tour as part of a site inspection for the Autumn FAM Tour. Komoro is easily accessible from Tokyo, famous for its delicious apples, soba noodles, and picturesque views, it is a popular annual family vacation destination for holidaymakers in Japan....
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