By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Egypt to issue new bonds for climate, social goals
    Egypt to issue new bonds for climate, social goals
    September 27, 2023
    Saudi Public Investment Fund eyes stake in Palm Hills Development
    Saudi Public Investment Fund eyes stake in Palm Hills Development
    September 27, 2023
    UNDP, MBRF launch online learning initiative for Arab countries
    UNDP, MBRF launch online learning initiative for Arab countries
    September 27, 2023
    Egypt Post invests in Roaderz platform to enhance e-commerce, delivery services
    Egypt Post invests in Roaderz platform to enhance e-commerce, delivery services
    September 27, 2023
    GAFI to grant 45 more golden licences to boost investment
    GAFI to grant 45 more golden licences to boost investment
    September 27, 2023
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    Egypt’s Irrigation Minister highlights climate challenges for water sector
    Egypt’s Irrigation Minister highlights climate challenges for water sector
    September 27, 2023
    CCCPA, Senghor University join forces for African peace, development
    CCCPA, Senghor University join forces for African peace, development
    September 27, 2023
    Arab League chief urges more funding, investment for food security
    Arab League chief urges more funding, investment for food security
    September 27, 2023
    Egypt denounces Houthi attack on Bahraini forces in Saudi Arabia
    Egypt denounces Houthi attack on Bahraini forces in Saudi Arabia
    September 27, 2023
    vPalestine urges international action to end Israeli occupation, crimes
    Palestine urges international action to end Israeli occupation, crimes
    September 26, 2023
  • Interviews
    InterviewsShow More
    Microsoft Egypt aims to provide advanced AI models, build solid AI ecosystem: Mirna Arif
    Microsoft Egypt aims to provide advanced AI models, build solid AI ecosystem: Mirna Arif
    September 18, 2023
    I love privacy, and I am not concerned about competition: Yasmine Sabry
    I love privacy, and I am not concerned about competition: Yasmine Sabry
    September 14, 2023
    Sustainability, digital transformation at the heart of our strategy: Heidelberg Materials Egypt
    Sustainability, digital transformation at the heart of our strategy: Heidelberg Materials Egypt
    September 12, 2023
    India welcomes Egypt's BRICS membership: Boosting trade, investment, and access to strategic commodities
    India welcomes Egypt’s BRICS membership: Boosting trade, investment, and access to strategic commodities
    September 11, 2023
    The box office is not a measure of success: Basma Hassan
    The box office is not a measure of success: Basma
    September 6, 2023
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Reading: Japan wants to attract European visitors
Share
Notification
Latest News
Genetically engineering associations between plants and nitrogen-fixing microbes could lessen dependence on synthetic fertilizer
Genetically engineering associations between plants and nitrogen-fixing microbes could lessen dependence on synthetic fertilizer
Science
Earthworms contribute to 6.5% of global grain production, says new research
Earthworms contribute to 6.5% of global grain production, says new research
Science
Researchers build and test a framework for achieving climate resilience across diverse fisheries
Researchers build and test a framework for achieving climate resilience across diverse fisheries
Science
Egypt to issue new bonds for climate, social goals
Egypt to issue new bonds for climate, social goals
Business
Saudi Public Investment Fund eyes stake in Palm Hills Development
Saudi Public Investment Fund eyes stake in Palm Hills Development
Business
Aa
Aa
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.
Dailynewsegypt > Blog > Culture > Japan wants to attract European visitors
Culture

Japan wants to attract European visitors

Deutsche Welle
Last updated: 2016/03/13 at 10:01 AM
By Deutsche Welle 7 Min Read
Share
SHARE

Dressed in cotton-kimonos locally known as Yakutas Japanese are strolling around the picturesque alleys of the spa Kinosaki recuperating. As they walk around, they pass several restaurants and delis offering sake-cookies and chocolate mixed with green tea. Three young men who have dyed their hair blonde are heading to a video game pub nearby, elderly couples choose to take walks. Wearing their Yakutas they are perfectly dressed to go bathing between shopping and karaoke. They can do this here outdoors, in hotels or at spa houses.

Spa Kinosaki is becoming popular with Europeans

According to Lonely Planet, the famous guidebook, Kinosaki, a village with 4,000 inhabitants, has the most beautiful thermal baths in Japan. Kinosaki is in Hyogo, a province in south west of the country. As a result, more and more Europeans come to experience the spa. Japans tourism authorities want this number to increase in the next years. The nuclear disaster on March 11, 2011 hit the tourism sector hard, but the tide is turning: the number of foreign travelers is sharply rising.

In 2010 8.6 million foreigners went to Japan. In 2011, less than the half of that chose the country as their holiday destination. In 2014, more than 13 million people visited Japan. This number grew to more than 19 million in 2015. Last year Japan recorded that the number of tourists visiting Japan exceeded the number of Japanese visiting foreign countries for the first time.

“And then the tsunami came…”

The so called “onsen” – hot springs heated by volcanic activities – lure tourists to the thermal baths like Kinosaki. The onsen belong to the Japanese bathing culture. “Japanese love to spend their weekend in an onsen,” says the local Ayumi Honda, 42. “We take our family or friends with us and we sleep in a ryokan.” Roykans are hostels, traditionally furnished. The guest rooms have futons where people can lay on the tatami-matted floors.

Ayumi Honda was born in Osaka and studied in France. For eight years she worked at a travel agency sending Japanese tourists to Europe. Honda wanted to spend more time at home, so she passed the exam of a travel guide. In 2011 she qualified to practice “and then the tsunami came and all travel was cancelled,” remembers Ayumi Honda.

A lot of money to boost tourism

Ayumi Honda had no work for one year and muddled through as a translator. The tourism crisis also hit Kyoto, the former Imperial capital of Japan. It is around 500 kilometers southwest of Fukushima. With 1,600 Buddhistic temples, 400 shino-shrines, palaces, gardens and museums Kyoto is the most popular travel destination in Japan. A lot of these famous buildings were declared World Heritage Site in 1994 by the UNESCO.

After the nuclear disaster the city and the region forked out huge sums to boost tourism. The district payed tour operators 100,000 yen (800 euros) for each group of 20 tourists. Shigemitsu Tada, leader of the regional tourism authority, said that the campaign cost about 150,000 euros.

“Japans tourists regions are safe”

Apart from Kyoto, other regions are receiving more and more visitors. The Ministry of Foreign Affair has been sending out the message that Japan is a save travel destination except for evacuated areas around Fukushima. These areas are far away from the typical tourist routes.

Most travelers are from the neighboring Asian countries: Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand. Among Westerners Australians and US-Americans are the most frequent. The French are the most common European travelers with 214,000. Germans are also regular visitors with more than 162,000 tourists.

Japan and its tourist attractions

In total Japan has 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Three of the country’s regions merged to advertise typical Japanese spas, the Hyogo-storks park and the fisher harbor of Ine at the Japanese sea to potential visitors in Europe. European tourists, known as interested in culture, are popular.

“The Chinese come in crowds to do shopping”, says Samantha Barrow. The 24-year old English woman works for a tourism department in Tokooya. “The Europeans are known for being polite, proper, friendly, rich and chic.”

Radiated ghost-towns as tourist destinations

Following the Fukushima disaster first tourists returned. The town of Namie is only eight kilometers away from the damaged nuclear power station. Following the catastrophe, which was caused by an underwater earthquake, the entire town was evacuated. Now, five years later, the radiation is still so high that to date no resident has been allowed to return to Namie.

“In the Fukashima region you can see how devastating a nuclear accident can be”, says tourist guide Shinichi Niitsuma. He adds, “I want visitors to see this deserted ghost town, this place of despair.” The 70-year-old is one of ten volunteers who guide tours through the abandoned town and region.

During the tour Niitsuma with the help of a dosimeter ensures that visitors are not subjected to too much radioactivity. Most visitors are shocked by the sheer extent of devastation. “TV and newspapers report that reconstruction is going on and that life here is returning to normal, but the reality is that nothing has been done here”, says outraged 42-year-old Chika Kanezawa, who is taking the guided tour.

You Might Also Like

National Cancer Institute, Novartis Egypt host run to raise awareness on World Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Day

Nakhla Gift Shop at Grand Egyptian Museum listed as one of world’s best by Financial Times

Mexico celebrates its independence and 65 years of friendship with Egypt

I love privacy, and I am not concerned about competition: Yasmine Sabry

Prime Minister inspects Grand Egyptian Museum

TAGGED: European, Industry, Japan, tourism
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Previous Article EU-Turkey deal on track despite human rights concerns?
Next Article Hacker’s spelling slip foils billion-dollar bank heist
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ad image
Ad image

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Instagram Follow
Youtube Subscribe

Latest News

Genetically engineering associations between plants and nitrogen-fixing microbes could lessen dependence on synthetic fertilizer
Genetically engineering associations between plants and nitrogen-fixing microbes could lessen dependence on synthetic fertilizer
Science
Earthworms contribute to 6.5% of global grain production, says new research
Earthworms contribute to 6.5% of global grain production, says new research
Science
Researchers build and test a framework for achieving climate resilience across diverse fisheries
Researchers build and test a framework for achieving climate resilience across diverse fisheries
Science
Egypt to issue new bonds for climate, social goals
Egypt to issue new bonds for climate, social goals
Business
//
Egypt’s only independent daily newspaper in English. Discuss the country’s latest with the paper’s reporters, editors, and other readers.

Quick Link

  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.

Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?