Japan To Rate Tourist Attractions

[Mulboyne]

[floatr][/floatr]Following the government's announcement of a more aggressive attempt to attract overseas visitors, the Tourism Agency has outlined some measures it plans to take. According to the Nikkei (Japanese) one of these will be to rate major sightseeing areas nationwide on their preparedness to deal with foreigners and to advise on how they might they might improve. The Agency will consider factors such as convenience, safety and value-for-money and will then assign "Michelin-style" ratings. The hope is that towns and cities will be encouraged to improve their reputations. The Agency will begin by awarding ratings to ten locations around Japan and will also evaluate three overseas locations.

[IkemenTommy]

Seriously, how many tourists really come to Japan for the food?

They really need to do something about the current exchange if they are truly serious about bringing in more foreigners (which I am not so thrilled about, personally).

[Mulboyne]

Seriously, how many tourists really come to Japan for the food?

When the report says "Michelin-style" ratings, it doesn't mean they are focusing on food. They will be awarding stars for "convenience, safety and value-for-money" across the board.

Michelin also publishes a sightseeing guide which evaluates tourist spots. The local press was blown away at the big increase in visitors to Mt. Takao which resulted from Michelin awarding it a top three star rating in 2007.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

The Agency will consider factors such as convenience, safety and value-for-money...

There's not a municipality in the country that will lose marks for this because Japan is "a safety country."

And how much more value-for-money can you get than four whole seasons?

[Kanchou]

There is something slightly hilarious about the subtitle for GAIJIN BAR being "the nest of the bad gaijin."

[Hikonejou]

Wow, this is really a No-Brainer.

I found (aside from Shinjuku and Roppongi) that there are TONS of things that the Japanese Tourist Industry can market.

1. Historical Sites like the Himeji, Osaka, and Edo Castles

2. Temples like Todai-Ji in Nara, Kyomizu-Ji in Kyoto and Zenko-Ji in Nagano.

3. Famous Restraunts that have been around since the Edo Period (almost every town has a few).

4. Kabuki Theatre and Noh Theatre.

Man, just take a Train and go anywhere that's a "Yama" and enjoy the beautiful country side.

My wife took me to visit her grandmother in Hida (Takayama) and MAN what an experience that was!!!

Big Green Beautiful Pine Tree Mountains...and the air was soooo Cool and Fresh...and Water was sooo Cold yet so clean to drink...and that Smoked Grilled Ayu Fish...THE SAKE...!!!

I refused to leave.

I wanted to stay there forever.

My wife thought I was so childish, but I cried when we drove away...

Market something like THAT Japan.

[Coligny]

Wow, this is really a No-Brainer.

I found (aside from Shinjuku and Roppongi) that there are TONS of things that the Japanese Tourist Industry can market.

1. Historical Sites like the Himeji, Osaka, and Edo Castles

2. Temples like Todai-Ji in Nara, Kyomizu-Ji in Kyoto and Zenko-Ji in Nagano.

3. Famous Restraunts that have been around since the Edo Period (almost every town has a few).

4. Kabuki Theatre and Noh Theatre.

Man, just take a Train and go anywhere that's a "Yama" and enjoy the beautiful country side.

My wife took me to visit her grandmother in Hida (Takayama) and MAN what an experience that was!!!

Big Green Beautiful Pine Tree Mountains...and the air was soooo Cool and Fresh...and Water was sooo Cold yet so clean to drink...and that Smoked Grilled Ayu Fish...THE SAKE...!!!

I refused to leave.

I wanted to stay there forever.

My wife thought I was so childish, but I cried when we drove away...

Market something like THAT Japan.

Agreed for Takayama... but it's one of those towns were summer are at +40degC and winters at -40degC... Now... would I take the plane for 12 hours to see Takayama...

Well...

Not so sure...

Speaking of tourism...
You say France... Paris Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe (...)
NY, Statue of liberty (...)
Stuff that locals avoid like a plague but tourists crave.
when you say "japan" you think... Tokyo/used panties vending machine.
Stuff that locals crave but tourists avoid like a plague...

[Kanchou]

Japan needs to market its onsen / inaka / mountain town hospitality industry. Minshuku, ryokan, rental properties (bessou, etc), ski resorts, etc. Hikers who want to see waterfalls and great views, and people who want to experience something authentic.

Basically, get people to go to Karuizawa.

[Yokohammer]

I'm all for tourism if it helps the economy, but please keep the culture-insensitive trash-generating masses *on* the beaten path and as far away from "my inaka" as possible.

Clean, beautiful, friendly, and peaceful are characteristics that tourism has a way of wiping out in short order.

And just where is "my inaka"?

I ain't tellin' ...

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

And just where is "my inaka"?
I ain't tellin' ...

Um...hate to be a party pooper, but maybe you are tellin'....

[Yokohammer]

Um...hate to be a party pooper, but maybe you are tellin'....

Miyagi prefecture is a pretty big place. It even has some actual tourist spots (like Matsushima, and even Sendai at Tanabata festival time). But there are also plenty of tourist-free zones that are, like I said, clean, beautiful, friendly, and peaceful. I'm in one of those.

Thanks for the interest though ...

[Kanchou]

The nice thing about the inaka is that there's plenty of it to go around.

So if tourism just goes up a little bit everywhere, that's a great improvement on the national scale, is good for local economies, and doesn't ruin your private inaka paradise.

And on another matter, onsen towns are already tourist traps. The difference is that now you'd just have more international guests.

[IkemenTommy]

The nice thing about the inaka is that there's plenty of it to go around.

So if tourism just goes up a little bit everywhere, that's a great improvement on the national scale, is good for local economies, and doesn't ruin your private inaka paradise.

And on another matter, onsen towns are already tourist traps. The difference is that now you'd just have more international guests.

Whenever I plan any domestic travels, I avoid all the tourist infested locations (i.e. Kyoto, Nara, etc) that are on every gaijin travel books and brochures.

I recommend some of the more "minor" onsens like Arima or Yufuin. The last time I stayed at a ryokan in Arima, I saw very few foreigners. I know I am going to get comments for selling out but sometimes, I feel that certain places should have signs strictly in Japanese only and make it impossible for tourists to make any kind of internet or phone reservations.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Miyagi prefecture is a pretty big place. It even has some actual tourist spots (like Matsushima, and even Sendai at Tanabata festival time). But there are also plenty of tourist-free zones that are, like I said, clean, beautiful, friendly, and peaceful. I'm in one of those.

Thanks for the interest though ...

Lucky you!
I hope you get to enjoy it forever and don't end up with shitloads of camera toting, loudmouthed invaders!

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I know I am going to get comments for selling out but sometimes, I feel that certain places should have signs strictly in Japanese only and make it impossible for tourists to make any kind of internet or phone reservations.

Splitter!

[omae mona]

The last time I stayed at a ryokan in Arima, I saw very few foreigners. I know I am going to get comments for selling out but sometimes, I feel that certain places should have signs strictly in Japanese only and make it impossible for tourists to make any kind of internet or phone reservations.

Strange, in all my ryokan stays (plenty) I have only seen other foreigners once or twice at most. And sheesh.. non-Japanese signs? I guess sometimes they leave some badly translated laminated sheets in rooms like "how to change the channel on your television", but I rarely see anything but Japanese signage at most places. I can't imagine how tourists would stay in most ryokan. Is this not the norm?

90% of the time I leave the selection up to Mrs. Omae Mona.. maybe she has intentionally been choosing tourist-unfriendly places in order to avoid running into more people like me.

[IkemenTommy]

Strange, in all my ryokan stays (plenty) I have only seen other foreigners once or twice at most. And sheesh.. non-Japanese signs? I guess sometimes they leave some badly translated laminated sheets in rooms like "how to change the channel on your television", but I rarely see anything but Japanese signage at most places. I can't imagine how tourists would stay in most ryokan. Is this not the norm?

90% of the time I leave the selection up to Mrs. Omae Mona.. maybe she has intentionally been choosing tourist-unfriendly places in order to avoid running into more people like me.

Strangely, the time I reserved the stay at the ryokan, I used my Japanese gal friend's name and my address in Tokyo and they gave us the best room available with a great view. Imagine if I had used my FG name.. I'll guaran-fuckin-tee you that they probably would have denied service or given us the shittiest room in the house, but I am not going to join Debito's futile quest here.

[omae mona]

Strangely, the time I reserved the stay at the ryokan, I used my Japanese gal friend's name and my address in Tokyo and they gave us the best room available with a great view. Imagine if I had used my FG name.. I'll guaran-fuckin-tee you that they probably would have denied service or given us the shittiest room in the house, but I am not going to join Debito's futile quest here.

Actually we have had the exact opposite experience. Mrs. Omae Mona refuses to use her own name because she is absolutely certain we get the best room in the place when the gaijin name is on the reservation (we discovered this years ago when we were dating). Usually the room has a floor plan of the building showing location of emergency exits, and judging by square footage alone, she seems to be right most of the time.

[james]

Japan needs to market its onsen / inaka / mountain town hospitality industry.

oh, fuck that! one of the reasons i like where i am is because of the lack of idiot foreign tourists looking for "sakee" and "geesha girls".

[Level3]

Japan has four HUGE selling points that perhaps they don't even think about.

1. Almost ZERO conmen, hucksters, pickpockets, etc. hanging out at every tourist area trying to swindle, steal, or worse from anyone who isn't local. [AKA - Why I never want to go to Europe again.]

2. ZERO crazy Muslim terrorists trying to blow up shit (so far, but it won't last)

3. It is almost unheard of for shops clerks or cashiers to try to shortchange anyone, or ring up outrageously inflated bills [except in red light districts]

4. No tipping necessary.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Japan has four HUGE selling points that perhaps they don't even think about.

1. Almost ZERO conmen, hucksters, pickpockets, etc. hanging out at every tourist area trying to swindle, steal, or worse from anyone who isn't local. [AKA - Why I never want to go to Europe again.]

2. ZERO crazy Muslim terrorists trying to blow up shit (so far, but it won't last)

3. It is almost unheard of for shops clerks or cashiers to try to shortchange anyone, or ring up outrageously inflated bills [except in red light districts]

4. No tipping necessary.

Great post! All true...