An Introduction of Japanese Tourism Initiatives During the Pandemic by Mamiko Kim 1. Introduction Have you ever been on a “staycation?” If you have, you join 53% of Americans who say that they’ve holidayed at home. (1) Combining the words “stay” and “vacation,” staycation was added to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary in 2009 after wide usage following a period of economic downturn.( 2 ) With scrimped funds and rising gas prices, Americans discovered that traveling close by, or even acting as a tourist in their own towns, could provide a much needed respite while still being economically smart. Staycations are again seeing a boom this year in the United States during the coronavirus pandemic, with the Travelocity 2020 Holiday Outlook Survey finding that 2/3 of travelers are planning on vacationing within 250 miles of their homes this holiday season (roughly the distance of Washington, DC to Virginia Beach). (3) Taking into account that 60% of respondents revealed that they will not be visiting family, we can conclude that people are eager to travel for their own sakes, and that there is a market for domestic tourism. Meanwhile, Japan has ramped up their efforts to entice people to travel domestically. Even before the start of the pandemic, “workations,” an extension of teleworking where employees could travel while making time during the day to complete work tasks, had begun gaining traction. Microsoft Japan and Japan Airlines Co. both started workation programs, and in 2017 Wakayama Prefecture began advertising to their Tokyo neighbors that they were a good spot for such an activity. That same year, the Japanese government instituted “Telework Day” on June 24th in preparation for congestion during the Olympics, and 2018 saw the passing of the Workstyle Reform Act, limiting working hours and encouraging a better work-life balance.( 4, 5, 6 ) Thus, in light of this background, it comes as no surprise that Japan has advanced arguably one of the world’s strongest responses to the issue of wavering tourism and consumer spending during the global pandemic. Consider below the following examples of Japan’s efforts to court domestic tourists. Staycations have allowed for people to feel like they are on a vacation, even when they are in their own homes. 2. The Japanese Government “Go to Travel” Campaign (7) Aligned with global trends, the Japanese tourism industry has suffered under the pandemic, including from the effects of most international travelers being barred from entering the country since March. In an attempt to assist the tourism sector, the Japanese government began advancing their “Go To Travel” Campaign to encourage domestic tourism. The campaign is a stipend based program, with 35% of the total cost of travel and accommodations covered by the program, and 15% of the total cost available in coupons for other expenses at the travel destination, such as restaurant and gift shop purchases. By taking advantage of this program, domestic travelers can save up to 50% of their total trip costs. There are some stipulations to this program. Firstly, while Japanese and non-Japanese travelers both have access to the program, they must currently reside in Japan. Additionally, daytrips and overnight trips have differing discount limits. (8) For daytrips, per person, travelers may receive up to 7,000 yen (about $70) in discounts, and 3,000 yen ($30) in coupons. For overnight trips, per person per day, travelers may receive up to a 13,000 yen ($130) discount, and 7,000 ($70) yen in coupons. However, discounts and coupons are limited to trips lasting 7 days or less. Furthermore, if booking travel and accommodations separately, only accommodations will receive the discount, so package deals are best to take full advantage of the program. Finally, arrangements must be made through a campaign registered travel agency or directly through an accommodation booking website. (9) Despite these restrictions, there are many signs that the “Go To Travel” Campaign has reached its aim to entice people to travel. According to the Japan Tourism Agency, between July 22nd (start date) and October 31st, 39.76 million guests/night took advantage of the campaign, using 208.7 billion yen in subsidies. Since Tokyo’s inclusion as a travel destination at the beginning of October to November 9th, 20.1 billion yen in subsidies were used in regional coupons. (10) Furthermore, the Japanese government required participating accommodations and facilities in the Campaign to take measures against the spread of the coronavirus, which may have reassured travelers and regional tourism destinations alike. With the image of safe, cheap, and accessible travel options, Japan’s domestic tourism has seen an uptick. Even with $700 in accommodation and travel fees, travelers can expect to save up to 50% through the "Go To Travel" Campaign's discounts and coupons. 3. Workation Promotions The word, “workation,” made headlines in Japan when it was used in a government tourism meeting earlier this year by then-Chief Cabinet Secretary (now Prime Minister) Yoshihide Suga as a way to bolster the tourism sector. Since then, many creative workation promotions have appeared. (11) Thanks in part to the financial support of the Japanese Environmental Ministry, several national parks have begun offering workation packages. (12) Run by the National Park Resorts of Japan, the manager of Kyukamura hotels, the workation promotions are geared towards day trippers who may wish to take a break from their telework routines at home. Participants can work in the morning and enjoy the afternoon taking advantage of the outdoor activities and scenery at the park. Each national park is set up with their own desired specifications, including upgraded Wi-Fi access points, workstations entailing of either hotel guest rooms within/nearby the park or on-grounds tents set up with portable power stations and Wi-Fi hotspot devices, and food plans. Originally introduced on a trial basis from April-July, it came back by popular demand in September. In fact, Environmental Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, seen as a rising-star in Japanese politics, even participated in the program when he video-conferenced into an internal meeting from Bandai-Asahi National Park in early September. Other participating national parks include: Japan’s largest national park, Setonaikai, spanning the Setonaikai Inland Sea and known for its fishing villages; Aso-Kuju known for its volcanoes, including Mt. Aso, the largest active one in Japan; and Nikko, considered one of the most beautiful parks in Japan with its Buddhist temples and Shinto Shrines in a wooded mountainside. For those who rather crave heart-thumping excitement, there is now an “Amusement Workation” at- Yomiuriland, a Japanese Amusement park in the Tokyo suburbs. (13) Tickets into the park cost 1,900 yen per person ($18) or 3,600 yen ($34) per pair, and offer a pool-side booth with Wi-Fi, power-supply, a table, two chairs, two sun lounge chairs, and a free drink at the adjacent La Pacine Restaurant. A scenic (and certainly unique) workstation set-up is also included for ticket-holders, who have access to work in the Ferris wheel for one hour with a pocket Wi-Fi. After work is done, teleworkers may amuse themselves on the many rides and enjoyments found in the park itself, have free towel rental at the neighboring Okanoyu onsen (with its 15 different baths), and for an additional 500 yen, have access to the on-site golf course with 20 swings and golf club rental included. While these workation programs are just two examples currently taking place in Japan, there are a plethora of new and enticing workation campaigns that continue to emerge. Prefectures themselves have begun promoting their cities as great workation destinations, including those with refreshing onsen (Mie Prefecture), serene sights along the foothills of Mt. Fuji (Yamanashi Prefecture), and seaside ambiance and local delicacies (Kanagawa). ( 14 , 15 ) With the interest of both businesses and government in workation programs, it will be interesting to see how the increase of workation programs will affect the mindset of some Japanese companies’ work cultures. 52% of 1,000 responders to a 2020 Japanese Trade Union Confederation survey indicated that they are working more now while teleworking during the pandemic than even before.( 16 ) The fact that workation programs are designed to give more flexibility to workers and their employers may have some impact, with even one governmental employee in the meeting with Environment Minister Koizumi remarking that “It is important to trust employees rather than worrying about whether they are really working.” Whether their existence shifts mindsets or not, it would appear that workations will be around for much longer, particularly as they continue to be in high demand during this pandemic year. Workation programs allow for quick transitions from work to recreation. 4. Staycation Promotions Along with tourism initiatives through the “Go To Travel” and workation campaigns, staycation programs from both the tourism sector and federal government have been introduced with even more ways for people to feel the excitement of travel during these unusual times. From the tourism sector, Tokyo luxury hotels in particular have spearheaded this movement, especially as Tokyo was excluded from the “Go To Travel” destination list until October. These hotels, in addition to their already renowned accommodations, fitness centers, and restaurants, offer themed activities in their staycation packages for guests to experience. The “Edo Beauty Stay” package from Hoshinoya Tokyo Hotel, for example, pampers guests with a spa treatment, but also transports them back to the Edo Period (1603- 1868) by offering a traditional tea ceremony, shamisen lessons, and origami paper folding. ( 17 ) The Peninsula, Tokyo hotel offers their “We Meet Again- The Eight Loves of the Peninsula” staycation package, which includes all in-house amenities and check-out gift bags, and also allows guest to choose an activity of their preference from a list of featured Tokyo “loves”, including dim sum cooking classes, a tour of the Imperial Palace Gardens, exclusive VIP access to art collections, and more. ( 18 ) Each hotels’ packages are designed specifically for just one night’s rest, perfect for the local staycationer to experience the joys of travel while being close to home. On the other hand, for individuals who truly miss traveling abroad, All Nippon Airways (ANA) came up with one solution by offering an exclusive “Hawaiian” experience on their “Riding Honu” aircraft. (19) In August, this airplane, painted to look like a giant sea turtle, offered a unique 90 minute ride departing from and landing at Narita Airport in Tokyo. Donning Hawaiian-themed shirts, staff members served passengers pineapple drinks and mojitos, screened videos, conducted a raffle, and handed out souvenirs. Taking precautions against Covid, the aircraft capacity was limited to 64%, but some 150 times that number applied to take the trip. This experience was a win-win for passengers and the airline alike, as not only did guests get to have the feeling of a tropical vacation, but the airline was also able to conduct maintenance on the aircraft. Meanwhile, the Japanese government has also recently expanded their “Go To Travel” campaign by announcing “Go To Eat,” “Go To Event,” and “Go To Shotengai” initiatives (Shotengai is the Japanese word for a covered street market). The “Go To Eat” campaign was launched from the first of October, and will be advanced in November/December for Tokyo, and like the “Go To Travel” campaign, has a voucher system. (20) Diners can receive a 25% off voucher at participating restaurants in a given area. There is also a point system that diners can apply to use at these restaurants, with more discounts received based on returns to an establishment. Currently, some 33 prefectures are participating in this initiative. The “Go To Event” campaign was launched on October 30th, and also provides options for either a voucher for 20% off of the ticket or a coupon for purchasable items at the venue at the value of 20% of the ticket fee. (21) At this time, only Universal Studios Japan in Osaka is participating in this program. “Go To Shotengai” is still in the works, and has yet to launch. As these initiatives are still new, there is still little data in regards to their usage, but if the “Go To Travel” campaign is any indication, these programs hold much promise in attracting travelers and local residents alike. Tokyo luxury hotel staycation packages attempt to attract locals who may wish to have a different experience nearby where they live. 5. Conclusion Through the various public and private initiatives and campaigns, Japan has succeeded in increasing domestic travel. According to information from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, and Tourism, and as assembled below in Figure 1, domestic travelers staying at tourist accommodations increased to 52% of 2019 figures in September. (22) In comparison, May had the year’s lowest figures at roughly 15% year-on-year of guests staying in hotels and other lodgings. Data from the MLIT of Japan, Graph by Shuntaro Okimoto (JITTI USA) These statistics are even more striking if comparing domestic and international travel. Figure 2 shows the volume that travel agencies have seen in transactions for domestic and international travel, as well as the number from international tourists. As one may notice, international travel and guests have remained almost nonexistent, while domestic tourism has increased after having reached similar lows. With the international travel ban still in place, the rebounding of domestic tourists has surely been a welcome to a distressed tourism industry. There is hope, however, that things will make a recovery soon, as it was announced last month that foreign tourists may be allowed back into the country again on a trial basis from April 2021.23 In the meantime, the national government and tourism-related businesses will surely continue their efforts to attract those close by to participate in their “Go To Travel” campaign*, workation promotions, and staycation programs. (*Since the writing of this article, the Japanese government has suspended the "Go To Travel" Campaign in areas where the coronavirus is spreading.) Data from the MLIT of Japan, Graph by Shuntaro Okimoto (JITTI USA) References: Ballard, J. (2018, July 31). Majority of Americans have taken a "staycation". Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://today.yougov.com/topics/travel/articles-reports/2018/07/31/majority-americans-have-taken-staycation Merriam Webster. Staycation. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/staycation-date-meaning Travelocity, P. (2020, October 08). Travelocity 2020 Holiday Travel Outlook: Most Families Aren't Going Home this Holiday, but they Aren't Staying Home Either. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/travelocity-2020-holiday-travel-outlook-most-families-arent-going-home-this-holiday-but-they-arent-staying-home-either-301148116.html?tc=eml_cleartime Mainichi Shimbun. New 'workation' system promotes spending more time with family members. (2018, August 05). Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20180804/p2a/00m/0na/030000c Reuters. (2017, July 24). Japan launches 'telework' campaign to ease congestion, reform work culture. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-economy-telework/japan-launches-telework-campaign-to-ease-congestion-reform-work-culture-idUSKBN1A90ET Phillips, F. (2020, January 7). Japan's Workstyle Reform Act – What Is the Compliance Deadline for Your Organization? Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/japan-s-workstyle-reform-act-what-is-91110/ MLIT. (2020). Go To トラベル事業とは. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://goto.jata-net.or.jp/about/ Japan Guide. (2020, November 17). 'Go To Travel' explained. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.japan-guide.com/news/0053.html Dayman, L. (2020, July 13). Japan's "Go To Travel" Campaign: What You Need to Know. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2020/07/japans-go-to-travel-campaign-what-you-need-to-know/ 観光庁, J. (2020, November 13). Go To トラベル事業における利用実績等について: 2020年: 報道発表: 報道・会見: 観光庁. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/news06_000484.html Osaki, T. (2020, July 30). Good time for a 'workation' but is Japan Inc. ready? Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/07/30/business/workation-japan/ Kyodo News. (2020, September 19). Japan national park facilities upgraded with "workation" in mind. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/09/ab57da1d46e5-japan-national-park-facilities-upgraded-with-workation-in-mind.html Nagase, Y. (2020, November 18). Tokyo's Yomiuriland now lets you work from a Ferris wheel and by the pool – wifi included. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/yomiuriland-amusement-parks-workcation-deal-lets-you-work-from-a-ferris-wheel-or-by-the-pool-101920 Inkl. (2020). Japan's 'workation' programs gain popularity amid pandemic. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.inkl.com/glance/news/japan-s-workation-programs-gain-popularity-amid-pandemic?section=coronavirus K, B. (2020, October 21). 'Workation' program at the foothills of Mount Fuji offers fresh air and a welcome change of pace. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/workation-program-at-the-foothills-of-mount-fuji-offers-fresh-air-and-a-welcome-change-of-pace KYODO News. (2020, June 24). Half of telecommuters in Japan work longer than before pandemic. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/06/882ace2907a2-half-of-telecommuters-in-japan-work-longer-than-before-pandemic.html HOSHINOYA, Tokyo. (2020). Edo Beauty Stay: Experience: HOSHINOYA Tokyo: Resort Hotel in Tokyo, Japan - Hotel Reservation. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://hoshinoya.com/tokyo/en/experience/edo-beauty-stay/ The Peninsula Tokyo. (2020). The Peninsula Tokyo: The Eight Loves of The Peninsula Tokyo. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.peninsula.com/en/tokyo/special-offers/rooms/8-loves-of-tokyo Begum, H. (2020, August 23). ANA Flies Its Airbus A380 Carrying Passengers To Nowhere. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://simpleflying.com/ana-a380-charter-lottery/ Finn, C. (2020, November 18). Japan's "Go To Eat" Campaign: What You Need to Know. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://tokyocheapo.com/food-and-drink/go-to-eat-campaign/ Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. (2020). 経済産業省 Go Toイベントキャンペーン. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://gotoevent.go.jp/ 観光庁. (2020). 旅行業者取扱額: 統計情報: 統計情報・白書: 観光庁. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/siryou/toukei/toriatsukai.html Back to All JITTI Journals November 2020 Feature Article

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Strengthening Aviation Safety through SSP by Hiroki Sakamoto Ensuring safety is a central and fundamental issue in the civil aviation sector. While passenger deaths aboard specific Japanese air carriers have not occurred since 1986, efforts are being made to reinforce the safety management system adopted by airline companies and preventive safety measures are being promoted to appropriately deal with safety-related issues. For example, preliminary reviews are done upon the launch or expansion of domestic airline companies and strict (including unannounced) and systematic on-site safety inspections are properly conducted. Also, due to the increase of foreign airlines following the promotion of the open sky policy, monitoring of foreign airlines entering Japan has been strengthened with on-site safety inspections and other measures. Since April 2014, the Civil Aviation Bureau of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan (or JCAB) has been implementing the "State Safety Program (SSP)", as the basic principle of aviation safety policy. It sets forth targets for civil aviation safety and measures to be taken for their attainment, in accordance with the Annex 19 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The fundamental structure of SSP is a clear division between Regulator (R) and Provider (P: such as airline companies, airport operators and air traffic control), with the Regulator (R) providing and enforcing safety oversight of the Provider (P). (Figure) Structure of the State Safety Program (SSP) In FY2015, JCAB formulated "Medium-term policies for the administration of aviation safety," which outlines the policies and measures for the next five years. In FY2016, direction for further safety measures related to small aircraft was added in light of the frequent occurrence of accidents involving private, small aircraft in recent years. SSP features three new measures: Safety Target, Voluntary Reporting System, and Analysis of Safety Information. 1) Safety Target In order to secure SSP as an effective tool to strengthen aviation safety, JCAB creates a "SSP implementation plan" every year. Regarding this plan, JCAB ① sets the safety target of the Japanese Government (once a year), ② implements specific policies to achieve the safety target with coordination between airline companies, airport operators and air traffic control, and ③ measures and evaluates the level of achievement of the safety target. 2) Voluntary Reporting System "The Voluntary Information Contributory to Enhancement of the Safety (VOICES) program" has been operating since July 2014 in order to collect more detailed near-miss information relating to aviation safety that is not subject to the mandatory reporting system, and to harness such information for safety improvements. Recommendations such as improving airport operations have been obtained through this program. While dissemination activities have been yielding results and more reports were issued in FY2016 than in the preceding year, attempts will be made to further use the system through continued work to highlight the importance of safety information. Efforts will also be made to improve safety by making use of obtained recommendations. 3) Analysis of Safety Information JCAB created three committees (airline companies, airport operators and air traffic control) comprised of scholars and experts. They hold meetings regularly to evaluate and analyze safety information from not only mandatory but also voluntary reporting system, compile and summarize information and publicize this information to share it. They are utilized to create preventative measures for both the Regulator (R) and Provider (P) in civil aviation. Strengthening safety measures is the top priority in the civil aviation sector. Continuous and effective efforts of both the Regulator (R) and Provider (P) through SSP are key in order to establish safe and secure air transport systems. Back to All JITTI Journals September 2018 Feature Article

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Back to All JITTI Journals May 2021 Feature Article Creating an Environment Where Foreign Visitors Can Travel Without Anxiety in Japan -Formulation of Glossaries and Guidelines for Creating Manuals to Assist Foreign Tourists in an Emergency- by Daisuke Takagi 1. Glossaries for managing foreign tourists in an emergency (1) Background Foreign tourists visiting Japan are often unaware of disaster responses in Japan because they may not face the same types of disasters in their countries. Therefore, even when disaster terms and evacuation procedures used in Japan are translated as they are, there is a problem that foreign tourists may misunderstand the "actions to be taken in the event of a disaster." The Japan Tourism Agency has been translating into multiple languages the sentences explaining necessary actions for foreign tourists to take in the event of a disaster, but these are not "easy-to-understand expressions" for foreign tourists who may lack prior knowledge of disaster responses. For example, there may be alerts and evacuation orders based on geographical knowledge and warning information that pertain to them, but even if they are told, if foreign travelers are unable to comprehend them, they cannot understand how to act. Against this background, the agency created a "Glossary of Terms in Communicating Expressions" aimed at translating emergency information into easy-to-understand expressions so that foreign tourists can understand the actions to be taken in an emergency. (2) Structure This glossary is composed of "expressions" and "terms," and include examples and words translated into multiple languages that are expected to be used at each disaster site. The examples are organized with a focus on "actions to be taken in the event of a disaster," which is important for foreign tourists. In translating, the agency considered foreign tourists who do not have knowledge of the disaster itself, and also considered the expressions foreign tourists usually use in their home countries. Regarding the translation of expressions, the agency shortened the previous expressions, reviewed the examples so that foreign tourists can understand the actions to be taken, and added new expressions necessary for dealing with the COVID-19 infection. 2. Guidelines for creating a manual for foreign tourists in an emergency (1) Background Many local governments in Japan lack resources, such as budgets and staff, for assisting foreign tourists in the event of a disaster, and there are issues, such as the lack of multilingual information provision. The Japan Tourism Agency has created guidelines for local governments to describe disaster responses to foreign tourists in their regional disaster prevention plans. However, some local governments do not prepare foreign tourists in advance of a disaster, and many local governments do not have a designated department to do so. Many tourism-related businesses do not have disaster response manuals for foreign tourists, and assisting foreign tourists in an emergency has become an issue. Therefore, with the aim of demonstrating more specific action policies for local government agencies and businesses that deal with foreign tourists in emergencies, the agency has created a guideline that can be used as a reference when creating and revising the "Manual for Foreign Tourists in an Emergency". (2) Structure This guideline is composed “for administrative / related organizations," which includes local governments and tourism-related organizations (Destination Management/Marketing Organizations (DMOs), tourism associations, hotel associations, etc.), and "for businesses," such as accommodation / tourism facilities, transportation companies, retail shops, etc. Since the roles of local governments and DMOs differ in each region, and systems vary depending on the local government, this guideline should be referred to and used to the extent that it can be implemented according to the actual conditions of each region. The contents to be included in the preparation of the manual for foreign tourists in an emergency are organized into four phases ((a) disaster mitigation, (b) preparation for crisis, (c) response to crisis, and (d) recovery from crisis). In addition, as a reference material for this guideline, a template for information transmission that can be used immediately in the field is attached. Examples of contents to be included in the manual: (a) Disaster Mitigation Calculation of the number of foreign tourists (preliminary confirmation of the number of visitors by country, language, religion, etc.) Determination of the status of disaster prevention facilities for foreign tourists (assessing the status of having multiple languages available at evacuation centers, etc.) (b) Crisis Preparedness Examination of attitudes toward foreign tourists in the event of a disaster (considering differences in the reactions of foreign tourists) Collection and preparation to provide information (Providing understanding of the multilingual information site of JNTO and each transportation system) Provision for multilingual support and evacuation guidance for foreign tourists (evacuation guidance in collaboration with the resident foreign community, etc.) Consideration and preparation for movement and return support for foreign travelers (confirmation of routes to international airports, securing means of transportation) (c) Crisis Response Creation of a list of foreign tourists evacuating to the area (sharing information with embassies and consulates in each country) (d) Crisis Recovery Dissemination of information on the reconstruction situation and foster a mindset for foreign tourists to return to Japan (disseminate information utilizing the foreign resident community, implement foreign monitor tours, etc.) Lastly, in the field of tourism crisis management, Dr. Sunkyung Choi of JTTRI (Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute), has conducted detailed research and analysis, including the evacuation behavior tendencies of foreign tourists during a large-scale earthquake. The research suggests the clear division of roles and cooperation between stakeholders, such as Japanese government, local governments, DMOs, and transportation providers. It also suggests that information providers should prepare materials with the foreigners’ knowledge level in mind, customize content to be foreign country-specific, without simply translating information from Japanese into foreign languages, and diversify information resources for wide information distribution considering that the sources foreigners use have varying degrees of reliability. Additionally, at the conclusion of the research she highlighted the importance of centralized information management, the need for a comprehensive approach to simultaneously consider evacuation plans and information provision for foreign tourists, and the development for “Tourism Disaster Information Management.” (If you want to learn more, please refer to “The 46th JTTRI Symposium on Research: Winter 2019” - https://www.jttri.or.jp/english/events/2019/sympo46.html#event_result . )

Back to All JITTI Journals March 2024 Cultural Article The Hina Hanging Decoration Festival in Izu Inatori By Tomomi Dodd What is the Hina Hanging Decoration Festival in Izu Inatori? You may have heard about “Hinamatsuri”, known as “Girl’s Day,” which is held on March 3rd to celebrate young girl’s health and happiness in Japan. The celebration typically entails displaying “Hinamatsuri” decorations with Heian-style dolls positioned on a red carpeted stand. They look pretty and they can be very expensive. Inatori Onsen, known as a hot spring resort in Shizuoka Prefecture on the edge of the Izu Peninsula, about 2 hours by train from Tokyo to the south , has its own unique tradition called the “ Hina Hanging Decoration Festival.” This unique hinamatsuri style in Izu Inatori started in late the Edo period when the public began making handmade dolls using scraps of kimono and sewing them onto long strips of cloth. There are about 25 kinds of doll designs and each has a meaning. For example, owls represent fortune and cranes represent longevity. This is the charm my mother got for me. From the top, the peach represents women. It wishes for longevity, health, and prosperity. The second is a crawling child. It represents healthy growth of children. Lastly, the bag represents money. The main event of the festival is held at “Bunka Koen Hina no Kan” in Inatori, usually from around mid-Jan till the end of March. A bonus tip is that if you go to Kawazu Station near Inatori, you can also see cherry blossom from early February, known as “Kawazu Zakura.” I visited Inatori in early 2020 right before the beginning of the pandemic and I had a fantastic time with rich cultural experiences, hot springs, cherry blossoms, and great seafood!!!!! How To Get To Izu Inatori: It takes about 2 hours to get to Izu Inatori station from Tokyo station. There are JR Shinkansen to Atami and you can take JR Express trains to Izu Inatori station. ( Izu peninsula is a windfall for the student of geology – EDUCATION IN JAPAN COMMUNITY Blog (wordpress.com) ) References: Hanging doll decorations | Inatori Onsen Ryokan Cooperative Association

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Back to All JITTI Journals March 2019 Cultural Article Toward the 2025 Osaka World Expo and Beyond by Hiroki Sakamoto On November 23, 2018, the Japanese city of Osaka, Japan’s third-largest city and the largest in western Japan, was selected to host the World Expo in 2025 (May 3 - November 3, 2025 totaling 185 days), beating out rival cities in Russia and Azerbaijan, during voting in Paris. It will be Osaka’s second time to host the event, with the first occurring 55 years ago in 1970 under the theme of “Progress and Harmony for Mankind”. 78 countries participated in the Expo pavilion, including the United States of America which displayed a moon rock. Osaka proposed to host the 2025 World Expo on a man-made island called “Yumeshima” (or “Dream Island” in Japanese). The expected total number of visitors of the six-month-long event is approximately 28 million, and the economic benefits are expected to be about $18 billion nationwide. The Expo is expected to be a crucial opportunity for not only boosting the local economy but also creating a chance for the region to advance its goods and services on the world stage. The official name of the 2025 Expo is “The Osaka-Kansai Japan Expo”, reflecting the participation of surrounding cities such as Kyoto and Kobe. Discussions are underway to have “satellite” Expo areas in both cities. Local people are eager to show the world a new Osaka, Kansai, and Japan in the Expo. The 2025 Osaka Expo’s theme is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, with two interconnected subthemes of “How to Lead a Healthy Life in a Diverse Manner” and “Sustainable Socioeconomic Systems”. Moreover, the “People's Living Lab” is a unique concept that allows for the participation of 8 billion people by utilizing the internet and virtual reality. It will enable everyone on Earth to take part in this unprecedented experiment. In addition, the 2025 Osaka Expo especially aims to promote considerations to leverage robotics and artificial intelligence for the public good. Towards the 2025 Osaka Expo and thereafter, in order to deal with immediate transportation infrastructure concerns for the projected 28 million visitors to attend the event, new transportation links to Yumeshima will have to be built. A variety of transport projects and urban developments are being considered. For example, a construction project to extend the subway is being examined because there is no railway access to the island of Yumeshima at present. Also, in February 2019, Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) created a research group of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS). MaaS combines transportation services from a variety of public and private transportation providers through a unified gateway that creates and manages the trip, and provides users with a convenient payment system through a single account or app. OCCI will study and develop advanced transport access to the Expo venue on the island of Yumeshima from downtown Osaka and other major cities. Furthermore, there is also a plan to construct a casino complex on Yumeshima. In July 2018, the “Integrated Resorts Law” was passed by the Japanese parliament, paving the way for the construction of Integrated Resorts (IR) featuring hotels, large-scale international conference halls and exhibition facilities as well as casinos. This means that for the first time, a casino may open in Japan. By the establishment of the IR complex, not only casinos but MICE (Meeting, Incentive Travel, Convention and Exhibition/Event) will contribute to the development of tourism by attracting a variety of international events. In Osaka, for the purpose of strengthening its economy, attracting international travelers and improving the city’s international brand, authorities and companies are taking steps to prepare for the IR complex in Yumeshima. If the IR complex in Yumeshima is completed and opened by the beginning of the 2025 Osaka Expo, it is possible that tourists to MICE held in the IR complex would visit the Expo and vice versa. Additionally, those tourists could extend their visits to other close tourist destinations in the Osaka bay area, including Universal Studios Japan and Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. In 2019, there will be worldwide events held in Osaka such as G20 Osaka Summit in June and the Rugby World Cup from September. There also already exists a variety of tourists attractions in Osaka, such as Osaka Castle Main Keep (an Osaka symbol standing 55 meters tall with 5 tiers), Abeno Harukas (the tallest building in Japan), traditional and historical events and facilities (Sumiyoshi Shinto Shrine, Shitennoji Temple and so on), Dotonbori (a bustling commercial street always busy with playhouses and food shops from the Edo Period), and Osaka cuisine (takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu and so on). Osaka Castle Main Keep Abeno Harukas These mega events and lots of standard tourist spots, as well as the 2025 Osaka Expo and a potential IR complex including the casino, will mean an increased flow of tourists to Osaka in the near future. If you have a chance to visit Japan, why don’t you extend your journey to the exciting destination of Osaka, and experience Japanese history, Japan’s modern flair, and a peak into the developments of the future?

Tokyo is Waiting for You by Daisuke Miyamoto 1. INTRODUCTION Japanese people are pleased that a lot of foreign people have been visiting Japan recently. The number of visitors from overseas has been increasing year by year, and was numbered at about 31 million in 2018. Furthermore, the Japanese government is promoting a variety of policies to achieve targets of 40 million visitors in 2020 and 60 million in 2030. Japan has been working on developing infrastructure and services in order to accommodate for the influx of foreign visitors, and to alleviate the stress of traveling around Japan. In this report, I will narrow the scope of these accommodations to those made in Tokyo, which is one of biggest cities in the world, and in particular will introduce some practices of Tokyo Metro, which is one of the biggest subway operators in the world. 2. TRAIN STATION NAVIGATORS Tokyo Metro has arranged for station navigators, called service managers, to assist you with finding fares, buying tickets, instructing you on the best routes to get to your destination, and informing you of the facilities around the station. They will also do their best to answer any other inquiries you may have, and can even communicate in English, Chinese, and Korean with the help of a tablet. Service managers can be found at 16 major stations like Ueno Station, Akihabara Station and Ginza Station. In stations without station managers, other station staff will be able to help assist you with help of a tablet as well. What’s more, there are interpreters who can speak English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Portuguese over the phone. A Service Manager is Responding to a Visitor’s Inquiry 3. TICKETS TO RIDE Tokyo Metro offers various discount tickets to suit your style of travel. I’ll introduce three kinds of tickets. Tokyo Subway Ticket: The three kinds of Tokyo Subway tickets are the 24-hour ticket, the 48-hour ticket, and the 72-hour ticket. These tickets are valid with an unlimited use on any Tokyo Metro line and Toei Subway within the hours you select. These tickets are suitable for those people who would like to travel around Tokyo. Greater Tokyo Pass: It might surprise you, but there are a lot of private train operators in Japan, and of course in Tokyo too. It means that you might sometimes need to buy tickets at each transfer point along your route to get to your destination. However, you don’t need to worry about it. This Greater Tokyo Pass gives you unlimited usage on 12 kinds of train operators and 51 kinds of bus systems in the Kanto-area for 3 days. There are lots of suburban destinations around Tokyo such as Takao-mountain and Enoshima. This ticket is suitable for those people who would like to go around suburban area of Tokyo. Airport-Downtown Tokyo Routes and Ticket: The biggest international airport, Narita Airport, is about 35 miles in distance from the Tokyo downtown area, but that is not a problem. There are many convenient ways like the Keisei Skyliner to get to downtown Tokyo. The Airport-Downtown Tokyo Routes and Ticket is a joint pass with both the Keisei Skyliner airport transport ticket and the Tokyo Subway Ticket. You can get to your destination in Tokyo, travel around the city, and go to and from Narita Airport with a single payment. Some of the tickets 4. TOKYO IS WAITING FOR YOU!! Tokyo has not only attractive places to visit, but also has efficient infrastructure and attentive services that allow you to get around easily. Why don’t you visit Tokyo? Back to All JITTI Journals March 2019 Feature Article

Back to All JITTI Journals July 2022 Cultural Article Traveling with My Baby in Japan by Tomomi Dodd Recently I had a chance to travel to Japan with my husband and 4-month-old baby, and I would like to write about my experience of what it was like traveling there with an infant. Since I am working for a research institute dealing with transportation, I would like to focus on those parts of the trip. Our first and biggest challenge was a flight to Tokyo from Washington, D.C. (which took about 13 hours!). Of course, we were very nervous about flying with a 4 month old baby…..! We immediately reserved a bassinet through the ANA customer center after we booked the flights. On the day of, as having a baby allowed us prior boarding, we were better able to relax and prepare for seating. Upon boarding, ANA flight attendants gave us warm smiles, saying, “Is there anything we can do to help? Please let us know any time.” They attached a bassinet to the wall in front of us soon after the flight departed. Some bathrooms on the plane had a changing station for babies. Though the space was small like on any other airline, we had no problem working with what was provided. Despite of all of our anxieties, our baby was happy in general and slept well in the bassinet. The return flight was somewhat the same experience as well, and we did not have any major problems, luckily! A bassinet on the plane Though my family lives near Tokyo, we made an excursion to Kagoshima, Kyushu to see our college friend. On the way to Kagoshima from Haneda, I used Jetstar. On the way back, I used Skymark. Both of them are LCC. After experiencing a 13-hour flight, a 2-hour flight felt so easy! Baby slept for basically the whole time. I once asked the flight attendant for hot water to make a bottle for him, and they immediately worked on my request. Throughout my trip, I was amazed to see all the bathrooms and nursing rooms designed for parents and babies. There was a special chair designed to seat infants where you can safely place your baby while you use the bathroom. Airports and many shopping malls have large nursing rooms with good privacy, changing stations, and they are very clean. Changing stations From Left to Right: Nursing room, Microwave and hot water machine located in a nursing room, A chair to put an infant in a bathroom stall Traveling by train with a baby can be also very fun (except when it’s rush hour and the trains are full of people)! Some train cars have designated space for baby strollers. Almost every station has an elevator and escalator. And as you know, Japanese trains are very punctual. You can look for routes online in advance to minimize hassle! Assigned space for baby strollers and wheel chairs (left) and Escalator at a train station (right) Overall, I had a great time traveling with a baby in Japan. This may be because I am Japanese and do not have any language problems there. However, even a little hassle with the language could be a fun memory for traveling, don’t you think? I hope you will have opportunities to travel to Japan and have a great time, with or without babies! Baby slept well at a hot spring hotel after he enjoyed a bath

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