CHIBA, Mar 16 (News On Japan) –
Choshi Electric Railway in Chiba Prefecture is embarking on a brand new problem to draw overseas vacationers, with the important thing appointment of an “Inbound Strategy Officer.”
Taiwanese Tourists Targeted in New Initiative
Choshi Electric Railway, Ryosuke Kashiwagi, Executive Director: “Fumiko Owada became our inbound strategy officer on June 30th last year.”
Owada: “Nice to meet you, I’m Fumiko Owada. I’m half Taiwanese and half Japanese, currently residing in Taiwan. I mainly handle inbound-related matters, acting as a bridge between Taiwan and Japan.”
Owada is a widely known determine in Taiwan, showing in tourism PR movies and commercials whereas working an organization that facilitates exchanges between Taiwan and Japan.
Owada: “From my perspective, Choshi City has grat food and an excellent environment. What’s lacking is a bit of visibility. With proper promotion, I believe many tourists from Taiwan will like it, and inbound tourism will surely increase.”
Choshi Chijimi Traditional Craft Center: Experience Tie-Dyeing
There are a number of well-known vacationer spots in Choshi, corresponding to Inubosaki, chosen as one of many “World’s 100 Best Lighthouses.”
Kashiwagi: “We’re looking to introduce Choshi from a different angle, not just from the perspective of Choshi but also from the viewpoint of people in Taiwan.”
Collaborating with deep spots round Choshi Electric Railway, based mostly on Owada’s opinions residing in Taiwan, is their technique.
Kashiwagi: “I’ve felt for a long time that people in Taiwan highly value tradition and culture.”
First, they visited the Choshi Chijimi Traditional Craft Center.
Kashiwagi: “Because Choshi is a humid place, these are comfortable to wear.”
Owada: “It suits Taiwan’s climate.”
Kashiwagi: “Exactly. It perfectly fits Taiwan’s climate.”
Originating within the Edo interval, created by fishermen’s wives praying for protected voyages and plentiful catches, it is a conventional woven material handed down for 400 years, designated as an intangible cultural asset by Chiba Prefecture.
The heart shows and sells numerous objects and materials made out of Chijimi. They additionally provide tie-dyeing workshops utilizing white Chijimi handkerchiefs.
Owada: “Wow, how is it? The final result is unknown until the very end, so it was exciting and fun.”
Hojoki, Ise Monogatari, The Tale of Genji… and Ryunosuke Akutagawa
The subsequent spot alongside the Choshi Electric Railway line they visited was the traditional Shingon Esoteric Buddhism temple, Enfuku-ji, with 1,300 years of historical past.
You can see treasures corresponding to Buddhist utensils made within the Nara interval contained in the temple. And extra…
Kashiwagi: “Hojoki.”
Owada: “Ise Monogatari. Wow, this is amazing. I’ve seen it in ancient Japanese texts.”
Enfuku-ji, Vice Chief Priest Tadashi Hirahata: “The previous chief priest collected these, wanting to leave such things in Choshi.”
The temple modifications its reveals month-to-month, however you can too see treasured historical books like Hojoki, Ise Monogatari, and The Tale of Genji, woodblock printed books from the late sixteenth to early seventeenth century.
And there was this…
Owada: “Wow, amazing! This says ‘Ryunosuke Akutagawa.'”
Enfuku-ji homes many unique manuscripts by trendy literary authors.
Owada: “His handwriting is kind of cute, Ryunosuke Akutagawa.”
Other works by literary giants corresponding to Hakushu Kitahara and Akiko Yosano are additionally current.
Vice Chief Priest Hirahata: “Foreigners interested in Japanese literature are often moved.”
Owada: “Of course, even a layperson like me is moved. Many people in Taiwan love reading, especially Japanese literature. Just hearing the name Ryunosuke Akutagawa excites them. This is a highlight of Choshi.”
Spring Cabbage Ramen and a Glimpse of Mount Fuji?
Next, they visited a connoisseur spot that has develop into a development in Taiwan.
Kashiwagi: “Choshi is known as a fish town, but there are quite a few ramen places.”
Owada: “Taiwan is currently having a ramen boom.”
The ramen is made with Choshi’s spring cabbage, which boasts the best harvest quantity in Japan.
Owada: “Let’s eat. Wow, it’s crunchy. The cabbage is sweet. I like the noodles too.”
Next, they visited Meiso Port Seaside Park, overlooking Byobugaura.
This is alleged to be the place the place Tadataka Ino confirmed the accuracy of his maps by measuring Mount Fuji throughout his nationwide survey. Choshi City is alleged to be the easternmost level in Japan the place Mount Fuji is seen.
Many vacationers visiting Japan from Taiwan look ahead to seeing Mount Fuji.
Kashiwagi: “Where can you see Mount Fuji? It’s visible on the left side of that tip. Unfortunately, it’s not visible today.”
It’s uncommon to see it resulting from climate circumstances, however they’re contemplating a method to show this into a bonus.
Kashiwagi: “If you see it, it’s a miracle. If we sell it like that, Choshi might be recognized as such a place.”
Deepening Ties with Taiwan
One cause Choshi Electric Railway focuses on inbound from Taiwan is the deep relationship between Choshi and Taiwan.
In 2022, Choshi City signed a friendship trade settlement with Taoyuan City in Taiwan and deepened exchanges.
Choshi Electric Railway additionally signed a sister railway settlement with the Taiwan Railways Administration’s Su’ao Line in 2017.
This inbound technique is carried out by a workforce comprising Choshi Electric Railway and the administration.
Asked about her impression of Choshi after visiting that day, Owada discovered appeal in sudden locations.
Owada: “I was impressed by the townscape. Walking along the seaside is an experience you can’t easily find elsewhere. It felt like experiencing a part of Japan that many don’t get to see. Recently, there’s been an increase in people who want to experience ‘tourism that isn’t just tourism,’ wanting to know more about Japanese life. In that sense, I think it’s very good.”
Source: ANN