(3) Home Visit System
The Home Visit System or "meeting-the Japanese-at-home" program was first
introduced in Kyoto in 1956, and as of March 31, 1995, 17 prefectures, cities, and
nonprofit associations offer the program for those visiting Japan.
In Tokyo, TIC makes arrangements for the home vist in their respective cities. Table 48
shows the number of Japanese families who voluntarily participated in the system and the
number of guests tibey received during 1994.
| Number of Hosts and Guests of "Home visit
System" in 1994 |
| Area |
Supporting Organization |
No.of Registered Families |
No.of Foreign Guests |
| Tokyo |
Tokyo Metropolitan Government |
74 |
279 |
| Narita |
Narita City Office |
39 |
37 |
| Yokohama |
Yokohama Int'l Tourist Association |
44 |
64 |
| Nagoya |
Ngoya Int'l Center |
34 |
46 |
| Otsu |
Otus City Office |
33 |
0 |
| Kyoto |
Kyoto City Int'l Foundation |
132 |
217 |
| Osaka |
Osaka City Office |
86 |
40 |
| kobe |
Kobe City Office |
60 |
26 |
| Wkayama |
Wakatama Prefecture Government |
27 |
0 |
| Okayama |
Okayama Int'l Plaza |
88 |
5 |
| kurashiki |
Kurashiki Assn.for Int'l Friendship |
60 |
22 |
| Mihara |
Mihara Goodwill Association |
22 |
0 |
| Hirosima |
Hirosima Int'l Relations Organaization |
80 |
55 |
| Fukuoka |
Fukuoka Int'l Exchange Center |
155 |
11 |
| Nagasaki |
Nagasaki Prefecture Government |
80 |
3 |
| kumamoto |
Kumamoto City Office |
16 |
3 |
| Kagosima |
kagosima City Office |
50 |
70 |
| Total |
|
1,187 |
878 |
(a) "Explore Japanese Culture" System
With the aim of meeting the foreign visitors' interest in seeing or experiencing
Japanese culture, JNTO established in 1988 the "Explore Japanese Culture" system
with the cooperation of local governments.
162 schools, firms and cultural facilities offer foreign visitors a chance to
experience Japanese culture at their locations. The categories of the Japanese culture
covered by the system come to over 80 which include:
(Arts) tea ceremony, flower arrangements, calligraphy, Japanese dance, Japanese
painting, Suibokuga, etc.
(Music) Koto, Shamisen, Shakuhachi, Biwa, Taiko, etc.
(Manufacture) ceramic, lacquer ware, Kimonos, Japanese paper, doll, etc.
(Traditional Sports) Judo, Kendo, Karate, Aikido, Ninjutsu, Kyudo, etc.
(4) Development of International Tourism in Local Areas
(a) Model International Tourist Areas (New Sites of Discovery)
JNTO and government registered Model International Tourist Areas established the
Conference on Promotion of Model International Tourist Areas in October 1987. The
Conference set up a number of committees to study and discuss matters pertaining to the
development and promotion of international tourism in member areas.
(b)Survey of International Tourist Areas
With the aim of improving reception services and facilities for foreign tourists in
local tourist areas, JNTO has been conducting every year a survey of international tourist
areas in Japan. The report of the survey is distributed to concerned local governments and
tourist associations for their consideration and appropriate action.
(C) International Culture Villages
Since 1988, the Ministry of Transport has been subsidizing local governments in the
construction of International Culture Villages, and JNTO has been extending its support to
these villages by working out an operation and promotion plan for each of them. JNTO is
also conducting overseas publicity campaigns for the villages.
(d) Seminars on International Tourism
For the purpose of developing international tourism in local areas, JNTO has been
organizing or giving assistance to seminars and symposia on international tourism held in
local cities for people working in the tourism industry.
(5) Reduction of Travel Costs
(a)International Tourist Minshuku
Minshuku, family-run Japanese style inns, have become increasingly popular among
foreign tourists. JNTO has so far selected 257 minshuku that welcome visitors from abroad
at inexpensive rates and continues to update its list of International Tourist Minshuku.
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