Tourism In Japan Research Articles

Empirical study on the determinants of Muslim tourists’ visit to Japan: do Muslim–friendly facilities and culture matter?

PurposeThis study empirically assessed the determinants of halal tourism to Japan while focusing on Muslim-friendly facilities and Japanese cultural sites.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses data from 2013 to 2018 and the Spatial Econometrics–Random Effect estimation technique, which allows for controlling for regional dependency. Furthermore, it extends the traditional Gunn and Tripartite Model which describes tourism attractiveness by considering the influence of historical sites on inbound tourism alongside regional gross domestic product (RGDP) and infrastructural availability.FindingsThe findings of the study reveal the existence of spatial autocorrelation among the prefectures in Japan in attracting tourists. The empirical results show that the availability of Mosques or prayer rooms positively influences Muslim tourists inflow in Japan. However, we find no significant impact of halal restaurants on tourism demand. Furthermore, our findings confirm the effectiveness of the components of the Tripartite and Urban Tourism Attractiveness models. Specifically, we find that historical sites and regional GDP significantly influence Muslim tourists visit to Japan.Originality/valueOur study makes novel contributions to the literature on halal tourism. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to apply the spatial econometric technique to study the determinants of tourism demand. The application of spatial econometrics allows us to provide evidence of regional dependence in formulating policies that affect tourism. Secondly, we offer a unique augmentation of Gunn’s tripartite model by including the effect of Muslim-friendly facilities as determinants of tourism demand. Lastly, this is the first study to offer insight on halal tourism in Japan by studying all the Japanese prefectures at the macro-level. Previous studies only consider small samples of tourists in specific prefectures, raising concerns about their external validity.

Evaluating the environmental effects of Japan's tourism: insights into pandemic-induced changes and driving forces

Abstract The intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic and tourism has significantly influenced emissions from supply chains, highlighting a complex dynamic between tourism and climate change. Although the pandemic represents a unique event within a specific timeframe, analyzing its impact on tourism provides valuable insights into the characteristics of tourism carbon footprints (TCF) in the context of sudden public health crises. Accordingly, we used the latest data available from the global multi-regional input–output table of EXIOBASE3 and Japan’s tourist consumption statistics to estimate the TCF from all tourist sources in Japan based on the global economic system, and we visualized the carbon flow caused by population mobility. The decomposition of the environmental impact of the pandemic response further identified the driving forces of TCF changes. The main findings suggested that substantial differences exist in the emission levels and sectoral distributions of TCF between inbound and domestic tourism in Japan. Domestic TCF accounted for the majority of the overall TCF, and it also showed a stronger ability to withstand the pandemic impact, accounting for over 90% of Japan’s TCF during the pandemic. The pandemic greatly reduced the TCF and further exacerbated the driving differences. Prior to the pandemic, Japan’s TCF had diverse driving forces; however, pandemic-induced restrictions magnified the volume effect, especially in the inbound TCF, whereas other effects remained substantial for the domestic TCF.

Understanding Thai Tourists' Meaning-Making of Attachment to Japan

This study investigated how Thai tourists interpret their attachment to Japan using a qualitative approach. Employing a four-dimensional framework, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 frequent Thai visitors to Japan. The narratives revealed all four dimensions of place attachment: place identity, place dependence, place social bonding, and place affect. Japan emerged as a unique destination offering irreplaceable travel experiences. Place dependence was most significant in fostering attachment, while place affect was an accumulation of the other three dimensions. The study found that attachment resulted from a combination of diverse factors rather than a single cause. It underscores the role of place attachment in promoting repeat visits and destination loyalty, providing insights to enhance Japan's tourism appeal. However, the reliance on qualitative methods limits generalizability. Future research should explore attachment in non-visitors, the longevity of attachment, and factors reducing attachment to a place.

Redefining Japan’s Tourism: Post-COVID Challenges and Cultural Dynamics

The global tourism landscape has undergone considerable transformation owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has altered its dynamics and created new challenges. Previously, travel was linked to well-being, fostering social connections, and a sense of belonging. However, the pandemic has caused substantial disruptions, leading to job losses and changes in travel behavior. Japan, which was already grappling with overtourism pre-pandemic, faced challenges such as strained infrastructure and environmental impact. Post-pandemic challenges include issues regarding tourist etiquette and labor shortages within the industry. Japan’s deeply rooted mask-wearing culture, driven by social responsibility, may lead to social stigma if norms are ignored, thus affecting tourism. Owing to an aging population and unattractive job profiles, the industry faces labor shortages, which lead to difficulties in recruiting during peak seasons. Therefore, understanding these challenges is crucial for the recovery and revival of tourism in Japan. Strategies must align with evolving societal values and sustainable practices to address behavioral norms and labor shortages. Using tweet-derived data, this study revealed an unexpected increase in discussions regarding mask use, highlighting Japan’s societal emphasis on harmony and consideration of others. This study highlights the challenges faced by tourists and industry professionals, particularly regarding foreign visitors’ comprehension of Japanese cultural norms. The results emphasize the critical factors affecting post-pandemic tourism in Japan, with the aim of exploring cultural influences on sustainable tourism in subsequent research. This endeavor aligns with the vision of the United Nations World Tourism Organization to reconstruct the industry and ensure equitable benefits for all stakeholders.

Art festivals in Japan: Fueling revitalization, tourism, and self-censorship

ABSTRACT This paper critically considers large-scale contemporary art festivals that have become a significant force of art tourism in Japan. While many of these projects got their start in socially conscious endeavors with a focus on machizukuri, or local community building, the increase of government-sponsored revitalization initiatives and heightened pressure from the tourism industry has shifted the output of these festivals over the years. As such, this paper aims to situate such festivals within their shifting genealogy, observe some of the ways that today’s artists and their artwork may be subject to precarious positions of instrumentalization and censorship, and raise points of critique for audiences to keep in mind around the topic of rural revitalization – i.e. what are some of the challenges that artists, curators, and organizers face today? While reflecting on factors at stake for art and cultural production in a hyper-touristic context, this paper also highlights the work of Shitamichi Motoyuki, an artist disrupting this paradigm in ways reminiscent of earlier forms of machizukuri art practices.

FILM-INDUCED TOURISM: THE IMPACT OF DESTINATION EXPOSURE BY LOCALLY-MADE MOVIES ON TRAVEL TO JAPAN

Japan has long been a prominent film destination, having given the world Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998), the great film director and cult movie figure. The influence of Japan on Hollywood production is evident and well-established, however there are limited studies concerning the influence of locally made Japanese movies in film-induced tourism in Japan. There exists an underutilized opportunity of destination exposure in Japanese film markets through locally made movies that can induce audiences’ travel behavior; thus, it is crucial to understand the impact of destination exposure specific in the Japanese film market. The study adapted the modified meaning transfer model, and this characterizes product placement as a transformative process whenever viewers can see the things without needing to utilize them. Experimental Quantitative research design was utilized in this research with 30 respondents chosen through purposive sampling. This established the following factors to effectively and objectively gather data: (1) treatment factors which is destination exposure, (2) the scope or variation of attributes in which the treatment factors were measured are affective attribute and affective affinity, (3) the manner in which the data were gathered and recorded through pre-testing and post-testing of a Likert scale modified instrument which measure travel intention through familiarity of culture and attractions and the desire to visit Japan, (4) the criteria provided the conclusions and implications for the recorded data as well as the treatment of paired T-test. The study found that destination image as a single determinant is significant factor in influencing travel intention of the participants. Age showed significant difference with travel intention before exposure to destination image while desired duration of travel is found to be significant in familiarity of destination image before exposure.

The Rise Of Japan’s Halal Industry And Tourism Post-Covid-19

Almost this two last decades, especially in 2005, Japan has program to increase the number of visitors from overseas, including muslim visitor. This program includes Japan Halal Food Project and Muslim-Friendly Project. In addition to that, the number of tourists from overseas that came from muslim majority countries to enter Japan rose up significantly. However, COVID-19 pandemic directly affected tourism in Japan. Halal business enterprise such as restaurant, hotel, even prayer rooms and mosques had to be closed in those emergency period. Nowadays, Japan had announced opening the international borded since October 2022 thus makes Japan’s tourism slowly getting back on track especially with the presence of muslim tourists to enter Japan. This research examines the rise of halal industry and tourism in Japan Post?COVID 19 global pandemic. Using qualitative method, this research applies direct observation, interviews, and literature studis for data collection. It shows that there is an optimism from Japan’s business owners to implement the concept of halal business with the rise of muslim tourists in Japan. However, there is a rising anxiety from these owners to apply the concept due to to the dependence towards muslim tourists.

Research on State and Challenges of Introduction of Medical Tourism in Japan by Text Mining.pdf

Research on State and Challenges of Introduction of Medical Tourism in Japan by Text Mining.pdf

Preliminary evaluation of virtual tourism content by using a neuroscience approach for the elderly

Japan's tourism market is facing challenges due to the impact of COVID-19 and an aging population. To address this issue, we intend to use virtual (VR) technology to provide virtual travel experiences for older individuals who may otherwise have difficulty traveling due to health concerns. In this preparatory experiment with young participants, we compared several virtual travel conditions using questionnaires and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology. Our findings suggest that VR glasses are more effective and popular among young people than smartphones. Both forms of virtual travel have a relaxing effect on young people. This may be because virtual travel is not particularly exciting for them. However, it may have a different effect on older individuals.

Reconsideration of Japan's tourism innovation characteristics

Reconsideration of Japan's tourism innovation characteristics

FP-4: SPIRIT OF KYOTO, SPIRIT OF ZEN

Welcome to Kyoto. Kyoto is the ancient capital of Japan, a university town, a gastronomic city, and one of the most religious cities in the world. Kyoto has developed a unique culture over its nearly 1,300-year history, and the influence of religion is particularly evident. In particular, Kyoto is home to seven head quarters of Zen, and it is no exaggeration to say that it is the center of Zen in Japan. Zen has been supported by the ruling class since ancient times and has had a profound influence on Kyoto's culture, including its gardens, architecture, festivals, customs, and cuisine. What is special about Kyoto culture? What is fascinating about it? I will talk about Kyoto's spirituality from a religious perspective to enrich your stay in Kyoto. CV:Born in 1978 in Kyoto, Mr. Matsuyama obtained his Master's degree in Agriculture and Life Sciences from the University of Tokyo. After three and half years of training at Heirin-ji Temple, Niiza, he became the deputy priest of Taizoin Temple in 2007. Matsuyama is acclaimed for organizing intercultural activities such as Zen experience tours for foreign visitors and talks at embassies in Japan and at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club. In May 2009, he was elected as a Japan Tourism Agency's Ambassador for its “Visit Japan” Campaign. He has been a member of Kyoto's Ambassadors for Tourism since 2011, and was listed as one of “The Top 100 People of the New Generation 2016” in Nikkei Business. And he was appointed as a fellow of US-Japan Leadership Program from 2016. In 2018, he was invited to Israel as the delegate of Young Leaders Program. And he also became a visiting lecturer at Stanford Univ. He received The Award of Commissioner for Cultural Affairs and Shigemitsu Award from Japan society in Boston in 2019. He is serving as an appointed member of the Kyoto City Board of Education and an Outside Director of V-cube, a tech startup, since 2021. As a young representative of the Zen Sect in Japan, Matsuyama has interacted with many religious leaders, such as having an audience with the Roman Catholic Pope and conversing with the 14th Dalai Lama. He also participated in the Davos World Economic Forum in 2014, and continues to work actively beyond national and religious borders. He is the author of the book, Forget What's Important First: 30 Zen Teachings for the Wavering Soul (Sekai Bunka Publishing, 2014) Strolling around Zen Gardens in Kyoto (PHP Publishing, 2016) Introduction of ZEN for workers (Kodansya Publishing, 2016).

Covid-19 as a Transformative Power in the Inbound Tourism of Japan

Purpose: This study seeks to explore the transformative power of covid-19 in the tourism sector of Japan, with attention to the unprecedented changes, growing activities and interconnectedness caused by covid-19 crisis through multiple case studies conducted among foreign tourism professionals in Kyoto. Design/methodology/approach: This study applies participant observation, in-depth interviews and narrative analysis. Findings: Tourism shifted to offer experiences in a digital way and new forms of digital travelling became popular like travel live streaming, virtual tours, virtual experiences. Not just previous travelers, but people who don't have the chance to travel became digital tourists and frequent interactions happen between tourists and guides, forming new communities in virtual space. The role of tour guides in digital context became more important as their interpretation reach a wider audience and shape the image of Japan. The data also shows that live streams increase the willingness to visit the destination and create connections among digital tourists as well. Originality/value: Shifting away from the negative impacts of covid-19 in tourism, this study shows the growth and industry shaping transformations in the tourism sector during the pandemic era, and presents forward-looking solutions through increased interconnectedness in virtual space.

Tourism in Japan: from decline to recovery

Tourism in Japan: from decline to recovery

Cross-cultural Communication Through Affect: The Potential for Postdisaster Tourism in Japan

The success of tourism encounters can be aided by devising cross-cultural strategies so that conscious feelings (emotions) and subtle impressions (affects) of locals are communicated effectively to tourists. This article investigates how postdisaster tourism narratives, practices, and landmarks can be used to "attune" the feelings of culturally different groups. After the Triple Disaster of 2011 in the Tōhoku region of Japan, the recovering communities have used tours as a way to support the local economy, confront their loss, and overcome trauma. As global attention moves to new disasters, communities feel the need to attract more visitors and create new jobs for the locals. However, this has proven difficult: differences in expressing emotional responses caused tensions and dissatisfaction among locals and internationals, as locals feel misunderstood and tourists do not see their expectations met. This hinders the tourist encounter, which is seen by some of the communities as crucial, as they feel that "being able to tell their stories" and "being remembered" is a central tenet of the recovery process. In the case of Japan, we argue, affect can constitute an appropriate means to negotiate meaning and memory between Japanese and internationals. Affective elements are often overlooked by academics, as they are considered volatile and unstructured. There is no research that utilizes geographical and interdisciplinary theories of affect to gain an in-depth understanding in the ways to communicate heritage and memory cross-culturally in disaster sites, as well as rigorous and appropriate approaches to affective methods. Affect can benefit both locals and visitors, as it bridges understandings of the delicate and complex issues pertaining to disaster memory and heritage, and may lead to more socioculturally and politically sustainable approaches to planning, development, and management of tourism.

The Future of the Halal Tourism Market in Japan After COVID-19: An Economic Pragmatism Perspective

This qualitative study aimed to describe how Halal tourism in Japan developed five years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and how it should be supported to recover post-pandemic, using a perspective of economic pragmatism, which is the alignment of policies with economic development interests. Allegedly one of the largest potential markets in the goods and services sector, Halal tourism is often described as capitalizing on the increasing number of Muslim tourists from both Muslim and Muslim-majority countries. Under this assumption, the increasing number of restaurants and hotels in Japan providing services for Muslim tourists has a correlation with the increasing fame of Japan among Muslim tourists. The Japanese Government has also supported the establishment of the Halal and Muslim-friendly market in Japanese tourism through the provision of visa-free visits for some countries, international promotion through fairs and web promotion, and cooperation with Islam-related non- governmental organizations. The society-level contributions have mainly been focused on the opening of Halal and Muslim-friendly businesses, with the assistance of Muslim residents in Japan. Such multi-level contributions from the Japanese Government, non-governmental organizations, Japanese society and Muslim residents could provide hope for the recovery of the struggling Halal tourism market in the country, as well as for contributing to a more inclusive Japan with Muslims and non-Muslim Japanese living harmoniously.
 Keywords: COVID-19, Halal tourism, inclusive Japan, Islam, Japan

Halal Tourism: Capturing the Development and Potential of Halal Tourism in Japan

The tourism industry is a sector that is currently being looked at by countries in the world because it is one way to improve the economy of a country. With the popularity of the halal tourism industry globally, the term halal tourism has emerged in several countries including Japan. Of course, in preparing to welcome Muslim tourists, Japan focuses on the comfort and availability of facilities needed by them. This study aims to see the development and potential of Japan in the scope of the halal tourism industry. The research data were taken from books, journals, and websites that were relevant to the research theme. After analyzing it, it can be concluded that Japan has added many facilities for Muslim tourists, starting with the provision of halal food, places of worship, as well as Muslim-friendly accommodations or hotels. This is the reason that halal tourism definitely has good economic prospects as part of the tourism industry in Japan.

Penetration of LGBT Tourism in Japan from the Perspective of Innovation Diffusion Theory

Penetration of LGBT Tourism in Japan from the Perspective of Innovation Diffusion Theory

Design and evaluation of intercultural cooperative project-based learning in the field of inbound tourism in Japan: A tour guide training course with Chinese and Japanese learners

As internationalization in the learning environment is still developing in Japan, there is a need for further practical research in foreign language education which embeds international cooperative learning. The study reported in this paper aimed to explore the effectiveness of Intercultural Cooperative Project-Based Learning (IC-PBL) based on the integration of foreign language education and tourism education, aiming to develop the necessary skills for collaborating with people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Working in the context of a Japanese university, we designed IC-PBL to incorporate the acquisition of knowledge of tourism, tour guide conversation training, field investigation of tourist destinations, and presentation of travel itineraries. Learning outcomes were evaluated based on the concept of Fundamental Competencies for Working Persons (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, 2017) utilizing both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The study shows that the competencies for independence, ability to reach out to others, creativity, and ability to cope with stress were enhanced through the IC-PBL practice. In addition, learners recognized that collaborative learning experiences supported their improvements in thinking and teamwork within the framework of the Fundamental Competencies for Working Persons. This IC-PBL model shows potential as an effective instructional design to integrate foreign language education and tourism education and promote the ability to work with diverse people towards a common goal.

Comparative Analysis of the Growth Factors of Regional Tourism Industry by Shift-Share Analysis in Japan

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to clarify the differences in growth factors between the regions with the highest growth rate and the regions with the lowest growth rate on the tourism industry by shift-share analysis in Japan. Research design, data, and methodology: In this study, the index of the industrial sectors used the “Tourist Entry Statistics” based on the Japan Tourism Agency’s “Common Standards for Tourist Entry Statistics”. The analysis period is from 2014 to 2017 considering the lack of time series data. The selection of region is based on the growth rate of tourists during the analysis period, Ibaraki and Shiga Prefecture which are the highest growth rate, and Shimane and Tottori Prefecture which are negative growth rate in Japan. Results: As the results of the empirical analysis, first, there are differences in the competitiveness of regions and factors that is closely related to the external economy on the tourism industry by regional effect (RSE). Second, it was found that although the effects of each region were different in terms of industrial mix effect (IME), they did not have enough to influence the overall growth effect of the regional tourism industry. Third, the magnitude of the total change effect (TCE) in the regional tourism industry revealed that the economies of scale exist in a comprehensive sense from the perspective of regional tourism policy and tourism strategy. Implications: The implication of this study lies in that it used a traditional shift-share analysis model to compare and analyze four regions in Japan to present regional growth factors and competitive advantages. And the limitations of the shift-share analysis model in the causes of regional competitive factors was supplemented by specifically analyzing the regional characteristics.

Development Path of Industrial Heritage Tourism: A Case Study of Kitakyushu (Japan)

Industrial heritage tourism is aimed at promoting sustainable development in the regional social economy. Japan published Heritage Constellations of Industrial Modernization in 2007 and 2008, and treated them as an important resource to promote the activation of the local economy. Evolutionary economic geography offers a useful framework for studying the evolution of industries and has already been applied to study the different types of tourism destinations, what is often unclear, however, is under what conditions declining industrial cities can be transformed into an industrial heritage tourism destination and by whom. Thus, this article tries to employ the EEG approach to understand the development of industrial heritage tourism in Japan, using Kitakyushu City as a case. The case of Kitakyushu City illustrates the importance of initial conditions and stakeholder collaboration in promote the development of industrial heritage tourism. The results of this study also showed that participation of community residents and the application of new technologies, strong support from national and local governments are critical to the new path creation.