In a new initiative, the Japanese tourism industry is offering experiences that combine traditional and modern Japanese attractions for domestic and international travellers. Of particular interest is Okage Yokocho in Ise City, Mie Prefecture. With its nostalgic atmosphere and local cuisine, the area offers travellers an experience of the good old days of Japan. In a recent ranking, Okage Yokocho was voted No. 1 as the best side alley for travellers to visit!
This Yokocho is located in an area crowded with visitors to Ise Shrine and is lined with shops that retain the traditional architectural style of the shrine. Visitors can enjoy the spirituality of Ise Shrine as well as local food culture and crafts. Visitors also have the opportunity to learn about Japanese culture and history through interaction with local people.
The Japanese tourism industry is actively embracing digital transformation (DX) and exploring new ways to communicate Japan’s attractions to a wider audience. For example, attempts are being made to introduce Japanese tourist destinations to a global audience through online seminars and virtual tours. This enables new tourism experiences to be offered not only to international visitors to Japan, but also to domestic travellers.
Furthermore, the Japanese tourism industry is also focusing on developing new tourism sectors, such as wellness tourism and medical tourism. These initiatives are not only increasing the number of visitors to Japan, but are also contributing to the revitalisation of local economies. Through these new trends, tourism industry players are working to enhance the unique value of Japan’s tourist destinations and make them more attractive destinations for people from all over the world.
In this way, Japanese destinations are combining tradition and innovation to meet the needs of a new generation of travellers and to develop a sustainable tourism industry.
Fusion of tradition and innovation
If Japanese tourist destinations are to meet the needs of the new era, a fusion of tradition and innovation is essential. The example of Okage Yokocho in Ise shows that this balance is well achieved. It attracts tourists from home and abroad by retaining the atmosphere of good old Japan while offering experiences sought by the modern traveller. This is an important direction for Japan’s tourism industry and could have a positive impact on other tourist destinations.
Contribution to the local economy
Tourism plays an important role in local economies. The popularity of tourist attractions such as Okage Yokocho stimulates local restaurants and souvenir shops, which in turn boosts the economy of the entire region. In addition, interaction between tourists and local residents can deepen cultural understanding and create new business opportunities. This contribution to the local economy is an essential element of sustainable tourism development.
Using digital transformation
Digital transformation is opening up new possibilities for the tourism industry. Through online seminars and virtual tours, Japanese tourist destinations can now be introduced to people far away. This is a very effective tool, especially in the current global context. Furthermore, the development of new tourism sectors, such as wellness tourism and medical tourism, contributes to the growth of the tourism industry as it can meet diverse needs.
In light of the above, it can be said that, as demonstrated by Okage Yokocho in Ise, Japanese tourist destinations are striving to develop a sustainable tourism industry by combining tradition and innovation to meet the needs of travellers in a new era. We hope that these initiatives will continue to support the Japanese tourism industry and promote further development.
