The tour took hotel concierges to Tree House Bonsai in Ami, Ibaraki Prefecture. (Courtesy of Ibaraki Prefecture)
Ibaraki Prefecture organized a tour for concierges from major hotels in the Greater Tokyo Area to enhance their knowledge of local tourism. Activities such as bonsai gardening and yabusame (horseback archery) received particularly positive feedback from the concierges. The prefecture is optimistic that these efforts will help attract more tourists to the region.
The Perfect Day Trip
The prefecture's PR team notes that concierges at upscale Tokyo hotels frequently receive inquiries from affluent Western tourists seeking day trips or short stays. Many tourists specifically ask for experiences related to Japanese cuisine, sake, and samurai culture.
Given these interests, Ibaraki is seen as an appealing destination that is easily accessible from the metropolitan area and offers numerous opportunities to experience Japanese culture. The prefecture hopes to leverage the concierges' positive experiences to showcase Ibaraki's charm to international visitors.
Around 20 members of Les Clefs d'Or, a prestigious global network of hotel concierges, participated in the tour. Their itinerary included a visit to Tree House Bonsai in Ami Town, the only bonsai garden in Japan owned by a Western bonsai artist.
At Yamato Horse Park in Sakuragawa, participants tried yabusame (horseback archery) while dressed in traditional attire. They also toured and sampled sake at Isokura Sake Brewery in Kasama City, which was selected for the Ibaraki Design Selection.
'Highly Recommended'
A male concierge from a Tokyo hotel praised the bonsai experience, noting, "Interest in bonsai among inbound visitors has been growing every year, so discovering Tree House Bonsai was fantastic. Having an expert explain everything in English also makes it easier for us to confidently recommend the place to our guests."
A female concierge who visited the sake brewery expressed her enthusiasm, saying, "Hearing about the brewer's passion for sake making was truly inspiring. I'm eager to share this experience with our guests."
Another female concierge who participated in yabusame said she would highly recommend the experience to guests. "There is significant interest in samurai culture from overseas," she explained. "It was surprising to find such a facility so close to Tokyo. The chance to ride a horse and shoot a bow in traditional attire would definitely appeal to many visitors."
In response to these positive reviews, the Ibaraki PR team remarked, "We’ve confirmed that hands-on activities like bonsai and yabusame are highly enjoyable. We plan to continue exploring engaging content for inbound visitors and keep providing concierges with the latest information to attract more tourists."
RELATED:
- Gastronomy Tourism Booms with Rising Demand for Hands-On Experiences
- Tourists To Japan These Days Look for Experience Over Commodities
- 'Uplifts the Spirit': PM Kishida Tastes Ibaraki's Best Melons
- 'Little Kyoto' Receives Sustainable Tourism Award for Castle Stay Experience
(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Masahide Moriyama, The Sankei Shimbun
