Tobishima, Aichi Prefecture — a village without a single hotel, ryokan (Japanese-style inn) or souvenir shop — will establish a tourism exchange association in April, in the hope of encouraging local residents to rediscover the area's appeals and become involved in boosting tourism.
The idea was conceived by Michito Takeda, 47, an official at travel agency JTB Central Japan Corp., who helped make the village of Achi in Nagano Prefecture a popular tourism destination by promoting it as the place with "the best starry sky in Japan."
By adopting a unique method that prioritizes interactions with locals, the association hopes to find regional treasures that even some of the villagers are not currently aware of.
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