Travel agencies and organizations from Japan pitched the country as a perfect destination for American tourists at the annual New York Times Travel Show, which opened on Friday.
"One of our main efforts is to disperse travelers throughout Japan," said Keiko Matsuura, a spokeswoman for the Japan National Tourism Organization. "We are trying to introduce lesser-known regions."
Akita Inu Tourism was among the bodies present at the exhibition, promoting its "land of Akita dogs" in the prefecture. Inu is the Japanese word for "dog." As a special destination marketing organization in Japan, Akita Inu Tourism receives funding from the government to promote the area in a bid to revitalize its economy. The area is known to be heavily burdened by an aging population.