本文
For Nishikawa Town, the tourism industry is a crucial sector for expanding the influx of exchange population (tourists) as an entry point for widening the base of related populations.
By rediscovering regional resources and enhancing the value of the area to broadcast its attractions, we aim to be a chosen destination for tourists,
UltimaTely increasing local consumption and contributing to the creation of a sustainable tourist region.
The following tourism strategy complements the 'Earn!' and 'Connect!' components of the 7th Nishikawa Town Comprehensive Plan.
The 7th Comprehensive Plan of Nishikawa Town
Future Vision to Aim For
Within 8 years, to increase the working-age population as soon as possible by collaborating with the townspeople and a variety of initiatives,
becoming a town that resonates with people from outside the town.
Five Fundamental Objectives
1.Earn! — Create a Nishikawa Town with attractive industries and jobs that integrate local resources and digital technology.
2.Connect! — Create an open Nishikawa Town that connects everyone and values partnerships.
3.Nurture! — Create a Nishikawa Town that fulfills the hopes of parenting and protects learning unique to this region.
4.Support Each Other! — Create a Nishikawa Town where all residents can live with a rich heart, feeling secure and supported.
5.Sustain! — Make every effort towards realizing a digital garden city.
Plan Period: Fiscal Year 2023 to Fiscal Year 2030
↓
Complements Basic Objectives 1 and 2.
↓
Nishikawa Town Tourism Strategy Book
1.Earn!—
1.Specific Measures Implement policies that encourage the aggregation of diverse talents, knowledge, and industries that generate innovation (business creation) within and outside Nishikawa Town, while utilizing digital technology.
2.Goal A state where Nishikawa Town is earning through attractive businesses and ventures leveraging natural resources like water and snow and current trends.
2.Connect!—
1.Specific Measures The exchange population starting with tourists requires a model change in tourism in Nishikawa Town.
To attract a new layer of tourists, provide sustainable tourism content that respects young people and the culture of mountain worship,
connecting them with the warm residents of Nishikawa and strategically conducting tourism that fosters a sense of belonging, thereby promoting the creation of a related population.
2.Goal A state where the charm of Nishikawa Town is well communicated externally, and many people visit Nishikawa Town for tourism and other purposes.
Plan Period: Fiscal Year 2024 to Fiscal Year 2030
The most important thing for Nishikawa Town to achieve a sustainable tourist destination is for residents and workers to be involved in tourism and to feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
It is also crucial to create a tourist region that empathizes with the feelings of tourists, ensuring that they are very satisfied with their stay in Nishikawa Town and become fans of the town.
The shortcut to future tourism development is to build the future of Nishikawa Town together with people from both inside and outside the region who are involved with Nishikawa Town.
By expressing and conveying the potential of Mt. Gassan's nature and culture, tourists will come.
This supports people who can live off tourism while experiencing the pristine rural landscapes and enjoying the convenience of Nishikawa Town.
If the sense of unity in the town deepens, improving human relationships and having a ripple effect, it aims for high-quality tourism.
The town should be vibrant and home to new businesses, a town that is not noisy, where you don’t feel rushed. Increase the related population and bring vibrancy to the town,
a town to be proud of. Rather than being development-driven, it should protect the environment (blessings of the mountain) while building the next generation.
For the region to achieve economic independence, it is important to increase the number of businesses supporting local tourism and products leveraging tourism resources, thus establishing vigorous economic activities.
・Businesses earning through activities: 2023, 1 business ➡ 2030, 5 businesses (cumulative)
・New products and businesses utilizing natural resources like water and snow: 2023, 2 items/businesses ➡ 2030, 40 items/businesses (cumulative)
We strategically provide sustainable tourism content that is accessible to tourists, connecting it with the warm local character,
and strategically conduct tourism that fosters a sense of belonging in visitors, serving as a stepping stone for creating related populations.
・Exchange population: 2023, 502,000 people/year ➡ 2030, 1,000,000 people/year
・Event participants: 2023, 19,300 people/year ➡ 2030, 30,000 people/year
We have set goals for the tourism sector in Nishikawa Town, so that by 2030, everyone involved in tourism can say,
'This is how tourism in Nishikawa Town has become!' These goals are established from four perspectives: economy, visitor attraction, tourism resources, and town residents.
1.Earn... Maximize tourist spending during their stay
2.Attract Tourists... Realize a tourist destination bustling in all seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter
3.Local Treasure... Positively reshape the image of the heavy snowfall area
4.Town Resident Participation... Tourism development in Nishikawa Town with participation from all residents
The number of visitors to tourist sites in Nishikawa Town used to fluctuate around 700,000 per year. However,
the situation has not fully recovered even now, after the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, the number of overnight stays has returned to about 40,000,
the same level as before, thanks to the successful high-value-added renovations of facilities that seized this opportunity.
What do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of tourism in Nishikawa Town?
We have asked people from various perspectives, including accommodation facilities, restaurants, retail stores, and manufacturing industries.
Strengths of Nishikawa Town・Yudono-san Faith ・Wild vegetables, soba ・Mt. Gassan (mountain climbing, summer skiing) ・Distinct four seasons ・Craftsmanship ・Personality of the people |
Weaknesses of Nishikawa Town・Inconvenience of secondary transportation ・Insufficient facilities for receiving foreigners ・Image of being difficult to access due to heavy snowfall ・Lack of nature and experience guides ・Residents are unaware of the merits of Nishikawa Town ・Execution ability to attract visitors using strengths |
Both a strength and a weakness of Nishikawa TownHeavy snowfall |
|
Voices on creating a tourist regionTourism and visitor attraction that are not affected by natural phenomena are crucial, necessitating the creation of appropriate accommodations and mechanisms. Tourist areas need to be of high quality. Tourism, being a part of culture, must be carefully preserved. Issues exist with dining and shopping, especially the lack of dining options at night. There are few benefits for those who work hard. The challenge of how to pass down craftsmanship skills. There are few places in Nishikawa Town where one can experience ordinary local activities. A clear approach to planning and sharing the vision of the region is needed. There are no points of interest for tourist spending. Success or failure must always be verified. It is important to clearly define the target audience before hosting events. There are no dining options in the Shizu Ryokan District. Secondary transportation is weak. |
We had about 1,000 participants from an online survey evaluate the satisfaction level with tourism in Nishikawa Town, as well as the awareness and interest in its tourist resources.
How many items matched what you thought? To attract tourists to Nishikawa Town and create a region with high satisfaction in terms of stay,
it is necessary to develop tourism plans and promote them from the tourists' perspective.
Survey Period: July 2023
Survey Method: Internet survey
Sample Size: 1,032
Survey Participants: Men and women aged 20 to 50 and above, residing in Yamagata Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Tokyo, and Osaka Prefecture
Note: Out of 10 questions, 5 questions were extracted.
There is a tendency for many visitors to experience hot springs and natural resources.
While overall satisfaction is high, the proportion of those who are "very satisfied" and would become repeat visitors is low.
Positive evaluations abound for the specialties of Nishikawa Town: "nature" and "mountain vegetables."
Conversely, there are requests for improvements in secondary transportation, tourist information infrastructure, as well as the expansion of dining and souvenir options.
Positive feedback.
・Abundant nature. The autumn foliage was superb. (Female, 50s or older, Miyagi Prefecture) ★ Similar opinions were expressed by many.
・Simply enjoyed the charm of the countryside. (Male, 40s, Miyagi Prefecture) ★ Similar opinions were expressed by many.
・Rich in mountain vegetables, and mountain vegetable dishes are delicious. (Female, 50s or older, Yamagata Prefecture) ☆ Similar opinions were expressed by multiple people.
Negative feedback.
・If we had known in advance about the must-visit places in Nishikawa Town, we could have enjoyed it more. (Female, 30s, Miyagi Prefecture)
・There are no tourist information facilities. (Male, 50s or older, Miyagi Prefecture)
・There are few dining options. (Female, 30s, Yamagata Prefecture)
Opinions and requests.
・I want more accommodations where women can stay alone. (Female, 50s or older, Tokyo)
・I would like to see an increase in the variety of meal options. (Female, 30s, Miyagi Prefecture)
・The giant fountain in Gassan Lake is rare in the world, so it should be promoted more outside the prefecture, don't you think? (Male, 40s, Miyagi Prefecture)
・I want more bus services. (Male, 30s, Miyagi Prefecture) ☆ Similar opinions were expressed by multiple people.
・Although it's a great place blessed with nature, it feels like the publicity efforts are not going well. More emphasis should be placed on publicity activities. (Female, 50s or older, Yamagata Prefecture)
・It felt a bit run-down, and the souvenirs were somewhat lacking. (Male, 50s or older, Yamagata Prefecture)
・I would have been happy if there were souvenirs that were a bit more stylish and Instagram-worthy. (Female, 40s, Yamagata Prefecture)
Experienced visitors tend to have higher levels of awareness and interest in tourist resources.
On the other hand, the awareness among potential future visitors is low, with all tourist resources being below 20%, indicating that many have not yet been exposed to tourism information about Nishikawa Town.
↓
Based on the survey, many respondents who expressed a desire to visit Nishikawa Town mentioned their interest in enjoying the hot springs, nature,
and local cuisine. On the other hand, those who indicated that they did not want to visit mentioned that Nishikawa Town is losing out to other areas in terms of attractiveness, or that it falls lower on their list of priorities.
Excerpts from comments of people who want to visit.
・"I want to enjoy Nishikawa gourmet such as Gassan wild vegetable soba and Gassan Wagyu beef." ★ Similar opinions were expressed by many.
・"I want to go trekking on Mount Gassan." ☆ Similar opinions were expressed by multiple people.
・"I want to go summer skiing." ☆ Similar opinions were expressed by multiple people.
・"I want to fully enjoy the great nature of Nishikawa Town and refresh myself in the midst of nature." ☆ Similar opinions were expressed by multiple people.
・"I want to visit during the autumn foliage season." ☆ Similar opinions were expressed by multiple people.
・"I like trekking and the scenery seems very beautiful." (Male, 40s, Tokyo)
・"There are more tourist facilities and resources than I imagined, so it seems like it can be enjoyed throughout the year." (Male, 40s, Miyagi Prefecture)
・"There were many places where children can play, so I thought it would be possible to have various experiences with my family." (Female, 40s, Tokyo)
・"Because I love hot springs and alcohol (wine/sake)." (Female, 50s or older, Osaka Prefecture)
・"I am interested in nature and culture (history)." (Male, 40s, Osaka Prefecture)
Excerpts from comments of people who do not want to visit.
・"It's not easy to go there using public transportation. The access is poor. You can't go without a private car." ★ Similar opinions were expressed by many.
・"There are similar tourist destinations and food options nearby." ☆ Similar opinions were expressed by multiple people.
・"I'm not sure where it is geographically." ☆ Similar opinions were expressed by multiple people.
・"I just pass by it all the time. I don't see it as a tourist destination." (Female, 50s or older, Yamagata Prefecture)
・"I need a little more incentive. There are other places I want to go, so I would prioritize them if I were to go." (Male, 50s or older, Tokyo)
・"It's far to get there, and I don't feel the charm that matches the distance." (Female, 40s, Osaka Prefecture)
・"Although mountain vegetables, soba, and local beef sound delicious, there are many places with similar specialties, so it's less likely that I would DefiniTely want to go to Nishikawa Town for them." (Female, 40s, Tokyo)
Number of Accommodated Guests: It remained relatively stable from Heisei 27 to Heisei 30. The peak was reached at 49,822 people in Heisei 31/Reiwa 1.
Number of Visitors: It peaked at 724,565 people in Heisei 28 and has been on a downward trend since.
※Excluding Reiwa 2 to Reiwa 4 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tourism Resources That Serve as Strengths for Nishikawa Town | Challenges | |
---|---|---|
Sightseeing | ・Gassan (Trekking, Autumn Leaves, Skiing) | ・Natural resources primarily affected by weather conditions |
Dining |
・Mountain Vegetable Cuisine ・Gassan Wild Vegetable Soba ・Gassan Wagyu Beef |
・Limited options in the dining genre ・Few dining establishments |
Souvenirs | ・Craft Beer, Local Wine, Sake |
・Limited souvenirs for young people and women ・Few souvenir shops |
Accommodation | ・Hot Spring Facilities (Shizu Onsen) | ・Limited accommodations targeting women |
Secondary Transportation | ・Difficult access by bus |
・Sharing and evaluating vision and strategy
・Clarifying the target audience
・Improving reception facilities and information dissemination tailored to the target audience
While many regions are actively engaged in tourism development, it's essential for Nishikawa Town to stand out and attract visitors by thoroughly understanding market trends and tourist preferences, and delivering superior experiences compared to other areas.
In advancing tourism development in Nishikawa Town, I have summarized four key actions that need to be taken.
We will strategically plan and implement measures by incorporating the perspective of tourism destination management to achieve our tourism vision.
・We will leverage the essential local resources that shape Nishikawa Town. "Mountains, snow, water, food, people"
・We will deepen our relationships with the community and its people. "Connection, connect, be connected"
・We will share the joy of living, working, and engaging with one another. "Happiness, pride, love"
A town where you can be yourself, just as natural as the surroundings.
People in Nishikawa Town, embraced by the vast nature of Mount Gassan and the Asahi mountain range, have coexisted with nature since ancient times, welcoming pilgrims to the Dewa Sanzan mountains and mountain ascetics.
This long history of hospitality is rooted in the profound understanding of both nature and humanity.
Nishikawa Town is a place where both the natural environment and the people are genuine and welcoming.
Residents and visitors alike embrace each other with warmth and openness, creating a town where everyone can be themselves amidst the untouched nature and the genuine hearts of the people.
Enriched by interactions with the townspeople.
・Nishikawa Town is a place where visitors and hosts can relax and communicate with each other without any pressure.
・Nishikawa Town is not just a place to 'go,' but a place to 'return' to; it's a second home where people exchange greetings of 'welcome home' and 'I'm back.'
Enriched by the blessings of the mountains and Japan's abundant snow.
Nishikawa Town, nestled amidst the Gassan and Asahi mountain ranges, and blessed by the abundance of the Mogami River, boasts Japan's highest snowfall.
It's a vibrant town where the culture born from this land and the experiences of its natural surroundings thrive.
Enlivened by the blessings of the great outdoors and the lives of its people, Nishikawa Town is a place where hearts are uplifted.
Trekking in the Gassan and Asahi mountain ranges, summer skiing, hot springs, fishing, mountain vegetable cuisine, etc.
Day Trips: Yamagata Area, Sendai Area
Accommodation: Sendai Area, Tokyo Metropolitan Area
Men and women aged 50 and above
・Planning for repeat visitation strategies
・Development of stay consumption points and promotions
We will promote initiatives that not only maintain the traditional value of tourist destinations but also provide plans that make visitors want to return and information that leads to increased consumption in our town, elevating it to the next level.
・Summer skiing at Mount Gassan (Snow resort development)
・Flower trekking and autumn foliage climbing at Mount Gassan
・Traverse climbing at the Asahi mountain range
・Winter snowshoe trekking
・Catch and release fishing in the Mogami River (stream fishing)
・Utilization of the grand fountain at Lake Gassan, Japan's largest
・Mountain worship at the Dewa Sanzan (visiting shrines, temples, and historical sites)
・Pilgrimage to the 33 Kannon temples in Mogami
・Nature walks and poetry readings by Maruyama Kaoru
・Viewing of Hina dolls
・Experience traditional crafts
・Harvesting mountain vegetables and mushrooms
・Lunch with Mount Gassan wild vegetable soba
I want to actively enjoy nature experiences, hot springs, and saunas.
I seek connections with the local community and desire to be fulfilled by those connections.
Day Trips: Yamagata Area, Sendai Area
Accommodation: Tokyo Metropolitan Area
20s (Aiming for future population migration as outlined in the comprehensive plan)
Traveling with friends
・Development and maintenance of content that attracts visitors
・Preparation of promotions targeting visitor attraction
In order to foster sustainable tourism, we will target the youth demographic in their 20s from the Tokyo metropolitan area who are interested in relocating to rural areas.
We will provide new content to attract this demographic.
・AI Mystery Solving Game Series (5-year Series)
・Sea To Summit in collaboration with Montbell
・Onsen Gastronomy Tour for Foodies
・Leisure Canoeing at Lake Gassan
・Camping in the Great Outdoors and Glamping at Lake Gassan
・Skiing and Snowboarding Experience Lessons
・International Study Abroad Programs
・Soba Making and Sausage Handcrafting Workshops
・Self-flow Sauna Experience
・Mobile Trailer Sauna Experience & Barbecue
・NFT and Metaverse (Chat Gpt Guide)
・Cashless Transactions and Data Accumulation for Local Businesses
・Information Dissemination on Social Media Platforms
・Japanese: Want to take a break from daily life and refresh both mentally and physically.
・Foreign Tourists Visiting Japan: Want to experience interactions with local people and daily life in Japan.
Japanese: Yamagata Area, Sendai Area Foreign
Tourists: Europe, including France and Germany
Men and women aged 40 and above
・Unearthing, developing, and digitizing local cultural assets in Nishikawa Town
・Preparation of promotions targeting visitor attraction
Visitors to Nishikawa Town will have the opportunity to experience the healing power of its majestic nature and immerse themselves in a spiritual atmosphere reminiscent of ancient mountain worship practices, providing them with unforgettable and extraordinary experiences.
・Special overnight experience at the Iwanesawa Office of the Dewa Sanzan Mountains
・Fire-walking ritual experience at the Oyazawa Yudono-san Shrine
・Waterfall meditation with Yamabushi ascetics
・Pilgrimage to the Thirty-three Kannon Temples of Mogami (Gokaicho)
・Visiting the Amida Mansion (13 Buddhas' Residence) at Amidadera Temple
・Trekking through the primeval beech forest
・Hiking along the Rokujurigoe Kaido Road (Japan Heritage Site)
・Traditional mountain vegetable cuisine
・Tasting local sake, wine, and craft beer
・Onsen Gastronomy Walking Tour
・Creating original crafts
・Stargazing under the clear night sky
・Value-added facility enhancement (support for renovations, etc.)
I want to fully enjoy the snow, an experience I cannot have in my own country.
Foreign tourists: From Taiwan and Southeast Asia
Men and women aged 30 and above
Family and friend trips
・Planning of overwhelming snow play content
We will enhance activities utilizing the town's snow resources, boasting the title of "Japan's best-kept snow secret," to cater to the recovering inbound tourism market.
・Production and tour of snow lanterns at a snow inn
・Snow play at Gassan Snowland
・Majestic backcountry skiing
・Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing tours
・Experience the winter lifestyle in the snow country (with traditional hearth)
・Enjoying traditional winter delicacies
・Indulge in hot springs amidst snowy landscapes
・Experience the extreme cold in midwinter saunas
・Snow removal experience
・Snow tourism based on snowfall measurement
・Maintenance of inbound-oriented signage
・Training of guides for inbound tourists
・Public-Private Partnership
Establishment of the "Nishikawa Sustainable Tourism Council" (Nishikawa Fan Creation Promotion Council) as the main body for advancing strategies aimed at cultivating and maintaining the fan base (related population).
This council will leverage the expertise of various organizations and the contributions of external experts to conduct effective impact assessments and flexible evaluations for continuous improvement.
Members of the council include the town, chamber of commerce, Nishikawa Comprehensive Development Co., Ltd., Gassan Tourism Development Co., Ltd., Gassan Shizu Onsen Ryokan Association, Creators Next Co., Ltd., Shoko Corporation, Chiikin-kai, Tobu Top Tours Co., Ltd., Label Link Co., Ltd., Oizawa Furusato Ryokan Association, Honmichiji District Association, Kaldiv Co., Ltd., Kunou Co., Ltd., Tfl Co., Ltd., Good Job Creation Fair Executive Committee (Jyonan Shinkin Bank), and Light Light Co., Ltd.
The administration plays a proactive role in coordinating and collaborating with residents, businesses, external stakeholders, and conducting evaluations of initiatives to reflect feedback and needs for advancing projects in subsequent years. Additionally, it actively supports securing financial resources.
Private businesses play a crucial role in advancing the initiatives and overall development of tourism destinations as pursued by the government.
They provide advice based on their respective expertise and on-the-ground needs, and they contribute to endorsed initiatives through corporate version of hometown tax payment, ensuring that implemented projects are more effective and reliable.
Local financial institutions and collaborating financial institutions support addressing challenges such as fundraising and securing sales channels faced by local private businesses, leveraging their respective networks within and outside the prefecture to facilitate business matching or provide information.
Given its central location in Yamagata Prefecture, Nishikawa Town has the potential to generate new flows of people to neighboring municipalities and surrounding areas by revitalizing tourism exchanges within the town.
Moreover, by leveraging digital technology and implementing new tourism content, there is potential to involve surrounding regions in the creation and sale of expanded travel products.
This integrated approach to tourism promotion holds promise for fostering tourism development across the entire region.
→Regional Organizations/
・Yamagata Middle Exploration Project Meeting (1 city, 4 towns in Nishimurayama District)
・Dmo Sakura Yamagata (7 cities, 7 towns in Murayama Region)
・Japan Heritage Rejuvenation Travel Promotion Council (Prefecture + 1 city, 2 towns)※Continued consideration of high-value-added inbound tourism development in rural areas
・Dewa Ancient Road Sixty-Ri Kaido Conference (1 city, 1 town)
・The duration and timeline of the initiatives
The tourism strategy will commence from the fiscal year 2024 (Reiwa 6).
However, aligning with the town's 7th Comprehensive Plan, the end period is set for the fiscal year 2030 (Reiwa 12), spanning a total of 7 years.
・Action Plan
At the end of the previous year, the members involved in drafting and collaborating with advisory committees (private sector) formulated and shared an "Action Plan" for each fiscal year, detailing specific implementation projects.
This is done to secure funding for the next fiscal year, address challenges, and clarify economic effects, enabling the execution of strategic initiatives.
Simultaneously, "Dialogue Sessions" targeting both local and external stakeholders will be held to understand their needs.
・Review of Strategy
Local governments are entering a period of transformation, and the rapid changes occurring globally and in Japan mean that even well-planned initiatives may not yield the desired results when implemented as originally intended.
Therefore, it is important to establish a system capable of agile responses, adapting to changes in direction or evolving needs while maintaining a clear overarching vision.
Additionally, we will employ a rolling approach to review strategies and initiatives periodically, bridging any gaps between reality and long-term plans.
↓Here is the link to view the tourism strategy booklet for Nishikawa Town in Japanese.