TOKYO -- Looking for something exciting to do on your next trip to Tokyo? One travel guide has several answers after it culled and ranked its most-searched facilities and services by overseas travelers to Japan. There's plenty of good stuff to choose from.
Live Japan Perfect Guide Tokyo, a multilingual website operated by 27 companies and organizations, including online restaurant information provider Gurunavi and railway operator Tokyu, provides international visitors with information about sightseeing, gourmet spots, shopping, lodging and ATM locations in Tokyo.
The website tallied page views from mid-April 2016, when it started, through March 2017 to choose the Live Japan Awards 2017 by categories, such as gourmet and sightseeing.
Itamae Sushi Toho branch in Shinjuku Ward was ranked first in the gourmet category. In addition to the popularity of sushi, the restaurant's tuna cutting show and other free events and seat availability information on its website helped to rack up access. Restaurants serving curry and okonomiyaki, a veggie pancakelike dish, ranked in the sixth through tenth places.
Subaru Travel's guided taxis ranked first in the experience category. The Tokyo-based company's video showing its guided taxi service became so popular that it won large orders from Southeast Asian travelers.
Masuda-ya in Shinjuku Ward -- a company that offers tea ceremony manner classes -- ranked fourth, while a public bath and Origami Kaikan in Bunkyo Ward ranked among the sixth through tenth places.
Although Chinese tourists' explosive buying sprees have lost steam of late, shopping remains popular among international travelers. Tokyu Department Store Toyoko in Shibuya Ward was chosen as the No. 1 large retailer. The department store provides detailed information on its website about the food establishments in the building, such as well-established Japanese-style confectionery stores, as well as duty-free and other services.
Lotte Duty Free Ginza was chosen as the most searched small retailer for its frequent provision of information on products and discounts. Ginza Takagen, a classic store in the posh Ginza shopping district that sells canes, ranked second.
In the sightseeing category, the Tsukiji fish market in Chuo Ward remains popular among foreign visitors, as they can buy cooking tools and utensils in addition to seeing the famous wholesale market. Tokyo Sushi-Making Tour in Adachi Ward and Shunkaen Bonsai Museum in Edogawa Ward ranked well in the category of Live Japan Staff Recommendation.
According to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization, a record 24,039,000 people from overseas visited Japan last year, up 21.8% from a year ago. Meanwhile, the Japan Tourism Agency said spending per person fell 11.5% to 155,896 yen ($1,416).
The ability to provide detailed and customized information as well as products and services to meet the changing needs of overseas travelers for different destinations is key to attracting customers.
(Nikkei)
