A New Hope - Japan Tourism is Rising High Above the Expectation
In approximately two years from now (2020), Tokyo will be hosting its second summer Olympics, just like in Katsuhiro Otomo's movie, Akira. A prediction/coincidence that makes the geekiest people feels like they love sports. Even if this is a pretty cool thing for the manga fans, let's make it clear... the city won't be taken over by a teenage motorcycle gang and it won't be destroyed by a godlike child with super nuclear power. Then what's gonna happen? Well, pretty much the same thing that happened to any other city who hosted Olympics Games in the past.
They will build (they've already started) a lot of new hôtels and accommodations, they will upgrade some of their transportation systems to make it more efficient, they will use the technology to accommodate the non-japanese speaking tourist and much more. Eventually, all those accommodation will be left over, because there won't be any use for it. What about the rural areas around Tokyo then?
"Ctrl C, Ctrl V"
The same thing! Yes! I've recently moved to a small city called Nikko, it's a beautiful place located about two hours by train from the capital of Japan. Nikko is a lovely city and it is very popular for its Shrines and Temples. Every year, it receives more than 10 million visitors. That's a lot of gaijin!
Here in Nikko, they've been refreshing the city for quite a while (I forgot to tell you that I've been coming to Nikko since more than 10 years already) and it is kind of scary to see this happening because Nikko's future isn't really what we want it to be.
In 2015, I've started working on a photo series called "Ghost town ni naru", it is a very personal series in which I am documenting how my wife's hometown is becoming a ghost town. It is a project that reminds us that no place is unchanging. You can discover the full series here on my website: http://www.jasmingendron.com/ghost-town-ni-naru.html
As mentioned, right now the city is having a beauty cure and they are refacing it for the 2020 Olympics. It really feels like a New Hope for the citizen of Nikko, but there is only one drawback, will it really keep the city alive for the next 40, 50 or 60 years? Hummm...
If you've been traveling to Japan, you probably realized that a lot of small towns are being slowly abandoned just like Nikko. It is very unfortunate when you think about it, but that doesn't make those dying cities less interesting. Right now, there is a movement in Japan called chihou sousei (地方創生), in which some groups of people, backed by the government, promote a "let's go back to the countryside!" and let's rock it!
On my side, I'll soon be launching my own business here in Japan, I'll be offering a "fixer" service for those who want to upgrade their stay in the Nikko areas while also offering photo expedition, accompaniment for hiking the Mount Nantai and some SUP (standup paddleboard) excursion on the Chuzenji Lake. Nikko has much more to see then its UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it will be my duty to accommodate those who want to discover those things! The website will follow soon! Until then, drop me a line if you're planning to visit Nikko in Japan! (@originalworks)
Peace