Seamless access to traditional cultural experiences and a variety of outdoor activities beyond the typical Japan’s over-touristed urban centers
Heartland Japan, which provides adventure travel services to the Japanese countryside for intellectually curious international travelers, has launched a new booking website for customers, “Heartland Japan (https://heartlandjapan.com/)”, where users can directly book extensive trips to rural areas of Japan. With the launch of this website, independent travelers worldwide will be able to discover and book authentic, experiential travel that cannot be found in guidebooks or at major online travel agencies (OTAs). These trips transcend the well-known urban areas of Japan and venture into the lesser-known regional spots.
Background:
The “Golden Route” of Japan, covering Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, is a popular destination for international travelers and is truly wonderful. However, beautiful landscapes and authentic culture passed down through generations thrive in the rural areas just outside these cities. Until recently, travel to these areas has been impaired by difficulties in accessing information, complex booking processes, and language barriers, creating a psychological hurdle for foreign tourists. Heartland Japan seeks to remove this barrier. The website allows users to intuitively find a wide variety of tours tailored to their preferences, from short experiences to long-term cross-country tours, and make inquiries and reservations directly on the site.
Maximizing travel value: Contributing to the preservation of traditional culture and sustainable tourism.
This website offers more than just a tour. It offers experiences that combine thrilling adventures, which utilize each region’s rich natural resources with warm interactions with the locals, creating a completely new way of traveling. Travelers engaging deeply with nature and traditional performing arts, crafts, and cuisine directly contributes to the protection of local natural resources, the preservation of culture, and the local economy. Heartland Japan seeks to share with the world these sustainable and inspiring stories of how travel can connect Japan’s beautiful rural landscapes and the communities of its inhabitants to the future.
Examples of special “travel stories” that can be found at Heartland Japan
The new website allows users to directly book uniquely developed programs that transcend simple sightseeing, enabling travelers to become deeply involved in tackling local issues and preserving local culture.
Example 1: Traveling the Iseji route, a sacred prayer path of the Kumano Kodo World Heritage Site (Kii Peninsula, Mie Prefecture)
Kumano Kodo, a World Heritage Site, is very popular with hikers from Europe and America. This is a fulfilling hiking experience walking along the Iseji route, a sacred pilgrimage path that is not yet widely known to the outside world, accompanied by a local storyteller. Guests can enjoy the dramatic scenery with all five senses, created by the interplay of mountains and sea, such as the magnificent Kumano Sea that unfolds beyond the beautiful moss-covered stone paths, while staying in the depopulated post towns and fishing villages along the route.
Example 2: Learning about the restoration of traditional architecture and sustainable living (Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture)
This is a workshop for the renovation of traditional Japanese houses(kominka) with over 120 years of history. Travelers will not merely be visiting, but “active co-creater” in the renovation, experiencing firsthand the restoration of thatched roofs and mud walls under the guidance of skilled local carpenters and plasterers. Holding the tools of the craftsmen, participants will learn about the sustainable wisdom of the Japanese people who have repaired and lived in their homes for generations, while directly contributing to solving the problem of vacant houses in the region and revitalizing the community. It is a deep and memorable experience.
Commenting on the launch of the website, CEO Keijiro Sawano stated, “We have opened the door to the remote areas of Japan that were previously difficult for international travelers to visit. Tourists can now book activity-packed experiences that enrich their lives without stress, while directly contributing to the preservation of endangered rural traditions and natural environments of Japan. As a pioneer in adventure travel in the country, we offer a wide variety of unique and special experiences. We hope that through your travels in Japan, you will connect deeply with local people and find your own’s spiritual home.”