LONDON, 2021-May-24 — /Travel PR News/ — The Covid-19 pandemic devastated many local economies, pushing a number of businesses in rural areas to the brink of insolvency. With more and more travellers conscious of leaving a positive impact on the destinations they visit, responsible tourism is on the up. Coastal cities such as Hachinohe in northern Japan are reliant on inbound tourism and with a number of regeneration and community projects for visitors to indulge in, it is a fantastic destination to travel to guilt-free. Located in the southeast of the Aomori Prefecture, the Hachinohe region is made up of the city of Hachinohe and seven towns and villages in the surrounding area. These separate villages, towns and cities were all once part of the domain of the Nanbu clan. This shared cultural history has shaped the area into a warmhearted community that is filled with amazing and unique experiences waiting to be discovered. See our top picks of community based projects helping to support local communities and regenerate tourism in the Hachinohe region.
Michinoku Coastal Trail
Running along the coast of the Tohoku region is the Michinoku Coastal Trail, this trail offers a rocky shoreline, numerous bays, cliffs and coves stretching over 1,000 kilometres. As a result of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster tourism has been and still is vital to the recovery of the area. The region was devastated by the impact and after effect of the tsunami and currently only gets visits from 2-3% of Japan’s international travellers despite it being one of the biggest areas in Japan. The local community has worked hard to rebuild the area using tourism to help generate the local economy. Visitors can hike the Michinoku Trail and stay in guesthouses along the way, this allows for visitors to experience local life for themselves, and see what’s so special about the Tohoku region. Visitors can walk the length of or part of the Michinoku Coastal Trail with Walk Japan, Walk Japan is a company that prides itself on its efforts to incorporate local communities into its walking tours. It is committed to employing local staff, they use local family-run accommodations, local taxi and bus firms, restaurants and more.
Nanbu town
Nanbu town spreads out from the foothills of Mt. Nakui to the banks of the Mabechi river. The town is nestled amid lush rice paddies and is home to a number of progressive, community-building projects. As a pioneer in green tourism, Nanbu has started several projects to boost positive interaction between locals and visitors that utilise the town’s abundance of natural beauty and agricultural activity under the town’s Tasha Village Project. Additionally, after passing the Nabe (hotpot) Act, every 22nd day of the month was declared nabe (hotpot) day. Cooking hotpot is seen as a communal event as everyone sits, cooks, talks and eats together, so the act was made in hopes that it would bring families and friends together and promote communication within the community as well as tourists to the area over this date. Nanbu continues to strive to be more open within the community and to the outside world positively and responsibly, making it a great town to visit.
Kaneiri Museum Shop
Located in Hachinohe, The Kaneiri Museum Shop was designed as a celebration of all things not only Aomori but all of the Tohoku (northeastern Japan) region as well. The store stocks a variety of Tohoku’s most culturally interesting and entertaining products like Hachinohe’s famous Yawata-uma (wooden horse) figurines. Crafts such as traditional Tsugaru-nuri lacquerware from Aomori’s western side and books on regional design, culture and art can be found lining the shelves. The shop takes great care to support local art and culture and helps develop products and goods that support and grow the community. This makes it a great stop for anyone looking for an interesting souvenir or looking to learn more about the area’s culture. A share of the profits from The Kaneiri Museum Shop is channeled back into the local community, so visitors can shop with a clean conscience.
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About Visit Hachinohe
Visit Hachinohe includes eight regions that make up the Hachinohe Region; Hachinohe City, Sannohe, Gonohe, Takko Town, Nanbu Town, Hashikami Town, Shingo Village and Oirase Town. Hachinohe is known for its scenic coastline along Tanesashi Coast including the famous Tanesashi Beach and Kabushima Island. Various events take place throughout the year including Hachinohe Sansha Taisai, Japan’s biggest float festival, where 27 different floats move through Hachinohe City. This area is also celebrated for its local produce from the sea, mountains and land, made with great care and producing only the best quality, such as Wagyu beef.
For more information, please visit https://visithachinohe.com/en/
For further press information, please contact:
Sophie Morgan smorgan@blackdiamond.co.uk
Imogen Frew imogen@blackdiamond.co.uk