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Home -> Responsible Tours
| Japan Roads is committed to operate tours that are not only interesting for our guests but are also responsible to the local economy, environment and society. Below how we meet these responsibilities. |
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| Policy Aims |
It is Japan Roads belief that traveling to a foreign culture should be more than just “seeing the sights”, it should also be about connecting to the culture and the people. The sights are very important but one needs to know about the culture that created them to truly appreciate them. We also believe that it is our responsibility to create a situation where destinations of cultural significant can be economically preserved. Tourist money is needed to maintain these sights though we realize that too many tourist and large groups can also destroy them. Our tours are organized into smaller groups which make it possible to use mass transportation instead of large tourist buses. This allows guests to interact with normal Japanese and decreases pollution. Smaller groups also allow us to use family run lodging, restaurants and artisans. Patronizing local businesses means the money spent will stay local and be used to preserve the destination. The tour leaders we use are often locals who know not only the history and landscape of the area but they also have a vast network which can only be created by living in or near the area. Destinations are chosen to show many different sides of Japan and are off the beaten path, rural communities as well as cities. |
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| Economic Responsibility |
We seek to support local family businesses and to help create an economic situation where culturally significant and historical artifacts, buildings and cultures can be preserved and maintained. This is accomplished by staying at Japanese inns (ryokans and minshuku), and taking guests to destinations that they may not be able to get to on their own. Examples of this are Ieshima Island in the Inland Sea which is a small fishing island about 30 minutes by ferry from Himeji Port and Kameoka which is a small town just north of Kyoto city where guests can experience a slower pace and local artisans. We also visit locations that require tourist money in order to maintain the historical buildings. Without this money the cost of maintaining these sites would be simply impossible. |
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| Environmental Responsibility |
We use public transportation as much as possible and travel in smaller groups. The smaller groups are less destructive than large groups and are easier to manage and more interesting for our guests.
We stay in ryokans whenever possible and not large hotel complexes. The ryokans are often built to blend into the surroundings and do not leave a large scar on the land. Many times the owners live in the ryokan or nearby and have a vested interest in maintaining the beauty of the area.
The ryokan as a whole is not heated or air conditioned. Each room has a heater/AC and rooms that are not used are not heated or cooled.
Promotion is done via the web and we do not send out mass produced junk mail. Printed materials are also kept to a minimum.
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| Social Responsibility |
Supporting local businesses and family owned businesses means that the money spent at a destination will stay in that area and help the local people. We also use mass transit which allows visitor to Japan see and socialize with normal Japanese people. Tour buses tend to isolate tourists and limits interaction with locals. Also the smaller groups means there is a good chance you will become friends with the other tourist in your group.
We also work with guests to prepare them for their trip by recommending reading about Japan and Japanese history. This gives the tourists a better idea of why the sight is important. Our local leaders know the area and have a vast network that they can call upon. They can take tourist to friends’ shops, and restaurants instead of just department stores and hotel restaurants. Also since they are local they have a vested interest in keeping the area attractive and clean. We seek to have people connect with the culture and preparation is an important part of that.
There is also the point that one has less hostility toward cultures who they have met and admire. Our tours help travelers see the sights and meet the people which fosters cultural understand and decreases prejudices. |
Home -> Responsible Tours
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