Looking forward to the return of visitors

A few years ago, at a house party here in Noda City, I was seated in front of a hotplate to share okonomiyaki with the neighbors, a middle-aged couple. I introduced myself, and asked them if they lived in Noda City, too. Yes, they said, and they lived nearby. We got talking about local places of interest and the conversation came around to work. “So, what do you do?” and received the answer, “I work for the city government.”

Um, it was then I realized I was talking to the mayor and his wife. I thought I recognized them from somewhere! We all had a good laugh.

After dinner, we discussed local tourism efforts with city officials. This is how I got involved with the Noda City Chamber of Commerce, through the kindness and initiative of Japanese and non-Japanese neighbors.

Ideas were flying around. We talked about the city’s soy sauce industry, heritage buildings, local merchants selling local products such as pickles, sembei crackers, pork, and soy bean specialties. With the cooperation of a brilliant urban planner from Kashiwa City’s Kamon Kashiwa Information Center, the Chamber of Commerce planned a brochure and a walking map for central Noda City, aimed at both domestic and inbound tourists. Noda City was on a roll, and soon to be on the map. The brochure came to fruition last year and was widely distributed here and abroad.

Noda City's opus

The walking map meetings started late last year, and finally, in February, the writers and illustrators were ready for a final edit of the English and Japanese texts. It took hours with a talented and patient illustrator to massage all the text into the final version. We wrote both the Japanese language text to a level accessible to Japanese children, and the English text easy to read for non-native English speaking visitors. It was a lot of work, but heaps of fun.

And just as the map went to the printer, the pandemic struck.

My life became confined to a few kilometers’ radius, limited to local shopping and work from home, and communication via social media and messaging. The printed maps sat at the Chamber of Commerce while our lives were suspended.

By now, you know that, in an effort to mitigate the spread of the pandemic, Japan restricted travel to many countries. Tourism, once a growing industry in Japan that revitalized the economy after decades of stagnation, was frozen.

This week, after the state of emergency was lifted, I picked up a bundle of the walking maps. They’re gorgeous. Most of the merchants and restaurant owners are opening their doors, providing take out menus and delivery, and minding infection mitigation measures.

I look forward in the next few months to visiting the local eateries and specialty shops. While I have enjoyed cooking, I want to have a leisurely meal at one of our local eateries.

But most of all I miss our visitors. Noda City's traditional martial arts and dance schools attract visiting practitioners from around the world who come to perfect their skills and glean wisdom from Japanese masters. For decades, earnest students from abroad have brought their enthusiasm and perspectives to our city, supporting local merchants during their stays.

I miss the sometimes frenetic atmosphere and often deep insight they bring to our local arts and to my life. I want to see my friends, peers, and mentors. I long for the time when the travel restrictions are lifted so that they can bring their good vibes back.

We’ll have this awesome walking map to show them around.

For foreign residents within easy travel of Noda City, we're slowly opening up and worth a visit.

Does your city or town have attract inbound visitors? How has your town fared? What is your town’s attitude on the return of inbound tourism?