New Haneda guide has tips for travellers on tight schedule
TOKYO - Aiming to promote tourism in areas around Haneda Airport, an entity in Tokyo’s Ota Ward is distributing a booklet offering advice on “things to do in three hours,” including dining, shopping and soaking up Japanese culture.
The 12-page booklet, titled “Enjoy Programme,” was compiled by the Ota Ward Office’s tourism promotion liaison council, which the office established together with public transportation companies, hotels and other organisations. “It introduces a number of lively towns and places where visitors can feel the warmth of residents,” an official of the ward office’s tourism division said.
The booklet only carries information about ward locations near the airport, making it ideal for airline passengers who have a little extra time before departure, as well as passengers making connections or taking early or overnight flights.
The booklet comes in three editions — Japanese, English and Chinese — of 20,000 copies each.
The English and Chinese editions introduce, for example, programs in which tourists can enjoy a tea ceremony or try on a kimono at the Ota Tourist Information Center in Keikyu Kamata Station.
Some content differs between the three editions. The English edition carries information about the Anamori Inari Shrine, which is famous for senbon torii gates (literally “one thousand torii gates”) and “sacred sand.” The Chinese edition focuses on shopping spots, including shopping streets and major discount stores located east and west of JR Kamata Station, in an effort to entice Chinese tourists who like to shop. The Japanese edition features areas of interest for people on business trips, such as restaurants and public baths. The ward has the largest number of public baths among all of Tokyo’s 23 wards.
The booklet is available at the information center at Haneda Airport, hotels, public baths and other places.
