KINOKAWA, Wakayama -- A new meeting space where tourists and locals can interact has opened in Kinokawa, Wakayama Prefecture.
Many tourists come to Kinokawa to meet the calico cat stationmaster of Kishi Station on the Wakayama Electric Railway's Kishigawa Line in the city. The new facility, a wooden two-story building in front of the station, is aimed at getting those people interested in visiting surrounding areas as well.
On the first floor, municipal government officials and tourist company employees introduce the city's tourist attractions to visitors in four languages, and post information about the city online.
The second floor facilitates interactions between local residents and tourists, such as through events to introduce local specialty products.
The cost of the facility is about 16 million yen.
"There are many tourist attractions in this city, such as Kokawadera temple and the Togenkyo peach orchard, but not many people visit those places," Kinokawa Mayor Shinji Nakamura said at the facility's opening ceremony on Sept. 2. "I hope this facility will be a hub that links these places together."
On the same day, a local resident group called the Kinokawa Fruits Tourism Association held a tea party on the second floor featuring local specialty fruits.
"I think such PR activities using fruits will appeal to children as well as foreign visitors," said company employee Yuki Onsui, 31, who came to the event from Wakayama city with her 3-year-old son.
The facility is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on Wednesdays. For more information, call the municipal government's tourism promotion department at (0736) 77-2511.
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