Tourist Trends and the Role of a Resident Organization in Kakunodate
Town, Akita Prefecture
Norio KAYAMA and Masayasu ODA
Kakunodate Town in Akita Prefecture, Northeastern Japan is famous for
its townscape of samurai residences which has been designated an
Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings. Cherry
trees also attract many tourists every year. This article makes clear
tourist trends and the role of a resident organization in tourism
promotion. The research materials are statistical data, questionnaires
and interviews with key persons of the resident organization.
The results are summarized as follows:
1. The number of tourists increased considerably in 1997 when the Akita
Shinkansen was opened.
2. April and May, the time of cherry blossoms, are the peak season.
3. Visitors come mainly from Tokyo metropolitan area and the local Akita
Prefecture.
4. Very few tourists stay in Kakunodate because of the poor
accommodations.
5. A resident organization named Kakunodate-kikaku-shudan-toraianguru
(Kakunodate Project Group Triangle) was set up in 1992. It has organized
quite a few events to entertain tourists as well as local residents. The
history guide which was later brought into business operation by others,
and the third-sector-corporation Nishinomiya-ke which manages tourist
and commercial facilities utilizing old storehouses are described in
detail as two examples of tourism promotion.