Livhub to host tour “Hiroshima Regenerative Tourism – A Journey of Regeneration and Dialogue to Foster Connections”

Livhub, a media for sustainable and extraordinary experiences, operated by Harch, will host a tour titled “Hiroshima Regenerative Tourism – A Journey of Regeneration and Dialogue to Foster Connections” from October 9 to 11, 2024, to search for and consider “the future of travel.”

*This article is a reprint of “Call for Participants! ‘Hiroshima Regenerative Tourism – A Journey of Regeneration and Dialogue to Foster Connections.'” (in Japanese)

Tour “Hiroshima Regenerative Tourism – A Journey of Regeneration and Dialogue to Foster Connections”

Famous tourist destinations around the world are currently suffering from a phenomenon known as “overtourism.”

Overtourism is also called “tourism pollution” in Japan, and refers to a situation in which an increase in the number of visitors to a particular tourist destination has a negative impact beyond limits on the lives of local residents, the natural environment, the landscape, etc., or significantly reduces the satisfaction level of tourists.

This article is supposed to be an invitation to travel, but is it safe to write in such a negative way? But I hope you will bear with me a little longer.

Famous tourist destinations such as Kyoto, Kamakura, and Shibuya are overcrowded with people, and when you actually visit them, you will see more and more signs appealing to visitors to observe good manners.

One of the reasons for overtourism is the emergence of this style of tourism, in which people use public transportation to go to the same place at the same time and pass by tourist spots one after another as if they were filling out a mark sheet from one corner to another. Overtourism is also spurred by the trend toward information technology, in which information about famous spots is spread through the media and social networking services, and people are concentrating on those spots.

In reality, local residents have expressed their refusal to allow any more tourists to visit, and some areas have begun to restrict the entry of tourists to their tourist spots.

The right of local residents to live comfortably and the right to visit the places they want to visit. Are these two incompatible? And how should travelers deal with overtourism?

Key insights on tourism in Hiroshima amidst the era of overtourism

The Livhub editorial team visited Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, in February 2024. There, we met local guides, each with a unique personality, who are working to convey the charms of Hiroshima. As we interacted with the stories of the city itself and the journeys proposed by the guides, we saw the possibilities for travel in a time when the issue of overtourism abounds.

Some of the problems caused by overtourism may inevitably have to be resolved through “regulations” or “warnings” for the purpose of protecting the environment or eliminating confusion. However, such measures alone will only widen the gap between visitors and local residents.

The right of local residents to live comfortably and the right to visit places they want to visit. In order for these two rights to coexist in a real sense, it is necessary to diversify tourism, which has become standardized, and to connect visitors and local residents in a way that is positive for both.

For example, we can try to “shift” our itinerary a bit from the activities of other tourists to our own itinerary by slightly distancing ourselves from famous tourist attractions. Spend time in a place as if you were living there, soaking up the local climate and values, and savoring the experience with all five senses, while relaxing and conversing with the people you meet on your journey. The “debt of gratitude” received from the destination should be “repaid” in a way that will benefit the local community.

This approach does not attempt to solve problems by dividing travelers and local residents. Rather, it is a kind of travel that connects people and makes them feel “positive” about the things, events, and people involved. If such travel becomes the norm, tourists will be less likely to be confronted with “no” from local residents.

This is what we felt in Hiroshima, when we saw both visitors and local residents smiling through tourism.

We would like to convey the possibilities of tourism that are beginning to boil over in this region, and to think about the future of tourism and travel. It is with this in mind that we have planned “Hiroshima Regenerative Tourism.”

A journey to regenerate connections

The word “regenerative” in Hiroshima Regenerative Tourism was originally used in agriculture, but it is now applied to regenerative efforts in a variety of fields. In this trip, we will take the word “regenerative” in its broadest sense, and will also overlap it with the history of revitalization that the city of Hiroshima has experienced.

The tour, titled “A Journey of Regeneration and Dialogue to Begin Connections,” will focus on three key themes: “regenerating the local landscape,” “regenerating the story of Hiroshima,” and “regenerating oneself.” This three-day, two-night tour will explore Hiroshima City and Yuki-cho in Hiroshima Prefecture.

History and history, people and nature, travelers and locals, interest and indifference… We hope that participants, guides, and organizers will work together to search for and think about the “future form of travel” that will bring together in dialogue what has been divided between them.

Tour date: October 9 – October 11, 2024

[Reference] “Call for Participants! ‘Hiroshima Regenerative Tourism’ – A Journey of Regeneration and Dialogue to Foster Connections | Livhub” (in Japanese)
[Related Site] Livhub (in Japanese)