Ninja Classes and Cartoons Boost Japanese Tourism

Ninja classes, 'geeky' gadgets and animation museums are just some elements of Japanese culture which are attracting the modern tourist.

According to reporter Yuri Kageyam tourism in the country is no longer confined to typical tourist hotspots such as Kyoto, the Sapporo Snow Festival or Mount Fuji.

Michael Studte, a 40-year-old information-technology engineer from Perth who joined a ninja class for tourists during his trip, told Yuri: "It didn't seem quite like the normal touristy showy sort of thing."

Japan has also become a cheaper holiday destination for many nationalities due to recent surges in the euro and the Australian dollar.

Furthermore, the Japanese government aims to make its $232 billion (£116 billion) tourism industry worth $278 billion (£137 billion) by 2010.

As part of this drive, Japanese stores, restaurants and hotels now employ staff who speak a range of languages and display signs in English and French.

Japan is located in north-eastern Asia between the North Pacific and the Sea of Japan, and is comprised of four major islands, surrounded by more than 4,000 smaller ones.

Its landscape features coastlines, towering mountains, which are often volcanic, and 'twisted valleys'.

Destinations News posted on 04/03/2008 11:52:23