Fukushima Prefecture's "Hope Tourism" - A tour program born from a reversal of ideas

This is the 10th installment of the "Communicating from the Local" series. This time, we will deliver an article by Mr. Hachimaki of the Fukushima Prefecture Tourism and Product Exchange Association about "hop tourism" in the Hamadori area of Fukushima Prefecture. There are many tourism resources throughout Japan that are difficult to choose, such as nature, history and culture, and gourmet food, but Fukushima Prefecture's footprints of the earthquake are unique in the world. What do you feel from it? It is an easy-to-understand sentence that can be read in one sitting. Please take a look. (Photo: Earthquake remnants Panoramic view of Namie Town Ukedo Elementary School)

▼ A new style of learning that can only be obtained in Fukushima Prefecture, which is the only prefecture in the world that has experienced complex disasters

Have you ever heard of a tour program called "Hope Tourism"?
Fukushima Prefecture is the only place in the world that has experienced a complex of disasters (earthquake, tsunami, nuclear disaster, reputational damage).
Hope Tourism is a tour program that explores and creates the creation of a sustainable society and community in the future based on the facts, lessons learned, and the challenges of reconstruction. This is truly a new study tour of Fukushima's only one.

▼ Three Pillars of Hope Tourism's Effective Perspectives

In general, it is a study tour of the disaster-stricken areas that is lumped together as "earthquake disaster learning", but the three perspectives necessary for this hope tourism can be summarized as follows.

(1) Seeing: Experience the real picture from facility tours and fieldwork

Regions are certainly taking steps toward reconstruction, and new initiatives for a sustainable future have begun. On the other hand, the cityscape feels the impact of the long-standing evacuation order on the area, and the area where the evacuation order is still in place. "Light and shadow" cannot be conveyed by the press alone. This scene is the "now" of Fukushima.

(2) Listening: "Dialogue" with people who are "challenging" reconstruction in various positions and fields

Earthquakes, tsunamis, nuclear disasters, rumors... In the midst of unprecedented difficulties, there are many people in Fukushima who are still boldly taking on the challenge of moving forward. In this tour, we refer to these people as "people who boldly take on the challenge of reconstruction." You can get a lot of stimulation and awareness from talking with people who continue to take on challenges.

(3) Thinking: How to make use of earthquake and nuclear disaster training for the future (society, daily life, and oneself)

In the concluding workshop, we will discuss what kind of future we want to create from the perspective that the various social issues (population decline, aging, regional decline, energy problems, etc.) that have become apparent due to the earthquake and nuclear disasters are not only problems for Fukushima, but also problems that Japan society and regions should face.

This is not a tour about "what we can do for Fukushima," but "what we can do from Fukushima." It can be said that encouraging "personalization" in order to create a sustainable future is something that can only be done by Fukushima Prefecture, which experienced the world's first complex disaster that day.

▼ Realizing "experiential learning" with field partners

In the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Nuclear Disaster, in addition to direct damage, indirect damage caused by prolonged evacuation and reputational damage is strong, and it can be said that the events themselves are complex. However, they are (related) and connected to each other. Seeing things from multiple perspectives and finding connections is a necessary perspective in building a new society, and we want to cultivate that perspective at Hope Tourism.

The people who provide this support are called "field partners". The field partner is in charge of attending and facilitating during the tour. Through reflection on learning and workshops, we are a general guide who leads participants to the outcome of their learning from a neutral and objective standpoint. Mainly people who are involved in regional development and regional development in the local area play a role in this role, and we provide tours as friends who go to learn together.

Specifically, it is responsible for supporting the input and output of information. By providing information on the earthquake, nuclear disaster, and reconstruction through observation and listening to the site, and by supporting the organization of information and supplementary explanations after the facility tour and dialogue with local people, we will clarify the points of discussion of the tour participants and encourage them to develop diverse perspectives. In addition, through questions and interventions tailored to the occasion, we aim to bring out participants' inquisitive minds and abilities toward learning, and to realize a deeper learning program.

▼ After the easing of corona restrictions, what is required even more is "because it is Fukushima"

Hope Tourism is mainly used for school events (school trips, study camps) and corporate training. The travel industry was also greatly affected by the Corona disaster, and even now that restrictions have been eased, the rapid progress of online has left a significant impact. It can be said that the need to visit the site for training has diminished.

What was required here was the appeal of "because it is Fukushima". The past few years have given us an opportunity to reconsider "why Fukushima" and "what we can do only in Fukushima." At Hope Tourism, we prepare a variety of contents (facilities and fields) and interact with many people.

In particular, tours of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and interim storage facilities are unique to Fukushima, and it can be said that the strength of Hope Tourism can only be realized here, as it is to deepen one's thinking and think about one's own future by engaging in dialogue with the local people. It was precisely because of the difficult situation that I realized the strength of Hope Tourism.

▼ What is important is "how you felt" rather than "what you learned"

For the participants, there will be some events that they will learn about for the first time when they visit Fukushima. What I want you to value in Hope Tourism is what you know and feel about them.
The moment when your heart is moved is the moment when your inquisitive mind is shaken and you can gain new awareness.
For the participants of the tour, the daily life of Fukushima is extraordinary. What the participants know and feel from this difference is a huge amount of input, and there are hints and lessons that will be used in their future lives.

For each participant, it may be a one-time event. You don't need an answer for this tour. Bring back the moyamoya and find a theme that you want to keep thinking about. We want to be a place where you can discover that "opportunity".

〇 As a model of collaboration after the earthquake

While the satisfaction of tour participants is important, it is also important to contribute to the local community, which continues to regenerate and revitalize. We need to work together to make this Hope Tourism initiative a positive one for the region.
To that end, we are working not only to develop content in the prefecture, but also to develop human resources such as field partners so that we can establish a system for continuous acceptance.

In addition, as one of the trajectories of recovery from disasters that may occur throughout Japan and around the world, we believe that the vision of moving forward in cooperation with the local community is to contribute to and give back to the local community and future society as a collaborative model.

Hope Tourism was launched in 2016. In 2022, we recorded a record 17,806 participants, but we're just getting started.
It is necessary to continue to convey the records and memories of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear disaster, and to deepen them as learning programs that can contribute to the creation of the society of the future.

We look forward to learning together with you in Fukushima Prefecture, the only field in the world. We look forward to seeing you in this ever-changing region.

〇 Participation in Hope Tourism

The Fukushima Prefecture Tourism and Product Exchange Association provides information on the ever-changing reconstruction situation and the latest information on the local area. Please feel free to contact us. In addition, we respond to a wide range of inquiries as a one-stop window for group travel for travel agencies.