Sacred Places, Pilgrimage, and Tourism - Geography of Religion in Japan: Religious Space, Landscape, and Behavior - page 140

Fig. 4.7 Transition in the
number of visitors to Narita
City by transportation,
1970-2005 (The Promotion
Section and Narita City
Statistics, 2007 edition)

half of the visitors, and Europeans and Americans for the other half. Foreigners visit
to eat Japanese food and see the Japanese-style landscape of Shinshoji and the
Monzenmachi. The increase in the number of foreign tourists has accompanied
other changes in the Monzenmachi shops. Many foreigners dine together at restau-
rants in the evening, especially in Hanasakicho, and some restaurants are funded by
foreign capital. Existing restaurants also responded to the increase in number of
foreigners by preparing English menus. Some shops, although mainly for local
customers, display small Japanese items such as Daruma-dolls and Manekineko
(beckoning cat fi gure) at the entrance.

4.1.3.2 Responses to Tourists

1) Response of the Narita Tourist Association

(1) Hosting of Events
Many of the events hosted by the tourist association and Shinshoji used the
Omotesando. Most tourists visit Narita in January, May, and September, which
is called Sho-go-ku ( Sho refers to New Year, go to May and ku to Sept.). These
are the months in which worship happens at Shinshoji. As Fig. 4.8 reveals, the
annual number of tourists heavily depends on worshipers in January. However,
to resolve that dependency, other events are held in other months.
A fl ower committee hosts the Ume-matsuri (Japanese apricot Festival),
Momiji-matsuri (Japanese maple Festival), and Ajisai- matsuri (Hydrangea
Festival). The Ume-matsuri is held on Sundays and on other holidays in
February and March, and the Momiji-matsuri on Saturdays and Sundays in