Sacred Places, Pilgrimage, and Tourism - Geography of Religion in Japan: Religious Space, Landscape, and Behavior - page 143

tourist spot to foreigners. Japanese tourists are introduced to Sakura-no-yama
Park (which is near Narita Airport) and the Museum of Aeronautical Sciences.
A tea ceremony is held for foreigners every Thursday morning. Since it
is free, the maximum number of participants is about 20 people. Three staff
members provide explanations in English, and the ceremony is conducted
by staff experienced in providing instructions for tea ceremonies. They are
well prepared for foreign visitors.

2) Narita Volunteer Guide Association
The Narita Volunteer Guide Association was organized in 1998 at the request of
Chiba and modeled after a senior club of Narita. Volunteer guides offer free
guidance for one or two hours, mainly on the grounds of Shinshoji, to tourists
who apply on the day or the previous day. About 45 registered guides belong to
the Narita Volunteer Guide Association; two volunteers are stationed at the
believers' hall, and one on the grounds. Users can apply in groups of two or
more for volunteer guidance on the spot.
The numbers of guided tours and their users are increasing, and many for-
eigners use the tours. Most foreign users are travelers or transit passengers from
Narita Airport. Most of the foreign passengers that depart from Narita Airport
are from the USA, and others are from Canada, Russia, Norway, Australia,
China, Korea, Taiwan, or Thailand. Some volunteers deal exclusively with for-
eigners and provide guidance in English. These guides are profi cient English
speakers and may have lived in an English-speaking country or taught English.

4.1.4 Community Planning at Shinshoji Omotesando,

and the Transformation of Commercial Space

4.1.4.1 Process of Transformation of Commercial Space at Omotesando

In the previous section, I discussed changes in business categories of each of the
towns that constitute Shinshoji-Omotesando and town involvement in community
planning. The transformation of Omotesando can be classifi ed into fi ve periods:

(1) Formation of Monzenmachi
Monzenmachi formed in the eighteenth century, alongside the development of
Shinshoji, mainly in Honcho and Nakamachi (which are close to Shinshoji).
(2) Functioning as Central Shopping Street
From the late nineteenth century onwards, worshipers on day trips from
Tokyo arrived by rail and Monzenmachi expanded into Hanasakicho and
Kamicho, which connected Narita Station to Shinshoji. Shops for use by local
residents then developed in Kamicho and Hanasakicho in addition to shops
for use by worshipers. Between 1860 and 1960, Shinshoji was the central
shopping street.