Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
(Modes of travel undertaken by visitors to Japan from the Asian region)

Next, let us examine, by focusing on the top eight countries in Asia in terms of the number of tourists to Japan, the characteristics, in terms of purpose of travel and the locations that are visited, of inbound foreign tourists from Asia whose numbers are expected to continue rising.

According to a 2015 Consumption Trend Survey for Foreigners Visiting Japan, there are many countries whose tourists indicated that they were visiting Japan at the time for the first time. Just over seventy percent of tourists from China, the country that accounts for the most number of visitors to Japan, indicated for this survey that they were visiting Japan for the first time. On the other hand, approximately half of all tourists from Hong Kong reported that they were visiting Japan for at least the fourth time, such that one can conclude that many travelers from Hong Kong make repeated trips to Japan (Figure 3-1-17).

If we examine the methods by which trips were arranged, we see that Chinese tourists (56.2 percent) tended to participate in group tours the most followed by tourists from Taiwan (44.7 percent). In all other countries, tourists choosing to arrange trips on their own outnumbered tourists choosing to arrange trips by any other means (Figure 3-1-18). In tying these figures to the number of visits made to Japan, we believe that there is a meaningful correlation between the high percentage of Chinese tourists who indicated that they were visiting Japan for the first time and the high percentage of Chinese tourists who were participating in packaged tours.

According to a survey on the intentions of inbound foreign tourists from eight regions across Asia that was conducted by the Development Bank of Japan jointly with the Japan Travel Bureau in July 2015 $ ^{64} $ , many tourists indicated that they would like to freely engage in tours when asked about their general attitude

Methods by which trips were arranged by foreign visitors to Japan from major countries (for tourism and pleasure)

Figure 3-1-19 Tour styles desired for overseas trips

Source) Survey on the Intentions of Inbound Foreign Tourists from Eight Regions Across Asia (2015) (Development Bank of Japan/Japan Travel Bureau)

Note 64 An online survey administered to male and female individuals aged between twenty and fifty-nine years who have previously traveled overseas residing in eight regions across Asia (South Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia). Approximately 500 respondents from each country gave valid responses for a total of 4,111 respondents who gave valid responses. (This survey was administered in China only to residents of Beijing and Shanghai, with half of respondents residing in Beijing and half of respondents residing in Shanghai.)
recycling, and renewable energies, are relatively low. Other weaknesses are transportation and access in which insufficient infrastructures link Japan and overseas, such as the small numbers of cities that are serviced by nonstop international flights from Tokyo, fewer international air passengers, and living conditions due to the higher average rent of residential houses and the price level, all of which lower the evaluation.

Japan has been selected as the No. 1 country in Asia that people most want to visit for the fourth consecutive year Note, and Tokyo is regarded as especially popular among the regions. In

Source) Institute for Urban Strategies of the Mori Memorial Foundation

order to strengthen the comprehensive force of this city, it is important to heighten its attractiveness as a city while understanding the strengths and weaknesses shown above.

Note Development Bank of Japan Inc. and Japan Travel Bureau Foundation [Survey on the intentions of inbound foreign tourists from eight regions across Asia (2015)]

## (2) Initiatives and infrastructural elements to promote tourism to every corner of the country (Developing a system of accepting tourists)

In order to accept increasing numbers of foreign travelers, ports of entry for arrivals by sea and air will need to be developed. Let us showcase areas that have integrated the revival of tourism with the development of infrastructure to incorporate demand for inbound tourism.

## ■ Naha Port and Naha Airport (Okinawa)

Okinawa is Japan’s foremost prefecture of remote islands and comprises thirty-nine remote islands spread across a broad maritime area. Each remote island is blessed with extensive amounts of attractive tourism resources, including island culture and history, emerald-green seas, and white sandy beaches. These islands are visited by large numbers of domestic and overseas tourists. Approximately 890,000 foreign tourists, a record high figure, visited these islands in 2014 (Figure 3-1-22). Thanks to their proximity to Asia, these islands are a favored destination for many travelers from Taiwan and South Korea (Figure 3-1-23).

In Okinawa, tourism is regarded as a sector that acts as an engine for the prefectural economy. With a goal of receiving 10 million tourists (of whom 2 million shall consist of foreign tourists), the prefecture is engaged in the development of a system for accepting rapidly rising numbers of tourists and in the development of tourist facilities for these tourists.

At Naha Port, a port of entry for arrivals by sea, quays and cruise ship terminals were developed in order to accommodate increasing numbers of port calls by foreign vessels and the enlargement of vessels; these facilities began operations in April 2014. In addition to establishing screening booths and customs inspection stands at these facilities to receive foreign travelers, operators have also developed settings to allow visitors to obtain a sense of the local culture, such as by setting
up space where local traditional craftwork can be exhibited. With welcoming ceremonies being held and private hospitality initiatives being carried out whenever cruise ships call, 2015 saw a record number 105 port calls made by foreign cruise ships to smash the figure of sixty-eight such port calls made the preceding year (according to preliminary numbers).

A port of entry for arrivals by air, Naha Airport is a hub within Okinawa that is used by twenty-three domestic routes (exclusive of flights taking place only within the prefecture), ten international routes, and six routes linking Naha to remote islands within the prefecture (as of March 2016). Owing to increasing numbers of foreign travelers, the number of arriving international flights has been increasing since around FY 2010. In FY 2014, three new routes were added and the number of flights was increased for three existing routes. For this reason, construction work on second runway was commenced in January 2014 as part of efforts to expand the system for accepting foreign travelers (set to begin operating in March 2020).

The revival of tourism is inextricably linked to the development of infrastructure in Okinawa, a prefecture surrounded on all sides by the sea.

## ■ Sakai Port (Tottori)

Sakai Port is situated in the San-in area, an area blessed by natural beauty and an ancient legacy of Japanese history and culture. It has long been a center of commerce as a port used for trade with the continent. To the rear stands Izumotaisha shrine and numerous other examples of historical sites, as well as hot springs and varied examples of tourism resources, including plenty that have been featured in works of manga and anime (such as GeGeGe no Kitaro). Sakai Port is expected to serve as an important node of local commerce.

At Sakai Port, the number of foreign travelers has been rising rapidly thanks to the launching of the operations of international ferries in 2009 and increasing numbers of port visits by large cruise ships (Figure 3-1-24). In order to

accommodate further increases in the number of port visits by large cruise ships, work to develop the environment for accepting foreign travelers is proceeding. The Sakai Port Management Association is also holding workshops for administrative and tourism officials and business enterprises and other initiatives are being carried out through public-private partnerships in order to study ideal ways in which port functions should work for a site through which people and goods flow and measures for stimulating activities with the port as a hub for such activities.

The opening of the San-in Expressway has allowed the cruise-ship effect to spread across a wide area within the prefecture. With cruise passenger ship tours, options that enable travelers to visit a large number of spots in a short period of time on excursions that take no more than ninety minutes to complete before they have to head back to port are favored.
Kaido in FY 2014 than in the preceding year (Figure 3-1-28). Even in areas surrounding the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido, demand for tourism and accommodation facilities is on the rise, the economic effects of which are gradually spreading.

In Ehime, efforts are also being made to popularize cycling across all of Shikoku, such that tourism is expected to undergo a revival through the continued use of local scenic attractions and infrastructure.

Figure 3-1-27

Cycling Shimanami, an international cycling meet

Source) Ehime Prefecture

Figure 3-1-28 Use of rental bicycles on the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido

(Note) Figures for FY 2015 correspond to an eleven-month period that ended in February 2016. Source) Ehime Prefecture

## Column

## Utilization of dams as tourist resources for regional revitalization ~dam tourism~

In recent years, more attention has been paid to the effectiveness of dams as tourist resources. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) is promoting dam tourism to guide sightseers through dam sites as a part of a tour in cooperation with private travel agencies. At some dam sites, some twists are added to tours, such as visiting a dam site under construction and seeing extra-large construction machines, entering the inside of a dam, which is usually forbidden, and experiencing in person the impact of discharges or the scale of a dam.

Figure 3-1-29 Sites where ideas for guidance have been fully worked out

of discharges or the scale of a dam.

(Figure 3-1-29).

While creating and distributing Dam cards in 460 dam sites around the nation, MLIT also have prepared a pamphlet “Damu wo mini iko (Let's go to see dams)” quarterly, and now is posting them on the website. At the same time, in the regions of water resources, efforts to create souvenirs associated with the dams, such as

Source) MLIT
Dam Curry, etc. (Website for reference http://www.mlit.go.jp/river/dam/dam_tourism.html).

Source) MLIT

## ■ Boat tours on the Sumida River (Tokyo)

Triggered in part by the approach of the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020, efforts to revive tourism through the use of rivers (cruise tourism) have come to garner attention in recent years. Flowing through Tokyo, the Sumida River is regarded as having considerable potential in this sense in that it is surrounded by plenty of tourist spots that are highly popular among foreign travelers, namely Tokyo Station, Ginza, Tsukiji, Akihabara, and Asakusa. However, since both banks of the Sumida River largely feature high levees that were built for disaster-prevention purposes, this river could not previously be described as being appealing in terms of scenic attractions since only some of the cityscape could be seen from a vessel traveling on this river.

In this connection, Tokyo Cruise Ship Co., Ltd, an operator of water buses on the Sumida River, studied the idea of converting vessels themselves into a source of amusement and proceeded to introduce the HIMICO and HOTALUNA, a pair of passenger ships produced by Leiji Matsumoto, a manga artist renowned for such works as Ginga Tetsudo 999 (Figure 3-1-32). The unique shapes of both passenger ships have drawn attention from people overseas and across Japan. The wide windows and glass-paned roofs allow passengers to glance up at the bridges spanning the Sumida River from positions directly below these bridges as they pass underneath. Having also been featured in European media, these ships have been visited by anime fans from Europe and other foreign travelers.

The Metropolis of Tokyo is engaged in efforts to expand

Figure 3-1-32

HOTALUNA water bus

Source) Tokyo Cruise Ship Co., Ltd

the use of waterways. From November to December 2015, multiple free waterway tours were held for the benefit of residents and tour operators in collaboration with Sumida-ku, Ota-ku, ship operators, and other concerned parties. As concerns international conferences and other examples of MICE Note 66, companies that organize such events have been invited to consider options in the area by being given tours of exhibition sites and commercial facilities alongside Tokyo Bay from vantage points on the water. The construction of new disaster-purpose wharfs and the expansion of efforts to open them up for private-sector operators are being studied. The continued promotion of tourism based on the use of rivers is expected.

In promoting inbound tourism as outlined above, the development of a system for accepting foreign travelers and initiatives for inducing them to travel to regional destinations are important. It is also important to harness various types of infrastructural elements constituting regional resources to draw the diversifying interests of inbound travelers.
## Column

## Full enjoyment of the attractiveness in waterfronts while traveling from Haneda to the city center comfortably and waveringly by ship

For the purpose of transmitting the attractiveness of waterfronts in Tokyo, around the world, MLIT carried out social experiments of transportation by ship that links Haneda Airport and Akihabara in September 2015.

This is the first sea route from the airport to the city center. Into this route, the attractiveness of waterfronts in Edo and Tokyo is condensed: the atmosphere of Edo, such as houseboats and inns for sailors, and historic bridges constructed about 90 years ago, and new waterfronts in Tokyo.

Figure 3-1-33 Vessels that have been operated since May 2016 to test the idea of developing a water transportation-based society

In the social experiment in September, although the cost of a one-way ticket for a two-and-half-hour trip between Haneda and Akihabara was about 3,000 yen, not inexpensive, the tickets were almost sold out on the first day, and a total of approximately 1,500 passengers (the load factor was 93%) enjoyed the voyage over the seven-day period. This experiment showed that sufficient profitability and demand could be prospected, and thus, in 2016, another social experiment is underway in expectation of several tens of thousands of participants. For this experiment, the private sector side has built a new ship Jetsailor, and many local private enterprises, such as Tokyo Dome Corporation and Mansei Co., Ltd., have been involved as local supporters, fostering momentum for transportation by ship. Ships are now under operation between Yokohama, Haneda and central Tokyo, carrying a passion to

Jet Sailor, a new vessel (KMC Corporation)

Dream (Funasei)

Ruku (Zeal)

Source) MLIT

Sky Hope (Tokyo Waterways)

Tamonmaru (Galleon)

convey the attractiveness of waterfronts in Tokyo. It is expected that the experiment will be successful and the transportation by ship will become regular services.

Note Website for reference: http://www.mlit.go.jp/sogoseisaku/region/sogoseisaku_region_tk_000022.html

## Section 2

## Securing Leaders for the Development of Infrastructures, Improving On-site Productivity, and Adopting New Technologies

## Securing leaders for the development and maintenance of infrastructures

(1) Status of the labor force in the construction industry

(Current state of the construction industries)

In order to continue to endeavor to ensure the quality and maintain the appropriate functionality of infrastructure amid projections of shrinkage in the working age population for all of Japan, it is important that we smoothly secure leaders for
this purpose. However, construction investment peaked in 1992 and the number of employees peaked in 1997 before declining in the years up to 2010 (Figure 3-2-1).

Changes in construction investment, number of licensed contractors and number of employees in the construction industry

(Notes) 1 The amount of investment is the actual results up to FY 2012, estimates for FY 2013 and FY 2014 and a forecast for FY 2015.

2 Number of licensed contractors at the end of each fiscal year (end of March of the next year)

3 The number of employees is a yearly average. Supplementary estimates for the three quake-stricken prefectures (Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima) in 2011 have been calculated by

Source) "Construction Investment Forecasts" and "Licensed Constructor Count Survey" by the MLIT and "Labor Force Survey" by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

## (Shrinking pool of young workers joining the work force and an aging population)

Local construction companies are suffering in terms of their management environment thanks to deficit orders attributable to excessively low bids and are facing numerous problems, including declining wages for skilled workers and a shrinking pool of young workers joining the labor force. If we break down workers in the construction industry by age bracket, we see that those aged fifty-five-years or older account for approximately thirty percent of all workers while young workers aged twenty-nine years or younger account for approximately ten percent of all workers. In contrast to the overall situation for all industries, workers are aging at a greater pace and the ratio of young workers to the total work force is declining more rapidly in the construction industry (Figure 3-2-2).

(Note) Data for 2011 consist of estimated values due to the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Source) Developed by the MLIT based on the "Labor Force Survey" (MIC)
public works and design jobs was carried out based on actual conditions in February 2016. Efforts will be made to link such increases in the unit price of design labor to a virtuous cycle in terms of increases in the wage levels of on-site skilled workers.

Measures to attain 100 percent enrolment in social insurance schemes on the part of licensed contractors at an enterprise level by FY 2017 have been implemented. Steady results have been achieved, such as in terms of a fifteen percent increase in the rate of enrolment in three insurance schemes $ {^{Note\ 68}} $ by workers over a four-year period from 2011 to 2015 (Figure 3-2-7).

In order to further reinforce initiatives, briefings to publicize measures to address non-enrolment (“caravan” sessions) were held at ten locations nationwide and actions

to promote social-insurance enrolment were accelerated $ {}^{Note\ 69} $ . In addition, a public-private consortium was established in August 2015 with the aim of setting up a construction career-advancement system through which information concerning the skills and experience of skilled construction workers is accumulated according to standard rules, appropriate evaluations are performed and improvements in job conditions are granted in accordance with skills and experience, the level of construction quality is improved, and on-site efficiency is achieved (Figure 3-2-8). In April 2016, a second meeting of this public-private consortium was held in hopes of establishing a career-advancement system, with the result that a basic plan was drafted.

Figure 3-2-8

Construction career-advancement system

Studies will be carried out through public-private collaborations with a view to establishing a career-advancement system to induce improvements in job conditions for skilled workers.

The establishment of this system will enable the realization of the following: (i) improvements in job conditions based on an appropriate evaluation of a skill worker's skills and experience, (ii) the efficient allocation of human resources according to skills and experience.

Applications for registration will begin to be accepted in April 2017 with a view to commencing full-scale operations in August 2017.

Note 68 Employment insurance premiums, health insurance premiums, and welfare pension insurance premiums.

Note 69 Guidance provided when licenses are renewed was provided on an accelerated basis prior to the deadline for license renewal to licensed operators whose licenses were set to expire in or after January 2016.
based survey on the actual state of and opinions regarding initiatives concerning female participation was conducted as examples of new initiatives undertaken to promote greater participation on the part of women in the construction industry.

## Column

## Expectation for KidZania to develop people who shoulder responsibilities for the future

“KidZania”, a facility originated in Mexico, where children can experience various jobs in society, now enjoys high popularity.

In Japan, there are two KidZanias, “KidZania Tokyo” (Koto City, Tokyo) opened in October 2006, and “KidZania Koshien” (Nishinomiya City, Hyogo) opened in March 2009, both are targeted for children ages 3 to 15 with the concept of edutainment combining education and entertainment.

Although the facility is for children to experience jobs in society, the contents are realistic, and about 100 kinds of jobs and services are in place. Each job or service is sponsored by a major company that supervises
the activity (job or service to be experienced) and provides uniforms, technical tools, and equipment.

The activities offer experiences, for example, as a driver in operating a subway train, as a train maintenance or track workman in doing the work, and as a carpenter at a house construction site in building a house that can satisfy a customer's requests while cooperating with other people (Figure 3-2-14 and 3-2-15).

KidZania serves as a valuable space providing opportunities for children to learn the meaning of work, the fulfillment and value of money, and think of their futures.

While the population decline and the decreasing productive-age population are topics, and the shortage of the workforce is an issue, various regions around the nation are implementing programs to experience jobs specific to each region as a local version of KidZania.

It is hoped that children will deepen their interest in and concern about jobs through such experiences of manufacturing and commerce and become bearers of the future.

Figure 3-2-14 Children replacing rails as track workers using specialized equipment and tools

Source) KCJ GROUP

Figure 3-2-15 Child engaged in exterior wall work as a carpenter

Source) KCJ GROUP

## (5) Creating a maintenance industries

As stated in chapter 1, Japanese social infrastructures was intensively developed during the period of high economic growth. There is concern that such elements of social infrastructures will rapidly degenerate in the years to come. The maintenance and renewal of social infrastructures are a huge issue for the entire country, such that these matters concern not just the national government but also the local governments that manage a considerable portion of the social infrastructures that is in existence today.

Over the next twenty years, it is projected that the percentage of facilities that are fifty years of age or older will rise on an accelerated basis $ {Note\ 71} $ , such that it is hoped that we can strategically maintain infrastructure that is set to become superannuated en masse. For this reason, it is important that we conduct systematic inspections and repairs and steadily provide financial and technical support to local governments in accordance with a plan for extending the service life of infrastructure and help to cultivate and stimulate the maintenance industries.

With the Sasago Tunnel ceiling board fall accident in December 2012 acting as a major catalyst for change, initiatives are being undertaken within Japan with interest in the maintenance of infrastructure expressed by a wide range of industries. The size of the domestic market is expected to grow. The MLIT will proactively engage in the following measures: