Photo= The map introduces life and scenes in the Fushimi area for foreign people (Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City)

In time for the spring tourist season, owners of retail stores in the Fushimi-Momoyama area, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, have published a map aimed at foreign people. Incorporating foreigners’ opinions, the map includes information about shops commonly-used by residents and places overlooked by Japanese people.

This was planned by “Fushimi-ryoku Hasshin Project Team,” a group made by merchants to spread the strength of the Fushimi area. They become conscious of the fact that the number of foreign tourists visiting the Fushimi area is increasing. So they produced the map in hopes that foreign visitors will interact with residents through experiencing the local daily life as well as visiting well-known sightseeing spots.

The A-5 sized map has eight pages. The team members and foreign exchange students went around the region to get the opinions of local people.

In addition to places closely connected to residents’ daily lives such as delicatessens, the paperhanging business “Hyogu-ten” and kimono fabrics shops, it also shows the abundance of water in the Fushimi area. It introduces water spots where the general public is allowed to draw groundwater as well as the piers for “Jikkoku-bune” boat rides. Additionally, stone monuments and small shrines standing on street corners are shown on the map.

Mie Ishiguro, the project team leader, said hopefully, “We want people to know the appeal of living in the Fushimi area.” There are 3,000 English copies and 2,000 Spanish copies which are being distributed at the Kyoto Prefectural International Center in Shimogyo Ward and other places.