Photo= A foreign passenger making inquiries of a staff member at the terminal building's tourist information center (2nd Wharf, Maizuru West Port, Matsukage, Maizuru City, Kyoto Prefecture)

The large-sized cruise liner "Diamond Princess," under British registry, and other ships put in at Maizuru Port in Maizuru City, Kyoto Prefecture, on July 30. At the wharf, a terminal building for passengers has been brought into service and high school students provided an experience in Japanese culture for foreign tourists in the city. In Miyazu City, staff wearing "Yukata," or casual, summer cotton kimono, provided guidance at the information center and entertained them cordially everywhere, showing the spirit of hospitality called "Omotenashi" in Japanese.

In order to better serve the increasing number of cruise ships' docking, the prefecture established the passenger's terminal building at the 2nd wharf, Maizuru West Port, in Matsukage, Maizuru City, Kyoto Prefecture. It is a one-story wooden building with an area of about 439 square meters. The project cost approximately 202 million yen. Designed with the image of "an arch of Omotenashi," sunlight comes through the smooth curved roof and brightly illuminates the interior.

The Diamond Princess made its 6th port call at Maizuru carrying approximately 2,700 passengers. At the terminal, local citizens who are serve as sightseeing guides and others explained in English how to get to Kyoto City or tourist sites in the northern area of Kyoto Prefecture. An Australian passenger said, "It's convenient as the building has "Wi-Fi." It would be helpful if we could also exchange money here."

Students of both Nishi and Higashi Maizuru High Schools greeted the passengers, helped them write Chinese characters on painted paper fans and sold cotton hand towels at "Nishi Shimin Plaza," or a community facility, in Enmanji, Maizuru City.

Meanwhile, many foreign passengers visited Amanohashidate, one of the three most scenic spots in Japan. At the tourist information center of Amanohashidate Terminal Center in Monju, Miyazu City, Kyoto Prefecture, staff wearing yukata guided them around various attractions and passengers enjoyed a stroll through the Amanohashidate's row of pine trees on foot or on a rented bicycle.

Every year, the staff provide service in yukata during "Yukata wo Tanoshimu Gekkan," a special month to enjoy yukata established by "Tango Kimono NET." This year, they matched its start with this cruise ship's port call. A man from the United States was very pleased and said, "Thank you for welcoming us in summer kimono."