Invitation to ecotourism in Japan, rich in nature and tradition

Many of my friends who have been to Japan multiple times (hence seen Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima and other world-famous destinations) have been raving about cycling along the Shimanami Kaido that run through dotted islands in the Seto Inland Sea. Visitors can bring or rent bicycles and pedal through bridges, villages, farms and fields, spending nights at small guesthouses. If multi-day cycling has become too taxing, bikes can be returned midway in favor of public transportation alternatives, such as ferry and express bus.

It is the down-to-earth travel experience, as much as its amazing scenery, that attracts increasingly eco- and health- conscious urban populations to Shimanami. Sustainability is a common theme for both visitors on two wheels and hosts who have renovated old houses as inns and common workspace.

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What is ecotourism?

Cycling is one entry point to “ecotourism,” a niche within tourism that focuses on experiencing and learning about nature. Ecotourism relates to the broader concepts of minimizing the negative impact of traveling on the environment and local communities at the business level (“sustainable tourism”) or an individual level (“responsible tourism”). For example, the Japan National Tourism Organization introduces inns and great outdoor experiences ranging from walking the 1,100-year-old pilgrimage routes in Kumano to hiking in the ancient cedar forests with 5,000-year-old trees in Yakushima Island and watching snow monkeys enjoy hot springs in Nagano, among others.

Popular ecotourism destinations in Japan

High on the list of these ecotourism spots in Japan is the UNESCO-designated inns and Minakami Biosphere Reserve in Gunma, 150km north of Tokyo. Minakami has become a mecca of outdoor activities, including canyon rafting, as well as relaxation with top-ranking onsens and traditional inns serving local and seasonal cuisines.

Another UNESCO heritage site, Shirakami Village in Gifu, has taken a different approach to ecotourism by limiting the number of overnight guests to stay in its 300-years-old thatched-roof houses and deepen their understanding and connection with local tradition and landscape.

Tradition and sustainability

What makes ecotourism in Japan unique and interesting is its dual connection to nature and to history which, in turn, remind us of the old way of life. All around the world, indigenous tribes respected, prayed for and protected their environment. Many still continue the tradition, including the Ainu people in northern Japan. So, in a sense, ecotourism is new yet at the same time as ancient as these traditional lifestyle principles.