Summary
MLIT and the Hokkaido Development Bureau held a February 2025 seminar in Esashi on world-class tourism destination development for Hiyama's seven towns.
The MLIT Hokkaido Bureau and the Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau held a seminar in Esashi Town on February 21, 2025 exploring how the Hiyama region can build world-class tourism destinations. The event brought together the seven towns of Hiyama, Esashi, Kaminokuni, Assabu, Otobe, Okushiri, Imakane and Setana, with keynote speakers from Tokyo Woman’s Christian University and Hokkaido University.
What happened
The program opened with a topic introduction from MLIT on world-class tourism destination development, a principal aim of the Ninth Hokkaido Comprehensive Development Plan. This was followed by a keynote from Associate Professor Yusuke Ishiguro of Hokkaido University on Hiyama’s approach to a new form of wide-area tourism, and a keynote from Professor Noriko Yagasaki of Tokyo Woman’s Christian University on the fundamentals of destination development. Local operators from Esashi Inishie Resource Study Group, Tora Fuku, and Pirika Nature Juku joined a discussion segment.
Why it matters
Hiyama has historic coastal towns and unique cultural resources including the Old Nakamura Family Residence in Esashi and the natural environment of Okushiri Island. Positioning the region as a candidate for world-class destination development connects it directly to the national tourism strategy and opens the door to policy attention and funding.
Key details
- Date and time: February 21, 2025 (Friday), 16:15 to 18:45.
- Venue: Esashi Town Culture Hall, Small Hall, Aza-Mojiri-cho 71, Esashi Town.
- Keynote speakers: Associate Professor Yusuke Ishiguro (Hokkaido University Graduate School), Professor Noriko Yagasaki (Tokyo Woman’s Christian University).
- Local discussion participants: Akiko Nakajima (Esashi Inishie Resource Study Group), Takuya Kato (Tora Fuku, Kaminokuni Development), Yoshihiro Ishikawa (Pirika Nature Juku).
- Format: On-site and web participation, with application deadline February 19, 2025.
For international readers
Hiyama is not on the standard Hokkaido tourism circuit, but its coastal culture, historic architecture and remote islands offer strong potential for interested inbound travellers. Sessions like this one signal that regional destinations in Hokkaido are being repositioned toward international audiences.
Source: MLIT Hokkaido Bureau press release.
Source Details
| Source | MLIT Hokkaido Bureau |
|---|---|
| Original Title | 観光立国を先導する世界トップクラスの観光地域づくりセミナーin檜山～自然が生み出す造形美、古（いにしえ）の文化と海・地の恵みがあふれる檜山から観光を考える～ |
| Original Published | 2025-02-14 |
| Region | Hiyama |
| Target Reader | general |
| Review Status | reviewed |
| Risk Level | normal |
| Original Source | MLIT Hokkaido Bureau |
Editor Note
本イベントは終了済みです。公開時は「開催されました」形式へ書き換えるか、セミナーで議論された論点（広域観光、江差の古の資源、奥尻島）にフォーカスした企画記事へ整えることを推奨します。