In the wake of the ‘experience tourism’ boom, food makers in Japan are coming up with innovative ways to attract and entertain visitors, including bringing mini theme parks to factory tours.
In the Tokyo region, mini theme parks and museums are being set up in settings that provide factory tours.
As part of its 230th anniversary celebration, the Fueki Shoyu Brewery in Saitama Prefecture, opened its Kinbue Shoyu Park in November 2019.
The mini theme park shows guests the process of fermenting wheat and soybeans, with hands-on demonstrations of traditional soy making in wooden barrels.
The family-friendly theme park features hammocks, swings and other fairground attractions. There are also electric bikes on offer at the site to enable guests to visit nearby tourist destinations.
Another Asian food maker implementing innovative ways to attract visitors is steamed-bun makers, Nakamuraya. In 2019, the company opened its Ckukaman Museum in Saitama Prefecture.
The museum is home to interactive exhibits, including an area where children can learn about the art of making steamed buns – chukaman – in a game-like setting.
The ‘experience tourism’ feature seems to be paying off, as since the museum opened in January 2019, it has been fully booked every day.
