In Japan, so-called "restricted area tours," where participants can closely observe airplane takeoffs and landings, look around inside a bathhouse before it opens, and even help with cleaning, are gaining popularity.
According to a recent report by the Yomiuri Shimbun, hands-on tours targeting the general public who are interested in restricted areas such as airports, factories, and bathhouses are generating significant buzz. At the Ota Incineration Plant, located in the coastal area of Ota Ward, Tokyo, the crane control room-which is normally off-limits to the public-was specially opened for a tour in September. Tour participants were amazed as they watched the massive crane stirring and processing large amounts of waste up close. This tour involved a bus circuit around the artificial islands near the airport in Ota Ward and was organized by the Ota Tourism Association. The day-trip package costs 33,000 yen (310,000 won) per person, regardless of age.
A Hatobus travel package that allows you to see airplane takeoffs and landings up close in the security zone. Hatobus promotional photo
At the Keihin Island waste incineration plant tour, you can see the incineration plant crane. Ota Tourism Association
The two previous events also received positive reviews for offering access to places that are usually off-limits, and this time, about 230 people from across the country applied. On the day of the tour, 25 participants were selected by lottery and, in addition to the waste treatment plant, visited sites such as "Keihin Island" and "Reiwa Island," which are difficult to reach by public transportation. A 77-year-old housewife living in Sanno, Ota Ward, expressed her satisfaction, saying, "I've lived in this area for a long time, but today I discovered many new things."
'Exploring places that are usually off-limits' is also gaining popularity among private companies. Since 2022, Hatobus, a company specializing in bus tours, has been operating a special tour called the "Haneda Airport Best View Drive." Participants can enter the restricted area of Haneda Airport, which is normally closed to the public, and watch airplanes take off and land right in front of them. This tour is especially popular among aviation enthusiasts.
The tour scheduled for December this year will include visits to the operation command center and technical area of the Hakone Ropeway, where participants can observe equipment such as the rope drive motor, which is not usually accessible to the public. In addition, the Shonan Monorail Vehicle Depot, another area not open to the public, has been specially included in this tour. A Hatobus representative said, "Through these specialized plans, we hope to expand our customer base among transportation enthusiasts and eventually develop these into general tourism products."
The event company Mania Joint Corporation has also attracted attention with unique experiential products, such as tours where participants help prepare a bathhouse before it opens and become the first customers to bathe.
The participation fee, including the bathing charge and tax, is 4,520 yen (43,000 won). The company's representative, who describes himself as a "rare place enthusiast," said he came up with these tour ideas while visiting various locations with experts from different fields.
He said, "Helping with cleaning or seeing the boiler room (kama-ba) in person is a rare experience. For enthusiasts who want to see these 'behind-the-scenes' areas, it is very appealing." Most participants are in their 30s and 40s who find information online and apply, with women accounting for about 50 to 60 percent. At the end of November, a "Lion Dance Experience Tour" with a lion dance researcher is also scheduled.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
