Day 21 features Hiroyasu Takeda, Executive Director of the Nara Visitors Bureau, who has long been involved in tourism policy as a Nara Prefectural official.
I have been involved in tourism policy for a long time as an official of the Nara Prefectural Tourism Bureau. Tourism, in its literal sense in Japanese, means “to see the light.” What is important is for the local residents to see that light first. Next, it is for the local business operators to see it. Only when these two are established can travelers truly see the light as well. Therefore, it is vital for the museum to be a facility rooted in the local community. Fortunately, Nara Prison has maintained a close relationship with the local people since its days as a juvenile prison, and I believe it will continue to be a place loved by the community. While Nara Park and the Todai-ji Temple area often take center stage, the southern Yoshino region also offers many attractions. For example, Tamaki Shrine in Totsukawa Village. Though it is a journey to get there, being surrounded by giant cedars, including the Jindai-sugi which is over 3,000 years old, truly washes one’s body and soul. Instead of rushing back on a day trip, I hope you will stay for two or three days to encounter the diverse charms that Nara has to offer.
After joining the Nara Prefectural Government as a civil engineer, Hiroyasu Takeda dedicated himself to the tourism sector from his mid-40s, eventually retiring as the Director General of the Tourism Bureau in 2025. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Nara Visitors Bureau. Due to his extensive work in tourism policy centered on Nara Park, he became an expert on the park’s deer, using the hashtag “Spokesperson for Nara’s Deer” on his Instagram. His profile also carries a passionate message: “I love Nara so much, and I absolutely love Nara Park.”
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