The Heavy Snow Region Experience is an unusual winter tour that takes place in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, providing a way for people in snowless regions to get familiar with what makes snow so wonderful—and so much work to deal with in the winter.
As a region that gets a heavy amount of snowfall each year, and has a high population of seniors, it's a clever move for the Akiota-cho Sightseeing Association to offer these tours, especially the 'Snow Shoveling Parties.' For a fee of about ¥5,000, or $50, the Heavy Snow Region Experience Tour covers the expenses for the bus, lunch, insurance and shoveling gear. After the experience is done, the tour concludes with a visit to a local hot spring, offering a place to relax and warm up after all of that snow shoveling.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Winter Tourism
- Opportunity for businesses to offer unique winter experiences and tours in snowless regions.
- Senior-focused Activities
- Innovative programs that cater to the needs and interests of senior citizens, creating new revenue streams in the tourism industry.
- Experience-based Travel
- Growing demand for immersive and hands-on travel experiences, presenting opportunities for tour operators and organizers.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Tourism
- Creating winter tours and activities for people in snowless regions, tapping into new customer segments.
- Senior Care
- Developing specialized programs and services for seniors, focusing on their unique requirements and preferences.
- Hotels and Resorts
- Collaborating with tour operators to provide all-inclusive packages that combine activities like snow shoveling with relaxing experiences like visiting local hot springs.
