Project members, including Ruth, pose for a photo.

The Edo Shogun Roads project launched with a kick-off ceremony in central Tokyo on March 20, 2026. Ruth Marie Jarman, CEO of Jarman International (one of the architects of this initiative and an Advisory Council Member for the project), and several members of Deep Japan’s network of freelance writers were in attendance to cover the event.

Edo Shogun Roads takes as its motif the five major highways that, during the Edo period (1603 to 1868), connected the shogun’s seat of power, Edo (now Tokyo), with the rest of Japan. The project encourages travelers to visit various sites in the greater Kanto area and neighboring prefectures. Although a Japanese version (called Edo Kaido) was first launched in 2022, the new English-language website and promotional videos tailor the project to international audiences. 

The new website includes a searchable database of recommended sites and experiences, over 20 suggested itineraries, feature articles, and transportation information.

Banners for each of the Edo-period roads

Edo Shogun Roads is also collaborating with Green x Expo 2027 — an international horticulture event to be held in Yokohama — to introduce gardens, flowers, and other nature-related tourism activities to travelers. Model itineraries specifically focused on “green” are included on the new website. A focal point sure to inspire many international visitors will be presentations of traditional Japanese Teien gardening. We hope there will be many artisans at Green x Expo to share their knowledge with the world.

Excitement about Edo Shogun Roads was palpable at the kick off ceremony. Representatives from both the Tourism Agency and prefectural governments involved in the project gave enthusiastic remarks, extolling the wonderful locations, experiences, and products that the region has to offer. 

JI is grateful for the opportunity to provide ideas and feedback as the Edo Shogun Roads project develops, and we look forward to utilizing our wide network of writers and influencers to continue promoting this great initiative.

A “samurai experience” is among the Edo Shogun Roads’ recommended activities.

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The discussion covered a wide range of important topics including why Japan has globally become such a popular travel destination in recent years, and how locals as well as international visitors can work together to help minimize the negative impacts of overtourism (littering, congestion, damage to historical sites, etc). 

The episode is now available HERE in Japanese on the PIVOT YouTube channel with over 1.95 million subscribers.

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Drawing on her many years of experience supporting Japanese companies with their globalization and business strategy development efforts, Ruth will deliver an opening speech on how Tokyo-based tourism business operators and hospitality service providers can develop an effective business strategy in light of the full-fledged resumption of inbound tourism to Japan.

In addition to Ruth’s keynote speech, the two-day seminar will also feature live-streamed sessions where Tokyo tourism representatives from 15 countries and cities around the world will share the latest information and insights on their respective markets.

We are proud that Ruth has been invited to speak at this thought-provoking seminar and hope that the opportunity will serve as a great source of inspiration and encouragement to participating businesses.

The post Ruth Marie Jarman to Serve as Keynote Speaker at JCVB Online Overseas Market Seminar appeared first on Jarman International KK.

Jarman International is delighted to have our recent seminar on “Nurturing Global Personnel” for representatives from Shizuoka Prefecture featured in the Sustainable Japan by the Japan Times Gallery for September. We are proud that our team of staff and JI Core 50 consultants continue to support regions with their globalization efforts as Japan looks to once again welcome inbound tourists and cater to the diverse needs of international residents in a post-COVID era.

Read more about the seminar HERE.

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During the seminar, JI Project Manager Paul Walsh spoke about “The Potential of Central Shizuoka and Strategies for Attracting Inbound Tourists,” while JI Partner Austin Auger focused on the topic of “Cross-Cultural Communication.” The presentations were followed by a lively group discussion where participants were given the challenge of coming up with an itinerary for a tour introducing local attractions.

Shizuoka is a high-potential region with many places that make for great visual content. We hope we helped many local officials develop a more global way of looking at things, and that they will apply what they learned as they develop and implement strategies for attracting people from around the world to this wonderful prefecture.

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Every month since 2018, Jarman International has hosted a charity golf cup at EastWood Country Club in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, which raises funds for Mirai no Mori, a non-profit organization that offers fun, life-changing outdoor activities for marginalized youth in Japan. We are delighted to announce Hiroshima-based inbound tourism consulting agency, JizoHat, as headline sponsor for the August tournament.

About JizoHat

IMAGE: JIZOHAT

Run by Paul Walsh and Ayaka Terao under the catchphrase ‘Beyond Toursim,’ JizoHat supports businesses and local governments in the Setouchi region with inbound tourism promotion strategy development, social media channel management, content creation, and talent development. The agency  also operates various communities, including online English language guide, GetHiroshima, and helps companies with their overseas business expansion efforts.

Paul also supports various inbound projects like Shimanami Kaido cycling and the promotion of Kochi Prefecture and Yonezawa City in Yamagata Prefecture. As an avid adventurer, Paul  is one of Japan’s most influential international voices in adventure tourism. We are grateful to Paul and Ayaka for helping us receive fantastic prizes from Yonezawa City for this month’s charity cup.

Want to join us?

No matter whether you love golf or have never played before, anybody is welcome to take part in the JI Charity Golf Cup. Simply join our group outing on Saturday, August 6th or head over to EastWood Country Club any day of the month and submit your scorecard to emika@jarman-international.com for your chance to win the ¥100,000 cash prize, trophy or one of many other wonderful prizes donated by our supporters! It’s also a great opportunity to make new golfer friends!

Price for outing: ¥18,900 (includes special summer lunch at the club’s restaurant, cart fee, ¥3,000 donation to our charity of the month*, Common Grace, and after-party with free-flowing drinks)
*The ¥3,000 yen per person donation to our charity for the month is in addition to our regular donation of ¥100,000  to Mirai no Mori.

Learn more about the JI Charity Golf Cup HERE. We are looking forward to welcoming you soon at EastWood!

About Common Grace

IMAGE: COMMON GRACE

Common Grace is a Hawaii-based initiative to help mentor highly vulnerable elementary school children. Volunteers from high schools and church communities volunteer one afternoon a week to play/do homework/talk with a child from an elementary school in their area. Teachers help select the children that need help and all mentors are trained and carefully vetted. This effort was launched after the Columbine shooting in Colorado with the aim of ensuring as many children as possible are not marginalized and left behind in their early years.

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Based on the trends of this new era, Jarman International CEO Ruth Marie Jarman shares valuable tips on successful tourism marketing with a focus on targeting international residents, which you can read about in Yamatogokoro’s recent inbound report below (Japanese). 

★ 在日外国人を活用した観光マーケティングのトレンドから読み解く、施策を成功に導くポイントとは｜在日外国人特集 | やまとごころ.jp (yamatogokoro.jp)

Although targeting international residents is not a new concept, Ruth’s insights are incredibly valuable because she specifies the necessity of leveraging the perspectives of international residents who know Japan deeply, and adjusting marketing strategies to the the particular goals of the region that is to be promoted. 

This report reflects the observations, challenges and discoveries that Ruth has experienced in her past 30+ years living and working in Japan, which makes it well worth a read!

★ Read Jarman International CEO Ruth Marie Jarman’s bio HERE

★ The JI Core 50 is a diverse team of international residents in Japan who deeply understand and love this country 

★ One of Japan’s largest platforms for inbound business, Yamatogokoro 

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As part of our promotional effort, JI Core 50 Consultant and popular YouTuber John Daub used this rail pass to travel around Tohoku and introduce the region’s culture, food, and history, to his viewers tuning in from all over the world.

In one of his livestreams, he attempted the all-you-can-eat wanko soba challenge, which is a traditional buckwheat noodle dish from Morioka City, Iwate prefecture. The challenge is to quickly eat one-bite servings of the soba noodles and get your small bowl refilled repetitively until it is impossible to eat anymore.

How many bowls do you think John managed to eat? Watch the video below to find out!

What is the JR EAST Welcome Rail Pass 2020?

Until now, JR Rail Passes have only been available to tourists visiting Japan. However, this year, JR EAST created this new, foreign resident-friendly pass to give members of Japan’s international community a budget-friendly way to explore the Tohoku and Kanto regions, as well as provide an alternative to international travel.

This pass will allow 3 consecutive days of unlimited travel on the Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansens, along with JR EAST train lines and a number of local railways. As it is valid for a large area of Japan, pass holders will be able to explore from the northernmost reaches of Aomori to the hot spring resorts of Shizuoka, just south of Tokyo, for a flat 12,000 yen fee (6,000 yen for Children).

★For more information about the JR EAST Welcome Rail Pass 2020 and where to purchase it, please click HERE

★An article about the pass has been published on JAPAN TODAY 

★Please subscribe to John’s channel for more incredible content: ONLY in JAPAN * John Daub

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Located in Ginza, this “antenna shop” is the best place in Tokyo to sample and buy local specialties from Kochi Prefecture, including a large selection of regional sake, sold in the Tosa Kura sake shop.

John Gauntner, the world’s leading non-Japanese sake expert, was a special guest on the stream, and shared his knowledge of Kochi’s brews with both participants and viewers who tuned in from all around the world.

Kochi’s sake is known for being the driest sake in Japan, which makes it particularly drinkable and easy to pair with a wide variety of cuisines.

Be sure to check out the livestream: 『Japanese Sake Regional Drinking Guide | Kochi Breweries』

★”Marugoto Kochi” is an antenna shop where you can purchase various local delicacies from Kochi Prefecture, and is conveniently located in Ginza, Tokyo. If you live in Tokyo or surrounding areas and you have been to or would like to visit Kochi, you can teleport yourself there simply by setting foot in Marugoto Kochi!

★Please SUBSCRIBE to John’s ONLY in JAPAN * John Daub main channel for more incredible content!

★For more information about Kochi, please see the link: Visit Kochi Japan

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With over 20,000 views, viewers from all over the world tuned in to learn more about Ryoma’s childhood, escape from the Tosa Domain and efforts to modernize Japan.

Check out the livestream:『Sakamoto Ryoma & the History of Kochi (Shikoku)』

★”Marugoto Kochi” is an antenna shop where you can purchase various local delicacies from Kochi Prefecture, and is conveniently located in Ginza, Tokyo. If you live in Tokyo or surrounding areas and you have been to or would like to visit Kochi, you can teleport yourself there simply by setting foot in Marugoto Kochi!

★Please SUBSCRIBE to John’s ONLY in JAPAN * John Daub main channel for more incredible content!

★For more information about Kochi, please see the link: Visit Kochi Japan

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