Japan To Provide Subsidy For Traditional Hotel Upgrades

Above, Denise photographing the massive dinner layout at the Atami Shinkadoya ryokan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In their continuing efforts to boost foreign tourism, the Japanese government is subsidizing the upgrading of traditional Japanese hotels and ryokans.

According to San Antonio's (Texas) La Prensa:

Tokyo, Dec 1 (EFE).- Japan will provide a subsidy to cover half the cost for traditional hotels to upgrade to meet the need of foreign tourists, who look for internet, Western-style toilets and signboards in multiple languages. 

The traditional Japanese-style lodgings, or 'Ryokan', with low occupancy by foreign visitors, can take advantage of this plan to attract non-Japanese tourists, public broadcaster NHK reported Tuesday.

Thus far, every ryokan I've stayed at were already suitable for foreign visitors. All had western-style flush toilets and Internet access.

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