ITB Berlin 2026 ジャパンブースの様子（JNTO提供）

　まちおこし舎etwas（代表・貞広貴志）は、2027年3月にドイツ・ベルリンで開かれる世界最大級の旅行見本市「ITB Berlin 2027」に出展します。日本政府観光局（JNTO）が、ジャパンブースの共同出展者への選出を決定しました。

　JNTOのジャパンブースは約30団体の募集枠で、今回も締切日前に募集が終了しました。etwasは会場で、山口県の歴史、文化、食などを生かしたインバウンド向け体験商品を、世界各国の旅行会社やツアーオペレーターに紹介します。

　山口県には歴史、文化、食、自然など豊かな観光資源がある一方、外国人旅行者数は広島県や福岡県など近隣県に比べても少なく、インバウンドの恩恵が十分に届いていません。etwasは2025年9月の創業以来、山口県へのインバウンド誘客に取り組み、地元高校生のアイデアをもとにした「回天／大津島体験」や、周南市の酒蔵「はつもみぢ」の見学体験を商品化してきました。現在は、防府天満宮での夜間体験、鋳物、フグなど、新たな観光商品の造成も進めています。

　ITB出展では、自社商品だけでなく、山口県内の自治体、観光関係団体、事業者とも連携し、海外市場への展開が期待できる県内の観光商品を広く紹介する方針です。欧米豪を中心とする歴史や文化への関心が高い比較的富裕な旅行者を主なターゲットに、海外旅行会社の商品ラインアップに山口県を加えてもらい、継続的な送客につなげることを目指します。

　今回の出展には宣伝計画を採択していただいた小規模事業者持続化補助金を活用する予定です。公的な支援を自社だけの販路開拓に終わらせず、県内への外国人旅行者の誘客や周遊を促し、地域への経済効果につなげます。

　海外旅行会社に紹介したい観光商品や、新たなインバウンド向け体験の造成を検討している県内の自治体、観光関係団体、事業者からの連携提案を歓迎します。

Japan Booth at ITB Berlin 2026 (Courtesy of JNTO)

etwas (Representative: Takashi Sadahiro) will participate as a co-exhibitor in the Japan Booth organized by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) at ITB Berlin 2027 , one of the world’s largest travel trade shows, taking place in Berlin, Germany, in March 2027.

The JNTO Japan Booth was open to approximately 30 participating organizations, and applications closed before the official deadline. At the exhibition, etwas will introduce tourism experiences rooted in Yamaguchi’s history, culture, cuisine, and other local attractions to travel agencies and tour operators from around the world.

Although Yamaguchi has a wide range of tourism resources, including history, culture, food, and nature, the prefecture receives fewer international visitors than neighboring destinations such as Hiroshima and Fukuoka. Since its establishment in September 2025, etwas has been working to expand inbound tourism to Yamaguchi by developing experiences that bring visitors closer to the region.

Its current products include a Kaiten/Ozushima experience, developed from ideas proposed by a local high school student, and a brewery experience at Hatsumomiji in Shunan City. New experiences featuring Hofu Tenmangu Shrine, traditional iron casting, fugu, and other local attractions are also under development.

At ITB Berlin, etwas will introduce not only its own products but also tourism experiences developed by municipalities, tourism organizations, and businesses across Yamaguchi. The company aims to connect these local experiences with overseas travel companies, particularly those serving affluent travelers from Europe, North America, and Australia with a strong interest in history and culture.

etwas’s participation in ITB Berlin 2027 is planned to be supported through Japan’s Small Business Sustainability Subsidy (Startup Category). etwas intends to use this opportunity not only to develop its own overseas sales channels, but also to support the wider development of inbound tourism in Yamaguchi.

Collaboration Welcome

etwas welcomes proposals from municipalities, tourism organizations, and businesses in Yamaguchi that would like to introduce their tourism products to overseas travel companies or develop new experiences for international visitors. Please reach out to us through our contact form if you are interested in collaborating.

Only 5 spots left! Apply by Wednesday, August 5, 2026.

We are seeking 10 international participants for a special half-price English tour on Ozushima Island, Shunan, Yamaguchi Prefecture. 

This tour is available with a special price of ¥7,500 (originally ¥15,000) only on Saturday, August 8, 2026.

A local TV crew KRY, is scheduled to cover the tour, making it a rare opportunity to join at a special rate.

Apply Now — Few Places Left

The application takes just one minute.

This one-day experience invites participants to explore both the wartime history of Ozushima, a rarely visited part of Japan, and the island’s present-day efforts toward community revitalization.

Ozushima is reached by ferry from Tokuyama Port, a short walk from Tokuyama Station on the JR/ Shinkansen line. The island is home to the Kaiten Memorial Museum and former training sites connected to the Kaiten, Japan’s human torpedoes during World War II.

The tour is led by a unique duo—a local university student who conceived the experience and a former international journalist. Together, they offer another lens on the complex human stories of World War II, complementing a visit to Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Museum. Participants will also learn about local creators who are working to preserve Ozushima’s history while helping shape its future.

In feedback from previous participants, all respondents rated the experience highly, expressing strong satisfaction with both its historical elements and its focus on the island’s present-day revitalization efforts.

Please note: A local TV crew, KRY, is scheduled to cover this tour. Participants will be interviewed or filmed as part of the coverage.

Date

Saturday, August 8, 2026

Fee

¥7,500 (originally ¥15,000)

*Additional ferry fee (¥1,440 per person) is not included in the above price

Number of participants

10 people only

Ideal for

• English-speaking visitors interested in history and culture
• Those interested in wartime memory and local stories
• Visitors curious about regional revitalization and community-led initiatives

Applications will be selected by lottery if they exceed capacity.

Selected applicants will be notified by 5:00 PM (JST) on August 5th.

Apply here

Tour details 

etwas, represented by Takashi Sadahiro, has launched the Kaiten / Ozushima Experience on Viator, a global travel platform, making the experience available to international travelers.

Based on Ozushima Island in Yamaguchi Prefecture, the experience takes visitors to the Kaiten Memorial Museum and the remains of a former training base for Japan’s WWII human torpedoes. It offers a rare opportunity to encounter a lesser-known aspect of wartime history, while also experiencing the island’s present-day life and local efforts to sustain the community. The experience adds another perspective to  visits to Hiroshima Peace Memorial.

The experience was created and is guided by local university student Futaba Shiigi, who first developed the idea out of desire to keep the history of Kaiten from fading away.  Lunch is served at a café run by the community group Rainoshima, led by spatial designer Shogo Matsuta, offering insight into ongoing efforts to revitalize the island. The program also includes a traditional “kamishibai” storytelling session by local resident Chieko Matsumoto, connecting visitors with the island’s culture and everyday life.

In feedback from previous participants, all respondents rated the experience highly, expressing strong satisfaction with both its historical elements and its focus on the island’s present-day revitalization efforts.

With its launch on Viator, the experience can now reach more travelers from around the world and continue sharing the story of Ozushima more widely.

Learn more & book here 

　まちおこし舎etwas（代表・貞広貴志）は、2026年6月から、インバウンド向け「回天／大津島体験プログラム」を、米大手オンライン旅行会社（OTA)「Viator」で販売開始しました。

　本体験は、山口県周南市の大津島にある人間魚雷「回天」の記念館や旧訓練基地跡を訪ね、戦争の記憶に触れるとともに、現在の島の暮らしや取り組みにも出会えるプログラムです。広島の原爆とは色合いの異なる、もうひとつの戦争の記憶に光を当てるとともに、地域の今を体感できる新たな観光コンテンツです。英語ガイドで地域を深く知りたい旅行者の来訪を歓迎します。

　ガイド役は、回天の歴史を風化させてはならないという思いからプログラムを発案した地元大学生・椎木双葉さんが務めます。昼食は、空間デザイナー松田翔剛氏が主導する一般社団法人「磊ノ島」が運営する「島食堂ひなた」で提供します。また、島の語り部・松本千恵子さんによる伝承にもとづく紙芝居など新たな試みも取り入れ、訪れる人と島の記憶をつなぐ体験を提供します。

　これまでの参加者アンケートでは、「回天の歴史＝過去」と「島再生の取り組み＝現在」の双方で、全員から「大いに満足」との評価をいただいています。

　今回のViatorでの販売により、海外を含むより多くの旅行者に本ツアーを届けることが可能となり、大津島の魅力を継続的に発信していきます。

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