Agricultural Heritage Tourism in Kunisaki Peninsula

Agricultural Heritage Tourism in Kunisaki Peninsula, Japan

• Kunisaki Peninsula, Oita Prefecture, Japan, is a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS)
• The peninsula is facing declining population and aging
• The study assessed the tourism potential of agricultural heritage landscapes for regional revitalization
• The study analyzed the resource circulation landscape, cultural heritage, and the components of the core and value-added landscapes
• Core components include small-scale interlinked tameike reservoirs and sawtooth Oak forests
• Value-added components include the endemic shichitoui grass and shiitake mushrooms
• These social-ecological production landscapes are underutilized
• Agri-tourism could revitalize the area
• The area has immense low-carbon, sustainable rural society with traditional farming knowledge

Methodology

• The paper is based on 6 months of fieldwork and desk research
• Collaborated with local collaborators, including the Oita Prefecture Office,
• Qualitative framework, interviews, focus group discussions, direct observations, and field visits were used
• Analyzed historical records and previous research compilations from Oita Prefecture Archives
• Used sustainable livelihoods approach assessed natural, social, economic and human capitals
• Explored the role of tourism in revitalization of agricultural heritage and conservation of natural resources

Kunisaki Peninsula Outline

• Located in Northwestern rim of Oita Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan
• Peninsula is shaped by radiating mountain ranges from Mount Futago
• 39 km North-South extension, 30 km East-West extension
• Average annual rainfall: 1570 mm, ranges from below 1400 mm in the West to above 1600 mm in the East
• Temperatures climb above 30°C in the summer, but snowfall is rare in the winter except in high altitudes
• Volcanic soil, short, rapid rivers, deep ravines, and narrow valleys are notable features

Tourism Attractions

• Natural: agricultural and forested landscapes; tameike reservoirs, Kunugi Oak forests, shichitoui grass fields, coastal landscapes
• Cultural: Usa Hachiman Shrine, Fukiji, Futago-ji, Makiodo Temples, Kuma-no-Magaibutsu, Showa-no-machi Town

Natural Tourism Assets

• Ancient rice fields (over 1300 years of history)
• Tameike reservoirs (premodern Edo Period); resource circulation
• Sawtooth Oak (Kunugi) forests; shiitake mushroom farming
• Shichitoui grass; weaving mats

Cultural Landscapes/ Practices

• Historic/Religious: Usa Jingu, Rokugô Manzan, Mineiri, Shujoonie festivals; stone carvings of Buddha
• Temples: Monjusenji and Makiôndô Temples
• Cultural assets, and agricultural heritage is core to the area
• The study highlighted the importance of 'social ecological production landscapes' in conserving and revitalizing the Kunisaki landscape

Discussion

• Tourism potential of Kunisaki GIAHS
• Emphasized the importance of integrating tourism and conservation
• The lack of data on tourist numbers was a notable challenge in the study
• Importance of re-evaluating traditional resource-circulating societies and indigenous resource conservation
• Slow tourism, and experience-based tourism is beneficial for local communities
• Community resilience and indigenous resource conservation culture were seen as important in revitalizing the area

Explore the potential of agri-tourism in the Kunisaki Peninsula, Japan, a region rich in agricultural heritage. This quiz delves into the unique landscapes, traditional farming practices, and available resources for sustainable tourism development. Assess the cultural and ecological factors influencing regional revitalization efforts.