Free Admission & Open to the Public | Special Lecture on the National Health Resort Hot Spring System and the Future of Hot Spring Tourism, Featuring the Ministry of the Environment, Higashiizu Town, Minakami Town, and Kourin University

Kourin University and Higashiizu Town have deepened their collaboration through various initiatives under a comprehensive partnership agreement, including student fieldwork in tourism information dissemination and talent development programs aimed at revitalizing the local economy.

Now, to further highlight the charm of Higashiizu Town and nurture individuals who support the local economy through tourism and related industries, two special lectures centered on the theme of "hot springs" will be jointly held.

Would you like to explore the future of hot spring destinations through the lens of the newly revived concept of "modern onsen therapy," and learn about the mechanisms of the "National Health Resort Hot Spring System" alongside professionals and municipal officials at the forefront of these efforts?

We sincerely look forward to your participation.

## Lecture Overview

Date and Time: Friday, July 3, 13:00–16:00 (Doors open at 12:30)

※ The first and second sessions will be held on the same day

Venue: Large Conference Room, 1st Floor, Higashiizu Town Hall (3354 Inatori, Higashiizu-cho, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture)

Admission: Free (prior registration required)

Target Audience:

Open to the general public, including individuals working in hot spring-related businesses, local government officials, hot spring enthusiasts, and those interested in urban development

Registration Deadline: Thursday, July 2, by 16:00

👉 Registration Form: https://forms.office.com/r/zVcHbxnp5g

## 💡 Key Highlights of the Lecture

▶ Cutting-edge lectures by experts

Professor Takashige Kohori (Department of Tourism and Cultural Exchange, Faculty of Foreign Studies), a leading scholar in onsen tourism studies currently conducting joint research with Higashiizu Town, will clearly explain the ideal future vision for hot spring destinations.

▶ Insights into the real-world implementation of the "National Health Resort Hot Spring" system

In addition to an overview by the Ministry of the Environment’s Hot Spring Conservation and Utilization Promotion Division, which plays a central role in system design and applications, we will welcome staff from Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture—one of the designated towns actively advancing town development through hot spring utilization—to share rare firsthand experiences available nowhere else.

▶ Interactive panel discussion

An open discussion session will be held, allowing questions to the speakers and encouraging all participants to freely exchange opinions on the future of local communities.

## Session 1

◆ Reconsidering and Envisioning Modern-Style Onsen Therapy Facilities—Case Study of the Ministry of the Environment’s National Health Resort Hot Spring Initiative

Lecturer: Professor Takashige Kohori, Department of Tourism and Cultural Exchange, Faculty of Foreign Studies, Kourin University (Onsen Tourism Studies)

◆ Overview of the National Health Resort Hot Spring System by the Ministry of the Environment’s Hot Spring Conservation and Utilization Promotion Division

## Session 2

◆ Presentation by Municipal Staff from Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture—a Designated National Health Resort Hot Spring Town

◆ Panel Discussion featuring the Ministry of the Environment, Minakami Town, Higashiizu Town, and Kourin University

Information sharing and open dialogue among speakers from both sessions, Higashiizu Town, and attendees

## Contact for Inquiries

Kourin University, Office for Regional Exchange

(5-4-1 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka City, Tokyo 181-8612)

TEL: 0422-44-8000 (Main)

Hours: Weekdays, 9:00–17:00