The Tourist Information Center, located in Naha City’s Makishi district, has recently been registered as one of the Visit Japan Information Network offices, set up to assist travelers visiting Japan from abroad, offering multi-language services and information on local tourist sites. In association with three other registered offices in the prefecture – the Naha Airport Tourist Information Center, earthtrip and TISCO okinawa, it aims to improve foreign visitor-related services in okinawa.

The Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO) designates as part of the network only tourist information offices having full-time staff members with foreign language skills and brochures written in those languages. As of June 1, a total of 222 offices were registered nationwide, introduced by JNTO through its Web site and various advertisements.

Some 188,800 foreign tourists visited Naha in 2007, a 48.7 percent increase over the previous year and attributed to the increased number of large cruise ships and charter flights coming to okinawa.

There are 17 English-speaking staff members at the center in Makishi, along with speakers of Chinese, French and Spanish. “At this point, only a few staffers at the actual tourist sites can speak a foreign language. It is, therefore, our next assignment to find a way to assist them with their language skills,” said one center employee.

For more information, contact the Naha City Tourist Information Center at
098-868-4887 (8:30-20:00 weekdays, 10:00-20:00 Sat., Sun. and national holidays), 2-1-4, Makishi, Naha City.