#Japan #WESEEK #Yottoko #Shinjo Village

Exploring Shinjo Village with Yottoko!

In an initiative aimed at bridging the gap between tourists and local residents, WESEEK, based in Tokyo, has partnered with Shinjo Village in Okayama Prefecture to roll out a new web service named 'Yottoko! Shinjo Village.' Initially introduced as a pilot program, this service is specifically designed to facilitate interactions between visitors and villagers, allowing tourists to engage in local experiences and connect seamlessly with the community.

About 'Yottoko! Shinjo Village'

The primary feature of this service is its emphasis on community involvement. Local residents can create and provide a variety of experiences or assistance offerings through the village's municipal office. Tourists can easily participate in these initiatives, fostering what is described as “a joyful exchange” rather than merely attracting large crowds. This approach aims to encourage visitors to forge deeper connections with Shinjo Village.

Notably, using the service is incredibly easy, requiring no lengthy registration processes. Visitors can access it through their smartphone browsers right away, making it user-friendly for anyone keen on exploring the local culture.

Key Features of Yottoko!

The platform includes two main experiential offerings:
1. Community Engagement: Visitors can join activities or assistance projects provided by villagers through the 'exchange' feature, enabling meaningful interaction.
2. AR Photo Opportunities: Set to launch in mid-July, this feature allows tourists to take augmented reality (AR) photos with a local character called 'Himekko.' By scanning QR codes at key locations, tourists can engage with this whimsical character and share their photos on social media -- ultimately enhancing their experience in the village.

The Origin of the Idea

This innovative service traces its roots back to a hackathon held in March 2026 in ITO City, where a diverse group of 19 participants, including student engineers, developed the concept. The theme revolved around creating a connection between agriculture and tourism in Shinjo Village, primarily known for its key crop, Himenomochi. One of the challenges identified was that tourist visits typically peaked in spring, particularly during the blooming of the village's symbolic 'Gaisen Sakura,' limiting ongoing interactions between farmers and visitors.

WESEEK has long sought partnerships with local governments to utilize technology to address community challenges. Motivated by the prototype developed during the hackathon, WESEEK and Shinjo Village continued their collaboration to refine and enhance the service further.

The name 'Yottoko' reflects an inviting and laid-back approach, encouraging spontaneous visits and casual interactions akin to sharing tea on the porch. The hope is that locals will share what makes their village special while visitors feel comfortable mingling with them.

The Pilot Program

Through this service, which operates from locations like the roadside station and various village spots, both visitors and residents can initiate exchanges and form connections. During the pilot, the effectiveness of the service will be evaluated from various perspectives, including movement throughout the village and visitor satisfaction.

WESEEK is responsible for developing and managing the service, while Shinjo Village handles local content and operations, emphasizing a cooperative approach that values community input and feedback.

Future Prospects

Building on the insights gained from the pilot program, WESEEK and Shinjo Village aim to improve and expand the functionalities of 'Yottoko! Shinjo Village,' with the goal of increasing the duration of tourist stays and enhancing relationships within the community. The anticipated growth in connections between visitors and local residents and businesses is expected to stimulate economic opportunities related to agricultural products and experiential content.

In mid-July, the introduction of the AR photography feature is on the agenda, and agreement signing events between WESEEK and Shinjo Village are planned to further solidify their commitment. The collaborative approach aims to extend the offerings to other regions facing similar issues, further enriching community interactions.

With the development of the 'Local Hacker' platform, WESEEK continues to pursue ongoing partnerships aimed at fostering continuous engagement between engineers, students, and local businesses, ensuring that these initiatives do not end with a single event but transform into lasting relationships.

Contact Information

This initiative is brought to you by Okayama Prefecture's Shinjo Village and WESEEK. For inquiries regarding press and media requests, please contact: [email protected].

About WESEEK

Founded over 20 years ago, WESEEK specializes in software development and operations. Engaged in nurturing talent, they have successfully mentored over 121 interns while developing and running the open-source product 'GROWI' for more than eight years.

Company Overview

• - Name: WESEEK, INC.
• - CEO: Yuuki Takei
• - Headquarters: 169-0051, 10F Takadanobaba Access, 2-20-15 Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo
• - Founded: June 2, 2005
• - Business Activities: Software development and sales
• - Corporate Site: WESEEK Official Site