#Sumida, Tokyo #Sumida Meta #Tourism Map #Meta Tourism

Discovering Sumida's Gems Through Meta Tourism Workshops

In an exciting initiative set to enhance local tourism, the Meta Tourism Promotion Organization, led by its director Tomoe Makino, is organizing workshops in Sumida Ward as part of the region's tourism measures for the 2025 fiscal year. These workshops aim to rediscover the hidden charms of the area from both the perspectives of residents and experts.

Since launching the Sumida Meta Tourism Map in 2021 during the Sumida Meta Tourism Festival, which showcases the diverse attractions of the ward, the organization is looking to expand this map further. The upcoming workshops will tap into new perspectives to uncover more hidden gems of Sumida, offering residents and visitors a unique opportunity to engage with the local culture.

Workshop Highlights

The workshops will consist of two main components designed to maximize participation and foster community engagement:

1. “My Favorite Spot, Your Favorite Spot”: This segment encourages local residents to share their unique favorite locations, giving participants a chance to discover hidden treasures through personal connection.
2. “Meta Tourism Studies”: Participants will learn from subject matter experts about specific themes and then explore the neighborhood to apply their new insights. This year, five different expert-led themes will be introduced to provide fresh frameworks for discovering Sumida’s appeal.

The workshops will include:

• - Date:

- “My Favorite Spot, Your Favorite Spot”: November 2, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM.
- “Meta Tourism Studies”: Two sessions on October 25 and November 15, 2025.

• - Location: Sumida Lifelong Learning Center, Training Room 1, located at 2-38-7 Higashimukojima, Sumida City, Tokyo.
• - Eligibility: Open to residents, workers, students, or fans of Sumida Ward.
• - Capacity: Each workshop has a limited capacity of 30 participants; a lottery will be held if applications exceed this number.
• - Cost: Free of charge.
• - Requirements: Participants are asked to bring their own digital photos of their favorite spots.

Expert Contributors

This workshop series will feature several experts for the first time:

• - Daisuke Matsumura and **Kentarou Fujimoto