Collaboration begins to raise etiquette awareness for foreign visitors to Japan Hankyu Ferry and Vision Service deepen inbound response. Ferry trip becomes “learning opportunity”.

[Collaboration begins to raise etiquette awareness for foreign visitors to Japan] Hankyu Ferry and Vision Service to deepen inbound response. Ferry trip becomes a “learning opportunity”. ​
VS Press release: May 19, 2025 To members of the media [Collaboration begins to raise etiquette awareness for foreign visitors to Japan] Hankyu Ferry and Vision Service to deepen inbound response. Ferry trip becomes “opportunity for learning”. Vision Service (headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo), which operates a business that promotes local tourism and culture to visitors to Japan, has teamed up with Hankyu Ferry (headquarters: Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture) to begin disseminating information aimed at raising awareness of etiquette in public spaces.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/156784/3/156784-3-2d00941afe66e6bf1f517ecd7d0cc15e-2496×1664.jpg Vision Service Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Hideo Yashiro) announced that it will start a business partnership with Hankyu Ferry Co., Ltd. on May 19, 2025. The purpose of this
partnership is to promote a comfortable travel environment in public spaces through manners awareness for foreign tourists visiting Japan, and to create new value in tourism experiences through the “joint production and dissemination of ferry manners awareness content.” Background to the partnership The purpose of this business alliance is to create an environment where foreign tourists visiting Japan can adapt to the manners and lifestyles of Japan’s unique public spaces and have a more comfortable and profound experience. As the inbound market expands, the importance of “cross-cultural coexistence” in local transportation and accommodation spaces increases, and both companies have focused on the possibility that the transportation space of a ferry can become a place for cultural exchange. By combining Hankyu Ferry’s role as a means of transportation between Osaka/Kobe and Kitakyushu and our company’s know-how in disseminating information in multiple languages, we aim to create new tourist experience value. Partnership details Hankyu Ferry Co., Ltd. provides comfortable travel space on board and access to local tourism, with the main focus on operating regular ferry routes connecting Osaka, Kobe and Kitakyushu. Through this partnership, the two companies will work together to create and disseminate multilingual content and information on “enlightening people’s manners when using ferries” for foreign tourists visiting Japan. Specific initiatives planned include the creation and distribution of guide articles and visual materials on themes such as how to use public spaces on board, bathing manners at observation baths, and how to use toilets. In addition, these contents will be disseminated and promoted to tourists visiting Japan through our company’s website and AI chatbot. In the future, they are planned to be used at Hankyu Ferry’s customer contact points. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/156784/3/156784-3-61a7207b691dd4935efca526e43a2a64-3900×2600.jpg The open-air observation bath on board will be a place of relaxation for many passengers.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/156784/3/156784-3-902bd99d8efd08e900feb5ceb00b19c8-822×1479.png In this way, the AI ​​can convey the “cultural background,” enabling a dialogue that touches on not only the rules but also their meaning. About Japanese baths, “Is it true that you bathe naked?” “Are tattoos allowed?” – AI answers questions from overseas travelers in a friendly manner. At the observation bath on the ferry, understanding different cultures will deepen your travel experience. In Japan, the impression of tattoos is different from that in the West, and some facilities may restrict bathing. These cultural backgrounds are also carefully explained so that the AI ​​chatbot is not misunderstood as
discriminatory. For example, if a traveler asks, “Are tattoos allowed in Japanese public baths?” the chatbot responds as follows: “In Japan, many public baths and hot springs (onsen) have restrictions on tattoos. This is not due to discrimination but because tattoos are traditionally associated with certain cultural perceptions in Japan. It’s recommended to check with the specific facility beforehand to see if they allow guests with tattoos. Some places may offer private baths or cover-up options for those with tattoos.” This response is based on the dialogue on intercultural coexistence that Hankyu Ferry and our company have conducted, and is designed to be considerate of both travelers and local residents. This initiative will provide peace of mind for travelers and support a step toward coexistence for the local community. Effects of the partnership and expected results Through this partnership, Vision Service and Hankyu Ferry are expected to build a system that can provide foreign tourists visiting Japan with a more comfortable and cultural cruise experience. For Vision Service, this will be an opportunity to develop practical awareness-raising content in collaboration with local transportation businesses, while for Hankyu Ferry, it is expected to improve its inbound response capabilities and strengthen its corporate image. In addition, as efforts to raise awareness of manners for foreign tourists become established, it is expected that there will be a ripple effect not only on ferries but also on other transportation spaces and tourism businesses, such as trains, buses, and accommodation facilities.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/156784/3/156784-3-dfb9a07a51e6a889b6911f22a6ba661a-1000×610.png A chatbot that is useful before and during your trip. It switches the output language depending on the language you input. It can also be used as a simple translation device. Future developments of the partnership As for the future schedule, the first multilingual etiquette guide will be released through an AI chatbot around summer 2025 and will be rolled out to tourists visiting Japan. In addition, based on the concept of expanding the awareness model of intercultural coexistence in transportation to other regional transportation operators and tourist destinations, we will expand the scope of collaboration and diversify content with the aim of realizing “cultural sustainability” that spreads from cruise travel. Company profile Vision Service Co., Ltd. Address: 3rd floor, Tokyo Tea Industry Hall, 2-8-5 Higashi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0021 Representative: Representative Director Hideo Yashiro Established: July 1967 Business: Operation services for the advertising and broadcasting industries, planning and disseminating tourism
information for foreign visitors to Japan, development and operation of AI chatbots, tourism digital transformation support Corporate website: https://www.visionservice.co.jp Vision, a website that introduces Japan’s tourist attractions to visitors to Japan: https://www.visionservice.io *This email has been sent automatically, so please do not reply.