Japan’s Tottori Prefecture’s annual summer festival, the Tottori Shan Shan Festival, kicked off yesterday (14th). The Taichung City Government’s Tourism and Travel Bureau was invited to participate. Leading the delegation was Zhang Jun-sheng, Section Chief of the bureau, accompanied by Yin Jing-lun, Chairman of the Guguan Community Development Association in Taichung’s Heping District, members of the Japan-Taiwan Cultural and Arts Exchange Association, and tourism business representatives. The group joined the festival as a traditional umbrella dance troupe, gaining firsthand experience of the cultural significance and vibrant atmosphere of the Shan Shan Festival.
Chen Mei-xiu, Director of the Tourism and Travel Bureau, noted that Taichung City and Tottori Prefecture have maintained close exchanges over the years. In October 2016, the “Hot Spring Tourism Friendly Exchange and Cooperation Agreement” was signed between the Hot Spring Tourism Association Taichung and the Misasa Onsen Ryokan Cooperative of Tottori Prefecture. In October 2017, Taichung City signed the “Tourism Friendly Exchange and Cooperation Agreement between Taichung City and Tottori Prefecture, Japan” with the Tottori Prefectural Government Tourism and Exchange Bureau. In November 2018, the two sides formalized their relationship as friendly cities by signing a Friendly Exchange Agreement, promoting mutual visits and cooperation to advance reciprocal benefits and industry development. In 2023, the “Hyakka Ryoran” performance team was invited to participate in the Central Taiwan Lantern Festival and the Taichung Hot Spring event, jointly promoting Taichung tourism and fostering a strong bond of friendship.
The Tourism and Travel Bureau noted that the Tottori Shan Shan Festival is not only Tottori’s most prominent festival but also recognized by the Guinness World Records as the “largest umbrella dance in the world.” During last night’s festival, thousands of elaborately decorated “Shan Shan” umbrellas moved rhythmically to the sound of bells, creating a spectacular scene. Thanks to the invitation extended to Taichung City, Taichung’s delegation was able to personally experience the charm of Japanese summer festival culture while also promoting Taichung’s rich tourism resources and its image as a friendly city through cultural exchange activities.
The Tourism and Travel Bureau added that, in addition to participating in the festival, the delegation also visited key tourism attractions in Tottori Prefecture, including the Mizuki Shigeru Museum, Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory, Misasa Onsen, Tottori Sand Dunes, and the Tottori Sand Museum. The visits provided an in-depth understanding of how Tottori successfully integrates anime culture, the hot spring industry, and natural tourism resources. By observing these initiatives firsthand, Taichung aims to draw insights and innovative approaches to guide the city’s sustainable tourism development and international marketing strategies.
The Tourism and Travel Bureau emphasized that Taichung boasts beautiful mountain and coastal landscapes, a vibrant urban environment, and diverse cultural assets. Moving forward, the city will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Tottori and other Japanese friendly cities, promoting tourism across multiple topics—culture, hot springs, cycling, and more—attracting more international visitors and driving the growth of the city’s tourism economy.