Learn about history while touring Tourism spots with an audio guide system developed in collaboration with Kawagoe City - Demonstration testing begins on January 25th

In collaboration with Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, Fujitsu has developed a Tourism information system using audio guides, and will conduct a demonstration experiment from January 25 to December 31, 2019.

This system is a free online service that allows users to view information on 64 sightseeing spots that represent Kawagoe (at the time of service launch), such as "Kurazukuri Streets," "Kitain Temple," and "Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace," which are registered on the illustrated map "Koedo Kawagoe Tourism Map," on their mobile devices such as smartphones. The system is an attempt to more broadly and deeply convey the charm of Kawagoe, a town with many Tourism resources including historical buildings, and aims to improve convenience and satisfaction for the more than 7 million Tourism who visit Kawagoe annually.

No prior registration or application installation is required to use the service. When users scan a QR code installed at Tourism information centers and other locations with their smartphone, an illustrated map will be displayed on the browser. The illustrated map is linked to GPS, allowing users to learn about the history and stories of traditional buildings scattered around the town while walking around, deepening their understanding of the town of Kawagoe. The online map system uses the map and location information platform "Stroly" (Stroly Inc. / Headquarters: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, President and Chief Executive Ofcer: Takahashi Machi), and it is possible to increase the number of registered spots and enrich the content in the future.

We aim to develop industrial Tourism in the region by utilizing the know-how we have cultivated in creating spaces such as cultural facilities to uncover and communicate the charms of local areas and by working with Kawagoe City to provide Tourism information using an audio guide system.

"Koedo Kawagoe Walking Map" audio guide URL
Japanese version: https://stroly.com/viewer/1544668846
English version: https://stroly.com/viewer/1546842835

＜News Release＞
Tanseisha collaborates with Kawagoe City to develop an audio guide system that lets visitors learn about history while touring Tourism spots
~ Demonstration testing begins on January 25th, aiming to improve convenience and satisfaction for Tourism ~

Aim of the initiative

(1) Providing a richer Tourism experience
Just as museums and art galleries use commentary and audio guides to deepen understanding of cultural assets, using this service at Tourism sites will create opportunities to communicate the value of the town. Users will be able to learn topics and stories about Kawagoe that can only be heard in this guide, deepening their understanding of the town.
(2) Inbound tourism
The nationalities and languages of foreign Tourism visiting Japan are becoming increasingly diverse, and there are limitations to providing Tourism information through printed materials such as Tourism maps and brochures. By providing Tourism maps online and producing explanations using voice synthesis, it is possible to provide information in a variety of languages.
(3) Improving visitor mobility and length of stay
The illustrated map, which consolidates Tourism information, is linked to a GPS, allowing visitors to explore the town by looking at the online map and listen to audio commentary on each Tourism spot. It is expected that the improved convenience for Tourism will lead to increased mobility and longer stays.

How to use

(1) When you scan the QR code installed at Tourism information centers and other locations with a mobile device such as a smartphone, a GPS-linked illustrated map called the "Koedo Kawagoe Walking Map" will be displayed on your browser.
(2) Click on the pin of the location you want to hear an explanation for and the title, photo, audio player, text explanation, etc. will be displayed. Press the start button on the audio player to play the audio guide.

[QR code distribution card image]

Future possibilities

As Tourism is expected to be a growth industry for the region, there is an increasing demand to unearth the historical, cultural, and natural resources of the region and turn them into Tourism resources and economic resources by incorporating them into contexts and stories. Based on our "communication skills" cultivated through museum exhibitions, we will work to turn regional resources into Tourism resources by making full use of various media and technologies.