Shimobe Hot Spring Resorts Offer Eco-Discount Campaign

Image by missmac. Some Rights Reserved.

A total of ten hotels and Japanese inns in Shimobe Hot Spring Resort, Minobe Town in Yamanashi Prefecture, have been offering "eco-discount plans" since June 1, 2009. Aiming to promote the area as an environmentally friendly resort area, they offer 5 to 10 percents discounts to customers who bring daily-use goods such as chopsticks, toothbrushes, towels or pajamas, and those who drive eco-friendly vehicles like electric or hybrid cars.

The campaign is being conducted as part of efforts by the Committee to Create an Appealing Shimobe Hot Spring Resort following the prefecture's approval of the program as a project to support the resort area as a tourist destination in 2008. Customers can receive their discounts by presenting their daily-use articles or driver's registration at the front desk of the hotel.

The campaign is scheduled to continue until August 31, 2009, but its term could be extended depending on visitors' responses. The Shimobe Tourist Association provides information about the hotels and Japanese inns offering the discounts.

This hot spring resort area has been collecting and recycling used wooden chopsticks to make Nishijima-Washi, which is traditional Japanese Paper, since fiscal 2008. It also plans to start recycling disposed cooking oil in fiscal 2009.

Posted: 2009/09/11 06:00:15 AM