Gangwon Province and Tottori City

Tsubasa Ishimaru and Lee Byung Ho

The most meaningful and wonderful thing in this program is we can exchange our thinking and culture with native Korean students and other Asian country’s students.

In recent years, relationship between Korea and Japan become closer as you know we had held world soccer cup by cooperation in 2002.

However, we still have some misunderstanding politically and historically. Therefore, I think it is very important to know culture and history in this kind of program or tourism.

In this program, I could have more knowledge about Korea and also Japan.

I wish this program makes relationship between Kangnung National University and our Tottori University better, and moreover, we also can make relationship of our countries better by bringing this experience back to Japan.

In my university, I would like to discuss how we Japanese and Korean can be better and developed together as important partner in Asia. I really wish both our country’s prosperity as I really like both Korea and Japan.

Besides, I also could have some knowledge about other Asian countries such as Russia, Indonesia, Mongolia, China, Thailand, Malaysia, and Philippines. We communicated each other in English. And, I realized that English is necessary to communicate and know foreign countries more. I also thought that we Japanese have to think how English is important and need to be changed our English education system.

While spending this program with other country’s students, I faced many similar point and differences between each country. And, I also knew that our country’s good point and also bad point. Now, I am going to introduce Japan especially my city in Japan and Kangwang province in Korea. After that, I am going to conclude how we have similar point and different point.

Introduction of Tottori city in Japan

Japan has four islands such as Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, and we have 47prefectures, and Tottori is one of them which is located on main island, Honshu.

When you visit our city, you are supposed to arrive at Kansai international airport.

The moment you arrive at Japan, you will be very surprised. Because, the Kansai airport project won the prestigious award in the airport design category.

The award acknowledges the achievement of an airport built on the sea using advanced technologies, an airport that preserves the natural environment and vastly improves the convenience of air transport between Japan and the world.

After landing at an airport, you can come to the main island by train which is connected from the airport.

After that, you have two choices to come to Tottori. One is by Train (Japanese Rail, JR) which takes 2hours 30minutes, the other is high way bus which takes more than 4hours.

JR is very convenient transportation which is spread whole Japan. Therefore, we can go anywhere fast. However, it is more expensive than highway bus. For example, it costs around 5500yen from Kansai to Tottori. On the other hand, Bus costs 3500yen.

Beautiful contrast between the long coastline and mountainous area - Japan's largest sand dunes, Tottori-sakyu

Tottori Prefecture is situated in the northeastern part of the Chugoku region (the

southwestern end of Japan's main island).

This prefecture abounds with scenery that change expression from season to season, formed by a long coastline that stretches from east to west, narrow flatlands, and mountainous area represented by Mt. Daisen.

Seasons of fresh greenery in spring and tinted autumnal leaves in autumn are breathtakingly beautiful. You can enjoy this scenery from the windows of the train.

Many ancient ruins from around 400 BC to 300 AD have been found mainly in the flatlands, such as Umano-yama Tombs, telling us of a long history of exchanges Tottori had with the Korean Peninsula and China.

Noted scenic spots are Tottori-sakyu Sand Dunes, Japan's largest (about 16 kilometers long and about 2.4 kilometers from north to south); sand dunes formed by the deposit of volcanic ash on the Sendai-gawa river blown roughly from the Sea of Japan ( East Sea ); Hakuto Coast, the site of Japanese myths about the "White Rabbit of Inaba"; and Daisen-Oki National Park. Also of note are castle towns like Tottori and Kurayoshi. Here, too, is Misasa-onsen Hot Spring historically known as one of the leading spas in this region for its high radium content. Skiing at Mt. Daisen in winter is another feature of Tottori.

Tottori-sakyu Sand Dunes
Natural formation created by sands and winds over 100,000 years

Tottori Sand Dune

Stretching 2Km from south to north, 16 Km from east to west and with a maximum attitude of 90m, Tottori sand dune is the largest dune in Japan. It is said that the history of Tottori sand dune can be traced back to 100,000 years. The sands carried by Sendai river which has its source in the Chuugoku mountain ous region and the sands carried by the coastward current of Japan sea have been gathered by the strength of winds and waves, and they have gradually accumulated over a long period of time. As a result, these grand sand dunes which are a great art created by nature have formed.

Wind and dunes make beautiful patterns.....a fantasy of wind and dunes, "wind ripples" is called "fumon". These ripples are formed when the wind with the velocity of 5 to 6 meters per sec. blows across the dried dune. These wind ripples are very beautiful especially early in the morning or in the evening.

Introduction of Gangwon province

1. Seoul is connected to the scenic east coast by the Yeongdong Expressway, which ends at Gangneung. The trip takes about four hours. There are several hotels along the coast and the combination of mountains and beaches makes the eastern area an ideal vacation spot. Historical sites and colorful everyday scenes are to be seen in the small coastal towns as well as deep within the forested mountains of the region. The mountains also provide recreational opportunities with ski resorts.

2. 2014 PyeongChang Olympic

(1)    Title: 22PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games

Period: Winter Olympics (2014.2.8～2.23)

          Winter Paralympics(2014.3.6～3.15)

Participation: Approx. 80 IOC Member Nations, 5000 Athletes & Staff

(2)    The vision for the games.

・     Athlete, Games Centered Olympics

・     Promotion of Winter Sports throughout Asia

・     Peace and Co-prosperity on the Korean Peninsula

(3)    Olympic-Effects

・     Making the “consummation of Korea’s Olympic efforts’ by building on its successful hosting of the 1988 Seoul Olympiad, thereby promoting the status and brand value of the country.

・     Establishing it as strong sports advocate having hosted the Summer and Winter Olympics as well as the FIFA world Cup.

・     Positioning Gangwon province as a powerhouse fot the further development and promotion of winter sports in Asia.

・     Encouraging inter-Korean exchanges of sports through forming a single Korean Team, joint training and Olympic torch relay across the Korean peninsula, to contribute to establishing peace on the Korean peninsula.

3.Main tour site

**Mt. Seoraksan National Park**

Mt. Seoraksan National Park, considered one of Korea’s most beautiful mountains, is divided into Inner and Outer Seorak by a long winding ridge, known as Hangyeryeong Pass. The less rugged outer area stretches east to Seorak-dong resort village. Seorak-dong is near the entrance to the national park. Inns, hotels, campsites, stores, parking lots, and other public facilities are available. A 1100 meter cable car connects the park entrance with Gwongeumseong,, an old mountaintop fortress of the Silla Kingdom. Other points of interest in the outer area are Biseondae Rock Flat, named after the legend of an angel ascending to heaven from the rock flat, and Osaek Mineral Springs, which are throught to bring relief from digestive ailments. Visitors to the inner area entering from the west via the town of Inje can first visit Baekdamsa Temple, the other gateway to Seoraksan. 

Conclusion

Similarity :

Landscape

We have very similar point in nature environment as our city is located along the sea, and moreover, we have beautiful mountains that we can climb and play skiing. However, Japan is on the circum-Pacific earthquake belt. Therefore, we have so many hot spring places.

English problem

I think we both Japanese and Korean have same English problem.

Once foreign visitors ask people how to go somewhere, most of people seem to hesitate and feel uncomfortable to speak English since we are not good at speaking.

Our English education system requires us to learn mainly grammar. Therefore, I believe our writing and reading in English are not so bad. However, our Japanese have still worst TOEFL score in Asia.

Transportation

Most of transportation method is by bus or car.

Differences:

Religion

Most of Japanese believe Buddhism.

In Gangwon province, most of people believe Catholicism and Christianity

Food

Japanese prefer sweet food and raw fish, but Korean usually have spicy food such as Kimchi or red pepper in every meals.

Style

Most of Japanese people often change their hair color and style. We often check fashion magazine and most of people have to care their fasion. However, Gangwon people have natural hair and natural fashion style.

Information

In Gangwon province, there are many information center for visitors. Therefore, visitors can ask and search the place they want to go.

In Japan, some big stations prepare internet facilities for visitors. In that place, we can connect our laptop there and we can use internet for free.