Online bus tour guided by sign language guide! We introduced you to Akafukumochi 's "Tsuitachi-Mochi", a special treat only available on the first day of the month, and Okage-yokocho in the morning!

Due to the effects of the new coronavirus infection, many people are finding it difficult to travel and communicate, and many people are unable to go on a trip even if they want to.
Mie Prefecture has planned and held an online tour that allows anyone to enjoy the charm of Mie's tourist destinations with the theme of barrier-free travel.

The first "Online Bus Tour for the Hearing Impaired" is a collaboration between Kotohira Bus of Kagawa Prefecture and Mie Prefecture, who have planned an online bus tour for the first time in the country and have operated more than 100 online bus tours to date. This is a cooperative event.

On February 1, 2021, we held the ``Morning Okage Yokocho, a fun tour only for the Akafukumochi day of the month, Akafuku's ` Tsuitachi-Mochi'' and a sign language guide led by Okage-yokocho.''

This time, we delivered travel guidebooks, seatbelts, Ise GreenTea, and alobar drip coffee to the 15 monitors who participated in the tour, as well as Ise-Udon and Akafukumochi to be eaten on the tour.

On the day of the tour, even though it was early on a weekday, the monitors started boarding (entering) one after another around 6:30, and the tour departed at 7:00 when everyone was there!
Saki-chan from Kotobus, a trip planner, chatted with the monitors and gave information about IseJingu Jingu and the Sakuhi Shrine.
Sign language interpretation during the ride was provided by the Mie Prefecture Support Center for the Hearing Impaired.

Finally, the bus arrived at Ise.
From here on, we will provide information on connecting the local area and the relay.

At the site, Mr. Yamamoto, a sign language guide who usually guides us around the shrine in sign language, and Mr. Murakami, a hearing-impaired guide, guided us in sign language.

After introducing the Setsubun market held in February, we will introduce ``Mekabu udon'', a special udon that is only available on February 1st, and Ise-Udon food of Ise.

After this, during the break, the monitors prepared Ise-Udon and ate it together.

The highlight of this tour, February's Tsuitachi-Mochi, is "Risshun Daikichi Mochi."
``Risshun Daikichi Mochi'' comes in two types: Mame Daifuku containing black beans and mochi sprinkled with soybean flour.

Since the expiry date of Tsuitachi-Mochi is the same day, it cannot be sent to the participants, so the monitors enjoyed Akafukumochi mochi that was sent to them in advance.

The last one is from Naiku mae.
The two Iseterasu sign language guides greeted us with smiles and said, ``Next time, we'll be waiting for you in Ise.''

At the end of the approximately 1.5-hour online tour, participants gave positive comments such as ``It was fun,' Ise-Udon was delicious,'' and ``I was able to understand it well because there was sign language interpretation and subtitles.'' .

This time, we received the cooperation of many people involved, including the Mie Prefecture Support Center for the Hearing Impaired, the Ise-Shima Barrier-Free Tour Center, and the Iseterasu Sign Language Guide.
Through this tour, I realized that online tours have new possibilities as content for people with various disabilities.

[Tour details]
Itinerary: In front of Akafukumochi Main Store (departure), Okage-yokocho and Sakubi Morning Market (LIVE/Guide), Ise-Udon (LIVE/Experience), Akafukumochi Main Store, Tsuitachi-Mochi Purchase (Video), Akafukumochi (Video/Experience) )...The story of the first day...(dissolution)


<Kotohira Bus Co., Ltd.>
Since the spring of this year, the demand for sightseeing buses, express route buses, etc. has drastically decreased due to the coronavirus pandemic, and as a last resort, we have been implementing "online bus tours." As this was the first initiative in the country, it was introduced nationwide in various media, and in the six months since May, we have conducted about 20 courses and more than 100 online bus tours, reaching over 1,000 people. Thank you for your participation.
In cooperation with Mie Prefecture, the prefecture that promotes barrier-free tourism the most in Japan, we held Japan's first online bus tour for people with hearing disabilities. We hope to use this tour as an opportunity to plan barrier-free tours that are compatible with new lifestyles and attract real customers.

●Iseterasu sign language guide
https://www.city.ise.mie.jp/kankou/invitation/guide/1007388.html

Introduction video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyIacXpQxkk&feature=youtu.be

●Ise Shima Barrier Free Tour Center
https://www.barifuri.com/

●Mie Prefecture Support Center for the Hearing Impaired
https://www.deaf-mie-center.com/