Establishment of Tourist Information Centers in Central Tokyo

Abstract

This study deals with the history, policy and practice of tourist information centers (TICs) in central Tokyo in order to develop a planning theory focusing on the perspective of urban facilities such as arrangement and location, architecture and utilization of the private sector. As a result, the following three can be pointed out. Firstly, the definite frameworks are prepared by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Japan Tourism Agency for consideration of TICs’ arrangement. Secondly, in terms of architecture planning, the schemes fail to refer anything except for a signboard. Spatial characteristics such as location, façade and facility layout are rather significant to improve tourists’ accessibility and visibility. Lastly, since schemes which aims to maintain the quality of TICs and promote their networking were developed, these can be appreciated in the light of the fact that both public and private sectors have benefited and the number has increased in fact.