Kikonai Public Interest Promotion Company, which operates　a roadside station called Michi-no-Eki “Misogi-no-Sato Kikonai” in Southern Hokkaido’s town of Kikonai, is promoting a multilingual atmosphere within the michi-no-eki facility to help visitors from other countries. Starting on April 3, announcements in the facility began in English, Chinese, and Japanese. Also, foreign language text has been added to the menu for the light meal area called “Kitchen Kiko”.

The michi-no-eki tourism concierge Tsuyama Mutsumi and Kikonai Local Vitalization Cooperator Li Ye from Beijing, China have been working on preparations from February of this year.

The michi-no-eki is located near Kikonai Station, and is a hub for Hokkaido Shinkansen, South Hokkaido Railway, and bus transfers. Initially, Li proposed announcing the departure times for various transports in the michi-no-eki facility to increase convenience for foreign visitors waiting for transfer transportation.

Tsuyama recorded Japanese announcements, and Li recorded English and Chinese announcements. The announcements play about ten minutes before bus departures and about twenty minutes before shinkansen train departures. Tsuyama commented, “We want to add even more services in preparation for the end of the coronavirus pandemic.”