Tobu Railway and BOJ strengthen product development targeting tourists from Europe, the US, and Australia

Tobu Railway Co., Ltd. (Head office: Sumida-ku, Tokyo, President: Yoshizumi Nezu, hereinafter, Tobu Railway) and BOJ Inc. (Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, President: Takahiro Noguchi, hereinafter, BEAUTY OF JAPAN) have concluded a capital and business alliance agreement for strengthening the planning and sales of tours, which utilize sightseeing resources along the Tobu Line, targeting inbound tourists from Europe, the US, and Australia.

Tobu Railway and BEAUTY OF JAPAN work together, aiming to strengthen experience programs and activities that utilize attractive sightseeing resources along the Tobu Line, in which inbound tourists mainly from Europe, the US, and Australia with a strong interest in Japan can experience Japanese culture, food, nature, and tradition. This is the first time that Tobu Railway has formed a capital and business alliance for initiatives targeting inbound tourists.

This alliance enables Tobu Railway to develop attractive, affordable products utilizing the Tobu Group’s facilities, such as access by transportation, hotels, and leisure facilities. Tobu Railway plans to create and sell tours, including the “Zazen (Zen sitting meditation) Experience Program,” in which tourists take the new limited express Revaty, which started operations in April this year, to visit Nikko and to experience zazen at Rinno-ji Temple, a World Heritage Site, and the “Lake Chuzenji Hiking Tour” in which tourists enjoy fresh greenery/autumn leaves in Nikko.

Through this capital and business alliance, Tobu Railway and BEAUTY OF JAPAN are eyeing the future after the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, increasingly developing products for affluent tourists from Europe, the US, and Australia and actively working the revitalization of all the sightseeing areas along the Tobu Line, including the Asakusa/Tokyo Skytree area and the Nikko/Kinugawa area.

Outline of the capital and business alliance between Tobu Railway and BEAUTY OF JAPAN

1. Date of capital and business alliance agreement

Monday, July 31, 2017

2. Content of business alliance

(1) Development and sales of products for inbound tourists from Europe, the US, and Australia in the business area of the Tobu Group.

(2) Development of products for inbound tourists from Europe, the US, and Australia utilizing the facilities of the Tobu Group.

(3) Market research in Europe, the US, and Australia and development of products for wealthy tourists.

(4) Sales and promotion utilizing overseas sales sites.

3. Example of tours that will be created

Tobu Railways plans to create and sell tours including the “Zazen (Zen sitting meditation) Experience Program” in which tourists take the new limited express Revaty, which started operations in April this year, to visit Nikko and to experience zazen at Rinno-ji Temple, a World Heritage Site, and the“Lake Chuzenji Hiking Tour” in which tourists enjoy the fresh greenery and autumn leaves in Nikko.

About Tobu Railway

Tobu Railway Co., Ltd. is a private railway company with the longest route network in Tokyo and the Kanto Area. There are many leading sightseeing sites in Japan along the Tobu Line including Tokyo Skytree, Nikko, and Kawagoe. Tobu Railway undertakes the transportation business, principally rail, together with a wide range of business such as the leisure business including Tokyo Skytree, real-estate development, hotels, and department stores. In addition, Tobu Railway is currently preparing The Ritz-Carlton Nikko for an opening in the summer of 2020.

(1) Company name: Tobu Railway Co., Ltd.

(2) Representative: Yoshizumi Nezu

(3) Address: 2-18-12 Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tokyo

(4) Capital: 102,135,972,000 yen

(5) Foundation: November 1897

(6) Business description: Railway/bus business

Real estate/sale in lot/rental business

Leisure/hotel/product sales/restaurant business

(7) URL: http://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/en/

About BEAUTY OF JAPAN

BEAUTY OF JAPAN has strength in planning, arrangements, and sales of unique experience programs and tours including the discovery of sightseeing resources and creation of original tours utilizing sightseeing resources (ex. ”Tour of Ryogoku with a former sumo wrestler”) for inbound tourists with the motto “Discover the Beauty of Japan.”

(1) Company name: BOJ Inc.

(2) Representative: Takahiro Noguchi

(3) Address: 5F Shintomicho 1-chome Bldg., 1-3-2 Shintomi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

(4) Capital: 7,520,000 yen

(5) Foundation: October 2014

(6) Business description: Planning and arrangements of tours for inbound tourists from Europe, the US, and Australia

Planning and arrangements of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events)

Planning, arrangement, and administration of cultural experience programs

(7) URL: http://beauty-of-japan.com/