Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc. and Hankyu Corporation announced on June 5 new

projects to promote tourism in the Kansai Area (mainly Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe),

including low-price railway passes and a multi-language travel information

website for foreign tourists.

The Hankyu Tourist Pass

1-day and 2-day rail passes for all Hankyu lines for foreigners that come with

a multi-lingual booklet listing recommended sightseeing routes, souvenirs,

railway maps and other information.

Website

Osaka, Kyoto & Kobe Golden Route 360 Degrees (http://www.kansai360.net/)

Available in Chinese, English, and Korean*

*English and Korean sites will be launched on June 29 (Japan Time).

The 360 degrees in the title represents how the website introduces tourist

information about the three cities from wide angles, as well as 360-degree

pictures of selected spots.

Main Contents of the Website

(1) Model routes

The website introduces day-trip routes to help tourists get around effectively.

The models include a variety of plans, from an introductory-level course for

first timers to theme-oriented routes for repeaters. Some routes will be guided

by foreign residents in Japan.

(2) 360-degree pictures

Attractions of the three cities will be introduced in 360-degree photographs --

panoramic views of selected spots that allow users to take virtual trips to the

scenes by just visiting the website.

All the tourist spots are linked to Google Maps for user convenience, and the

website is also linked to social networking services such as Sina Weibo and

Facebook, allowing users to share the information with others.

The Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Group has a variety of business enterprises, from

railways to hotels to entertainment, based in the three cities. The cities are

known for their own attractions -- Osaka as Japan's western hub of economy and

culture, Kyoto as the ancient capital with history and tradition, and Kobe as a

sophisticated port town with stylish appeal.