With over 3 million visitors from abroad visiting the ancient capital of Kyoto in fiscal 2015, getting around with an official interpreter would have meant relying on government-qualified guides.
But critics have claimed that interpreter/guides who have passed national tests on language, history, culture and politics aren't necessarily well-versed on the details of Kyoto's rich history and culture.
That's why the city has founded the Kyoto Visitors Host program, aimed at nurturing tour guides who have in-depth knowledge on the city and are fluent enough in a foreign language to explain it to visitors.