Travel agents are always looking for new ways to entice the fickle Japanese customer, and Hato Bus Co. has landed a direct hit with a set of new military-themed tours.
"We heard about this tour from a friend. It's nice because we love military things," said government employee Tsuyoshi Nagano, 29, who went on the tour earlier this month with his wife, Hinase. "I love Self-Defense Forces things and my wife, U.S. Navy things. We collect a lot of military goods and wear uniforms at home."
Tokyo-based Hato Bus, a major tour operator, ran the military tours on a trial basis during Golden Week in May, but when it sold out in a flash the company offered it again during the summer holiday season, according to company spokeswoman Miyoko Yamato.