FUKUOKA (Kyodo) The mayors of five cities in Kyushu announced Wednesday that they had formed an organization to attract tourists from Taiwan.
The city of Hirado, Nagasaki Prefecture, started the effort and got the cities of Fukuoka, Ureshino and Takeo in Saga Prefecture, and Unzen, Nagasaki Prefecture, to participate.
Hirado is known as the birthplace of the 17th century Chinese warrior Zheng Chenggong, who expelled the occupying Dutch from Taiwan. The city was studying possible tour routes around it and other Kyushu areas and called on nearby municipalities to join in.
Ureshino, Takeo and Unzen are known for their hot springs, while Fukuoka, the biggest city in Kyushu, serves as a gateway to Japan for many visitors from Asia.