SHIBUKAWA, Gunma -- A local tourism association in this hot spring resort city is renting out original umbrellas to tourists for free to help them maintain social distancing while visiting the hot spring towns amid the coronavirus pandemic, with a local map printed inside each umbrella.

       The traveler-friendly umbrellas, which have a radius of 65 centimeters, can also double as parasols. As illustrated maps showing tourist attractions in the famed Ikaho hot spring resort are printed on the inside, tourists can enjoy strolling without having to carry around guidebooks or maps.

       The Shibukawa Ikaho Onsen Tourism Association launched the service on July 2 in conjunction with the Joshinetsu branch of Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture. The JT branch reportedly hit upon the idea while it was considering a project to help the local community, and hopes the umbrellas will help tourists enjoy a walk in the area at ease even during the pandemic.

       If a user scans a QR code printed inside the umbrella with a smartphone, they can connect to a website showing which step of the Ikaho hot spring resort's famous 365 flight of stone steps corresponds to their birthday.

       A total of 50 free umbrellas are on offer at Sumiyoshiya, a souvenir shop located at the 227th flight of the stone steps. They are available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. except for Thursdays, the shop's regular holiday. Users need to deposit 1,000 yen (about $9.05) to rent an umbrella, which will be refunded when they return it.

       "We would like to ask guests visiting with their partners to also rent two umbrellas, not one, to maintain social distancing, by exercising a bit of patience," said Seiji Sekiguchi, chairman of the tourism association.

       (Japanese original by Tetsuya Shoji, Shibukawa Resident Bureau)

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