TOKYO -- At a glance, Tomohito Nashida looked quite the quintessential modern Japanese gentleman.

For a recent interview with The Korea Herald, he had matched a pair of coral slacks with a closely fitted jacket. His wavy hair framed a face that was slightly exotic, but all the same, quite Japanese.

But inside, Nashida was all about connecting with the outside. Hence, his latest investment -- a tourist and culture center for foreigners located in downtown Tokyo.


“WJS Ginza is the first of its kind in Tokyo,” said Nashida, CEO of Seven Holdings, which runs the business. “It’s basically an indoor Japanese garden where foreigners can experience different kinds of authentic Japanese cultures.”

Standing for Welcome Japan Support, the facility opened this March in Ginza -- one of Tokyo’s largest financial districts housing top Japanese and international corporations.

The interior is both modern and traditional. An indoor garden sits in the center, and surrounding it are tatami rooms where visitors can pay for a kimono-wearing experience, or take calligraphy and tea ceremony lessons from certified teachers.



Separate meeting rooms are also available for those wishing to discuss business in private, while travelers can choose between refreshments such as beer, cocktails soft drinks and preordered sushi. In addition, they can exchange money, rent Wi-Fi devices or get tourist information.

More on WJS Ginza is available at http://welcomejapan.jp.

The CEO said while the garden is an exciting new project tickling his entrepreneurial spirit, Seven Holdings’ main cash cow is gold processing. In 2015, it was the key contributor to the firm’s sales of 10 billion yen ($90 million).

“Japan has no relevant gold trading or processing laws, so with the right knowledge, it’s not too hard to make money,” the CEO said. “The funds from this business finances the majority of Seven Holdings’ services.”

One that may be useful for foreign travelers in Japan is an app called Mr. Translator. The app connects foreigners with English-speaking call centers where interpreters interpret Japanese on a real time basis. Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese language services are also provided. 

By Kim Ji-hyun Korea Herald correspondent (jemmie@heraldcorp.com)