Hi, this is Izumitani from the Ehime Film Commission (Ehime FC).
From September 26 to 29, the 7th National Filming Location Map Fair 2024 was held at Tokyo Big Sight, co-hosted by Japan FC and Tourism EXPO Japan.
This event is Japan’s most prominent tourism exhibition, attracting 1,829,934 visitors over the four days. A total of 1,384 companies and organizations from 80 countries and regions participated.
I attended the Business Days on September 26 and 27, exclusive to industry professionals. Even in just two days, 71,818 people visited the venue, making it a lively and energetic event from start to finish—especially at the Japan FC booth!
Japan FC Booth & Filming Location Maps
At the Japan FC booth, we displayed about 50 different filming location maps sent from film commissions across Japan, allowing visitors to take them freely.
Some maps flew off the shelves immediately, while others remained untouched—making me think about the gap in popularity and public interest in specific filming locations. It was an interesting insight into what’s currently trending and sought after by visitors.
Networking & Industry Discussions
Even though I attended only during the Business Days, I had many conversations with various visitors. Some key discussions included:
・Government agencies looking to promote filming locations as new tourism assets
・Travel agencies interested in collaborating on filming location tours
・Telecom companies wanting to analyze visitor traffic at filming locations
・Publishing companies exploring ways to compile and promote filming location information
・Planning firms viewing filming locations as business opportunities
・Research companies focusing on extending visitor stays for more significant economic impact
・Producers planning pilgrimage-style tours for fans of filmed locations
・DX (Digital Transformation) companies aiming to digitize and archive all location maps
・Regional representatives interested in establishing a film commission to attract more productions
And many more!
Filming Locations: A Hidden Treasure of Possibilities
It was fascinating to see just how many industries and organizations are deeply interested in filming locations. As film commissions are the only ones directly present at filming sites, it’s no surprise that people view them as a goldmine of opportunities.
Challenges & Next Steps
With so many needs and possibilities, prioritizing which projects to pursue is a real challenge.
I want to develop strategies in Ehime to leverage filming locations more effectively and find creative solutions for maximizing their potential. Looking forward to exploring new ideas!