UP and Japan Tourism Cooperation: Yamanashi and Uttar Pradesh Strengthen Bilateral Tourism Partnership
Uttar Pradesh has intensified efforts to position its Buddhist, spiritual, cultural and wellness tourism sectors on the global tourism map by strengthening cooperation with Japan. A high-level delegation from Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture held discussions with Uttar Pradesh government representatives in Lucknow, focusing on tourism promotion, hospitality, wellness and cultural exchanges.
The interaction was held at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in the presence of Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh. The Yamanashi delegation was led by Governor Kotaro Nagasaki and Deputy Governor Junichi Ishidera. Discussions centred on translating the long-standing cultural and spiritual relationship between India and Japan into structured tourism partnerships and increased tourist movement.
Minister Jaiveer Singh said Yamanashi could emerge as an important gateway for Japanese tourists visiting Uttar Pradesh, particularly those interested in Buddhist heritage and spiritual destinations. He highlighted the transformation of the state’s tourism infrastructure since 2017, with greater emphasis on connectivity, accommodation, tourist amenities and overall visitor experience.
Uttar Pradesh is home to several major destinations associated with the life and teachings of Lord Buddha, including Sarnath, Kushinagar, Shravasti, Kapilvastu, Kaushambi and Sankisa. The state government is working to integrate these destinations into a comprehensive Buddhist Circuit so that international visitors can experience them as part of a connected tourism journey.
Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Culture and Religious Affairs, Amrit Abhijat said Uttar Pradesh’s expanding infrastructure, economic growth and cultural heritage create significant opportunities for international tourism investment. He invited Japanese investors to explore opportunities in the state’s tourism sector and develop new tourism products and experiences.
The discussions also highlighted opportunities in hospitality, Japanese cuisine, wellness tourism, multilingual tourist services, professional training and knowledge exchange. Representatives from the tourism industry noted that reliable services, suitable accommodation and food preferences are important factors in attracting Japanese visitors.
The state is simultaneously expanding infrastructure at Buddhist destinations. According to the Tourism Department, 51 tourism projects are being implemented under the State Plan at a cost of more than ₹218 crore. Integrated tourism development plans for Sarnath and Kushinagar are also being advanced with World Bank assistance, while large-scale development has been proposed for Shravasti under SASCI.
The growing tourist footfall indicates the expanding potential of the Buddhist Circuit. The six major Buddhist destinations in Uttar Pradesh recorded 22.4 lakh tourists in 2022 rising to more than 81.8 lakh in 2025. Foreign tourist arrivals increased from around 48,000 to approximately 4.43 lakh during the same period. Between January and June 2026, more than 30.07 lakh tourists visited major Buddhist Circuit destinations, including around 2.02 lakh foreign tourists.
A significant Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the Government of Uttar Pradesh and Yamanashi Prefecture to institutionalise tourism cooperation. The agreement covers knowledge and expertise exchange, joint promotional campaigns, networking among tourism stakeholders, development of religious and cultural tourism routes and measures to increase tourist movement between the two regions.
The MoU places particular emphasis on Buddhist, spiritual and wellness tourism. It also provides for joint exhibitions, seminars and digital promotional initiatives. Both sides will work to raise awareness of the UNESCO World Heritage values associated with Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh and Fujisan in Japan.
Future cooperation is expected to cover multilingual tourist facilities, interpretation of Buddhist heritage, meditation and wellness tourism, hospitality development, cultural exchanges, professional training and knowledge transfer.
The Yamanashi delegation’s visit also included exposure to Uttar Pradesh’s diverse tourism landscape. After visiting the Taj Mahal and experiencing the cultural traditions of Braj, the delegation participated in tourism and investment discussions in Lucknow before travelling to Varanasi and Sarnath.
The partnership between Uttar Pradesh and Yamanashi represents a strategic step towards expanding India–Japan people-to-people ties through tourism. By combining Uttar Pradesh’s Buddhist and cultural heritage with Japan’s strong tourism ecosystem, the cooperation has the potential to generate new opportunities in tourism, hospitality, wellness, investment and cultural exchange while strengthening the broader India–Japan relationship.
