Unveiling Tokorozawa Sakura Town: A Cultural Nexus
Developed by KADOKAWA Corporation, Tokorozawa Sakura Town is a vast cultural complex located in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture. It hosts a diverse range of facilities, including a book manufacturing and logistics factory, KADOKAWA offices, event spaces like the Japan Pavilion and Sennin Terrace, shops such as the Da Vinci Store, and restaurants like Kadokawa Shokudo. A key highlight is the Kadokawa Culture Museum, operated by the Kadokawa Culture Promotion Foundation. This complex serves as a core base for the “COOL JAPAN FOREST Concept,” a joint initiative with Tokorozawa City, and the “Saitama Culture Tourism Republic,” a tripartite project involving KADOKAWA, Saitama Prefecture, and Tokorozawa City.
Currently, the Kadokawa Culture Museum is hosting the “Emotion Exhibition – Tanka & Illustration” from February 13 to March 29, 2026. This innovative exhibition, creatively directed by Mika Pikazo, explores diverse emotional expressions through the interplay of tanka poetry, words, and illustrations.
Influencer Marketing: A Gateway to Global Audiences
“PEPPER LIKES”, a platform designed to connect Japanese businesses with international influencers, executed a targeted marketing strategy for Tokorozawa Sakura Town. The campaign primarily recruited foreign influencers with over 5,000 followers, consistently attracting more than 20 applications each month. Over 100 influencers have since experienced the facilities, sharing their unique perspectives on social media platforms such as Instagram, RED, TikTok, and NAVER.
This approach effectively streamlined operations, ensuring a steady stream of applications and significantly reducing the time and effort typically required for influencer discovery and individual negotiations. The participation of influencers from diverse nationalities, including European and English-speaking regions, dramatically expanded the global reach of Tokorozawa Sakura Town’s promotional efforts. The cumulative impact of over 100 influencer posts successfully introduced the facility’s allure to a broad international audience considering travel to Japan.
The Power of User-Generated Content
Insights from the campaign reveal that inbound tourists heavily rely on social media and short-form videos for pre-trip information gathering. Authentic content from foreign influencers proves particularly effective during a facility’s launch phase. User-Generated Content (UGC) built on real experiences garners higher trust than traditional advertisements or corporate communications, playing a significant role in travel destination selection. A 2024 global survey by CrowdRiff highlighted this trend, with 57.1% of respondents identifying UGC as an influential information source before traveling.
Providing influencers with a positive experience, including clear explanations of filming rules and guided tours, was crucial. This attentive reception fostered valuable experiences, leading to more positive and engaging social media posts.
“PEPPER LIKES”: Unearthing Japan’s Hidden Gems
“PEPPER LIKES” is dedicated to discovering and promoting Japan’s regional treasures—from natural landscapes to cultural experiences and activities—that often remain unknown to international tourists. By leveraging social media, identified as the most effective method for reaching inbound visitors by the Japan Tourism Agency’s June 2025 “Inbound Consumption Trend Survey,” the platform connects travelers with authentic, profound experiences across Japan.
Introducing “PEPPER LIKES x Research” Service
To further empower businesses, “PEPPER LIKES” has launched a new service, “PEPPER LIKES x Research.” This unique offering collects genuine feedback from overseas users through its extensive platform of over 30,000 micro-influencers from various countries and genres, providing unparalleled insights into product and service appeal. The service conducts both quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, allowing Japanese companies to inquire about popular products, effective communication strategies, and preferred media channels. Influencers, in turn, offer invaluable perspectives on current trends and consumer behavior, helping businesses refine their global outreach.
Five Benefits of Proprietary Research:
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Gather “locally resonant” information from an on-the-ground perspective.
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Receive insights from professionals deeply familiar with social media.
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Conduct in-depth qualitative investigations, not just quantitative surveys.
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Receive planning proposals directly from influencers.
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Directly request PR from favored influencers.
This strategic partnership between “PEPPER LIKES” and “Tokorozawa Sakura Town” highlights a powerful shift in how Japan is presenting its cultural wonders to the world. It underscores the growing importance of authentic, influencer-driven narratives in shaping global perceptions and drawing visitors to unique destinations. As Japan continues to embrace its role as a global pop culture beacon, such collaborations are surely key to unlocking the full potential of its diverse cultural landscape for international admirers.
For more details on the activities, visit: https://www.lifepepper.co.jp/abroad/sakura-town/
Explore the “PEPPER LIKES” platform: https://www.pepperlikes.jp
Discover “Tokorozawa Sakura Town”: https://tokorozawa-sakuratown.com/
Learn more about LIFE PEPPER Inc.: https://lifepepper.co.jp/
For inquiries about “PEPPER LIKES”: https://likes.lifepepper.com/
