Lucknow: UP tourism announced to hold an immersive cultural itinerary for the 200-member Japanese delegation visiting the state next month, said Jaiveer Singh, tourism and culture minister of UP on Wednesday.Stating this after a detailed discussion with the advance delegation of the Yamanashi Prefecture, Singh said: “The focus will be on showcasing its traditions, cuisine and spiritual heritage alongside business engagements.”Officials said the visitors will witness the Ganga aarti in Varanasi, take a cruise on the Ganga, savour regional cuisine and attend a specially curated cultural evening featuring the state’s music and dance traditions.In Agra, the delegation will receive a traditional Braj welcome to introduce them to the region’s folk culture and hospitality.The meeting also explored producing a 30-minute documentary on UP’s tourism potential for Japanese audiences, expanding cultural exchanges and strengthening outreach to Japanese media to promote the state as a global tourism destination.The advance delegation will visit Varanasi and Sarnath to inspect tourism infrastructure and Buddhist sites before the larger delegation arrives. Officials said the objective is to leave visitors with an experience of UP’s living culture rather than merely its monuments.
