ABSTRACT
When it comes to tourism, the concept of the ludic looms large in Japan. This chapter traces the ludic impulses from their antecedents in history, through to the fan practices that have become inextricably associated with popular culture tourism and place-making in Japan. While there were a number of socio-cultural and political restrictions impeding mobility in Japan during the ancient and feudal periods, the Japanese were nonetheless remarkably intrepid. Throughout its history, travel in Japan has had a prominent place in the popular imagination, and therefore has been inextricably linked to essential aspects of popular culture, be it text, performance, or visual representation. Visual representation is central to the interplay between travel and culture in Japan. The traditional in Japan is presented in symbolic form, as an imaginary concept, and thus there are numerous theme parks that, like Meiji Mura, enable modern Japanese to experience their past, or aspects of their culture.
