Amakusa as a remarkable example of literary tourism in Japan: "Gosoku no kutsu" and the discovery of the Other

Abstract

Tourism has evolved greatly over the past few decades, and an example of its innovative transformations are literary routes, which have proliferated globally, regardless of regions or cultures. Japan is not an exception, as this type of routes are increasing year after year. However, within this global trend, there is a case that breaks all the paradigms usually associated with literary tourism: the route in the island of Amakusa, which commemorates the journey to this island by five young writers self-named Gosoku no kutsu in 1907, which will be addressed in this text. To fully understand the reasons that make this route unique it is necessary to introduce the historical meaning of the place itself, as well as a brief analysis of the literary work that followed that trip. This analysis will make evident the complicated relation between tourism and literature, the way in which they both exist and cooperate and, finally, what the support of an economic activity such as tourism over an artistic activity (in theory not profit oriented) entails.