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Ever gotten confused in a foreign country because you couldn't understand the signs?
Japan knows your pain, with one prefecture now rolling out painfully obvious signs in a bid to make visitors feel more welcome. 。
SEE ALSO:You can now point your phone at Japanese text and get an instant translation 。26 signs have been rolled out across the Iwate Prefecture, in a campaign titled "Ten ways to make travelers happy." 。
Credit: Morioka Regional Development Bureau。Signs include a man breathing fire to indicate the food is spicy, a pig inside a bowl letting diners know the dish contains pork and another swiping a giant card to indicate that credit cards are accepted. 。
Thanks for signing up! 。Credit: Morioka Regional Development Bureau 。
Officials behind the campaign are also holding lectures around the city to encourage locals to offer help and interact with tourists, even if it is "in broken English." 。
"Until recently some owners believed their profits from serving only locals were sufficient, and due to the language barrier, they may have left foreign visitors with a feeling that they were not welcome," said Takefumi Shimomukai, director of the Iwate Prefectural Government's Morioka Regional Development Bureau. 。
"I believe that we can show off our hospitality and convince tourists that [we are] good places [to visit]." 。
Japan had earlier this year rolled out standard controls for their public toilets, after numerous tourists were unable to understand the icons on the toilet seat. 。
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