In early modern Japanese society there was an active exchange of information and individuals within and between urban centers. Various forms of media spread this information throughout the country and influenced regional cultures. At the same time, however, ""local color"" or okuniburi and special products became spiritual and material basis for forming regional particularity and maintaining a region's character. Travel is usually viewed as promoting exchange, but it was regional isolation that gave birth to the urge to travel and travelers discovering regional particularities. Diaries, ezu (illustrated maps), various literary and artistic genres were formed from these travel experiences and this in turn stimulated more travel among the people. This research project will focus on the ""information"" and ""expression"" that was generated by travel. The purpose is to apply perspectives from various disciplines in order to reevaluate the aspects of ""exchange"" and ""isolation"" within Japanese cultural history. One result that can be expected from this project is the editing of a ""cultural map of Japan"" consisting of visual documents and materials.

代表者	白幡洋三郎	国際日本文化研究センター・教授
Organizer	早川　聞多	国際日本文化研究センター・教授
Team Researcher	錦　　　仁	新潟大学人文学部・教授
〃	原田　信男	国士舘大学21世紀アジア学部・教授
〃	園田　英弘	国際日本文化研究センター・教授
〃	佐藤　卓己	国際日本文化研究センター・助教授
〃	長田　俊樹	京都造形芸術大学芸術学部　　国際日本文化研究センター ・教授客員教授
〃	玉井　哲雄	千葉大学工学部　　国際日本文化研究センター・教授客員教授
〃	森　　洋久	国際日本文化研究センター・助教授
〃	劉　　建輝	国際日本文化研究センター・助教授