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How Saitama Is Reaching Global Audiences Through Foreign Residents Living In Japan
When international travelers think about Japan, destinations such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto are often the first places that come to mind.
However, just north of Tokyo, Saitama Prefecture is gradually attracting more attention for its local culture, seasonal scenery, traditional experiences, and easy accessibility.
To help share these attractions with wider audiences both inside and outside Japan, Saitama Prefecture officially appointed 20 groups and 21 individuals as the “Saitama PR Ambassadors 2026” on May 19, 2026, attended by Saitama Governor, Mr. Ono Motohiro. Among those selected was Indonesian influencer Nazaya Zulaikha.
Sharing Saitama Through Everyday Perspectives
The Saitama PR Ambassador program uses Instagram to introduce the prefecture through each ambassador’s perspective and experiences.
According to Saitama Prefecture, the ambassadors will share two types of content:
- Free themed posts based on their own interests and discoveries
- Collaborative posts together with the prefecture
Through these activities, the ambassadors are expected to introduce the charm of Saitama from various perspectives such as tourism spots, local food, seasonal attractions, cultural experiences, community charm, and more to Japan and overseas audiences.
Nazaya shared that she hopes to introduce not only famous spots, but also the seasonal beauty, local culture, and experiences that make Saitama unique from her own perspective as a foreign resident living in Japan.
This year, two foreign residents living in Saitama were selected, including representatives from New Zealand and Indonesia.
As inbound tourism continues growing across Japan, content shared by foreigners actually living in local regions is becoming increasingly valuable for overseas travelers. Compared to official tourism information alone, these perspectives often feel more relatable, practical, and easier to imagine for people considering a future trip to Japan.
Why This May Interest Muslim Travelers
Indonesia is home to the world’s largest Muslim population, and interest in Japan among Indonesian travelers continues to grow.
At the same time, many Muslim travelers today are becoming interested not only in major cities, but also in quieter local experiences, seasonal destinations, nature spots, and areas that offer a different atmosphere from heavily crowded tourist centers.
Saitama is one of the prefectures that may attract more attention for this reason.
Located close to Tokyo, Saitama offers convenient access while also allowing visitors to experience a different side of Japan through local neighborhoods, parks, flowers, traditional culture, festivals, and regional food experiences.
For Muslim travelers especially, seeing Japan through the perspective of another Muslim foreign resident can help destinations feel more approachable and realistic.
Future Saitama Content
Upcoming content related to Saitama’s attractions, experiences, and local discoveries is expected to be shared through:
- Nazaya’s Instagram account: @nazayazulaikha
- Saitama Prefecture Official Instagram: @saitama_pref_official
As travelers continue searching for more local and experience-based travel in Japan, Saitama may become one of the destinations worth paying closer attention to.
Separately from her activities as a Saitama PR Ambassador, Nazaya is also involved in food diversity-related communication activities in Japan through private sector initiatives.
See Also
Indonesian Influencer to Serve as Saitama PR Ambassador 2025
