Meaning
sightseeing; tourism; touring
Nuance & Usage
観光 refers to tourism and sightseeing. Common expressions: 観光する/観光地を回る (go sightseeing), 観光スポット (tourist spot), 観光地 (kankouchi — tourist destination), 観光客 (kankoukyaku — tourist), 観光案内所 (tourist information center). The compound 観光業 (kankogyou) means the tourism industry. Japan's major tourist areas often use 人気の観光スポット (popular tourist spots) in their promotional materials.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 観光する for any type of travel, but 観光 specifically implies visiting places of interest as a tourist — it's not appropriate for business travel (出張 — shucchou) or personal trips to visit family (帰省 — kisei). Also: 観光ビザ (kankou biza — tourist visa) is the specific term for a tourist visa. Don't confuse 観光客 (tourist) with 旅行者 (ryokousha — traveler, broader term).
Example Sentences
京都は日本でも有数の観光地として知られています。
きょうとはにほんでもゆうすうのかんこうちとしてしられています。
Kyoto is known as one of Japan's most prominent tourist destinations.
せっかく東京に来たので、有名な観光スポットを回りました。
せっかくとうきょうにきたので、ゆうめいなかんこうすぽっとをまわりました。
Since I went all the way to Tokyo, I went around the famous tourist spots.
近くに観光案内所はありますか？
ちかくにかんこうあんないじょはありますか？
Is there a tourist information center nearby?
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