The City of Toyohashi, located in the heart of Japan and on the eastern reaches of Aichi Prefecture, has a population of 380,000. Travel is extremely convenient on the Shinkansen, with the trip to Tokyo taking only 85 minutes, and Osaka only 90 minutes. As the most prominent town in the Higashi Mikawa region, Toyohashi forms a hub for education, culture, and industry and has a vast number of transport systems, businesses, and universities that are well established in the area. The Higashi Mikawa region plays host to a vast number of beautiful oceans, mountains, rivers, and hot springs as well as being rich in history and culture. Toyohashi is considered to be the gateway to Higashi Mikawa tourism around the Iida Line and the Mikawa Bay, Hamanako, and Ise Shima areas. The Toyohashi Visitors & Convention Association was established in April 1997 after the potential of tourism in the region and the effects it would have on the local economy were realized. The privately run Visitors & Convention was formed as a base for exchange of people, artifacts, and information pertaining to the region. The Association has since offered a range of activities to attract tourists and conventions, and also provides regional information to support the development of Toyohashi. I would like to extend my gratitude to everybody who has contributed to the growth of the region.