It's a little early in the year to declare the cutest tour guides of 2014, but we're willing to place our bets on this duo.
Meet Nyalan and Deshi, two mascots who've turned into pseudo-tour guides for Jalan, a Japanese travel site.
Aside from being insanely adorable, these two are tasked with showcasing and attracting visitors to the Land of the Rising Sun throughout the year. The idea, according to Design Taxi, is to show off what locals do during each season, only instead of people, the agency uses cats.
Adorned with matching suitcase collars, photographers have captured the pair flying kites (well, as best as someone with paws can fly a kite), relaxing before crawling into an onsen, a Japanese hot spring, or grabbing a bite to eat at Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ).
The duo have been in TV commercials for years now, but it's Nyalan (which is Japanese for "meow" according to Kotaku) and his Twitter account that's put the two in the spotlight once again. You can follow more of their travels here.
It's may seem like an unorthodox approach to promoting tourism, but given Japan's feline fixation involving cat cafes and an island nicknamed Cat Heaven Island for its population that outnumbers human inhabitants, maybe it's just a matter of time before the rest of the world catches on.
私は、にゃらん。どうやら弟子が出来たようなにょだ… ( http://t.co/HShZkPQt ） pic.twitter.com/6qF5Urx2
— にゃらん (@nyalan_jalan) July 13, 2012Meet Nyalan and Deshi, two mascots who've turned into pseudo-tour guides for Jalan, a Japanese travel site.
でし、です。こにょまえ ししょー におごってもらった しぇるきー おいしかった にょです。おもいで 宝もにょ なにょです。 pic.twitter.com/QIO35W6s
— にゃらん (@nyalan_jalan) September 17, 2012Aside from being insanely adorable, these two are tasked with showcasing and attracting visitors to the Land of the Rising Sun throughout the year. The idea, according to Design Taxi, is to show off what locals do during each season, only instead of people, the agency uses cats.
でし です。いまから ゆうしょく です ししょーの ゆかたの きこなし さすが なにょです。( http://t.co/ruPs2Vsp ) pic.twitter.com/UVsKvZHc
— にゃらん (@nyalan_jalan) July 17, 2012ししょー、おひるにしましょう！
スペシャルにゃ 駅弁を 用意しました にょだ！ pic.twitter.com/qc9WMszg
— にゃらん (@nyalan_jalan) February 17, 2013ししょー… はやく こいで くださいにゃ… pic.twitter.com/Gi1z2o04
— にゃらん (@nyalan_jalan) November 29, 2012Adorned with matching suitcase collars, photographers have captured the pair flying kites (well, as best as someone with paws can fly a kite), relaxing before crawling into an onsen, a Japanese hot spring, or grabbing a bite to eat at Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ).
いいお湯だったにょだ。 ( http://t.co/1H0JGDNwQv ) pic.twitter.com/aeyQMjPD4f
— にゃらん (@nyalan_jalan) March 3, 2013いい風なにょです...
...今にゃ！! pic.twitter.com/aXtUmQH1Uo
— にゃらん (@nyalan_jalan) January 5, 2014ししょー…
まだ、お団子 冷めてにゃいでしょうか？ pic.twitter.com/pvug6zBaL6
— にゃらん (@nyalan_jalan) June 25, 2013The duo have been in TV commercials for years now, but it's Nyalan (which is Japanese for "meow" according to Kotaku) and his Twitter account that's put the two in the spotlight once again. You can follow more of their travels here.
だんご なにょです！ pic.twitter.com/bIwaFtAnN0
— にゃらん (@nyalan_jalan) April 11, 2013It's may seem like an unorthodox approach to promoting tourism, but given Japan's feline fixation involving cat cafes and an island nicknamed Cat Heaven Island for its population that outnumbers human inhabitants, maybe it's just a matter of time before the rest of the world catches on.
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