The Japanese minister noted that his country has religious, historial and cultural relationship with India.
"To maintain and strengthen this relationship, Japanese government is exploring possibility of developing Buddha pilgrimages in India, specially Uttar Pradesh," Takemoto, who arrived here with Assembly Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey and Panchayati Raj Minister Balram Yadav, told reporters yesterday.
He said that priority was being given to road, transport and power arrangements in this direction and a delegation on behalf of Japanese government would visit soon to take stock of the situation.
The minister said that despite being smaller than UP in size, Japan was numer two in the world economically and technically.
He visited several Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the district including Japani temple, Jaitvan Vihar, Den Mahamankol meditation centre of Thaliand and cave of Angulimal.
Pandey said that attention was being given to promote tourism by integrated development of Buddha pilgrimages.