へようこそ and にようこそ

Question

I've noticed that both へ and に are use with ようこそ. The one I learned first is へ, and it seems like it's more common, but I know に is also used, as in the title NHKにようこそ.

When I search BCCWJ, I find that へ is more common, at least when it comes right before ようこそ:

　へようこそ　　　69 results
　にようこそ　　　37 results

Of course, this is a written corpus and it might be different in speech. But assuming I'm right that へ is generally more common, are there any other differences between the two? I always say へ, but every time I hear に I wonder if there's a difference in register or such that I'm not picking up on, or if they're totally the same.

I think へ is preferred in titles, slogans, and when the verb is omitted. http://nhg.pro.tok2.com/qa/joshi-14.htm — Yang Muye, Aug 18 '14 at 08:03
^ 確かにプレゼントとか宛名などには「～さんへ」ですね・・　でも『アルジャーノンに花束を』『まごころを、君に。』とかもありますよね・・ — chocolate, Feb 28 '18 at 08:59

score 8 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 28 '18 at 08:50

I think there is no difference in politeness, register, gender, etc., between the two.

"Welcome to X" on the welcome signs for tourists is more commonly written as "ようこそXへ". This is a well-known idiom; if I saw "ようこそ日本に" at Narita Airport, I would feel it's a bit unnatural.

However, I feel 「Xへようこそ」 and 「Xにようこそ」 are completely interchangeable, when X is 私の家, 東京, 日本, NHK, グーグル, グランドキャニオン or even 宇宙.

(By the way, this is a topic I've been concerned about, too, since I saw an OP's answer in a different question.)

へようこそ and にようこそ

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