へようこそ and にようこそ


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](http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHK%E3%81%AB%E3%82%88%E3%81%86%E3%81%93%E3%81%9D!).

When I search [BCCWJ](http://www.kotonoha.gr.jp/shonagon/), I find that へ is
more common, at least when it comes right before ようこそ:

[code]

    　へようこそ　　　69 results
    　にようこそ　　　37 results
    
[/code]

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 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](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/16269/).)




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](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/16269/).)

