News
International visitors to Japan broke the single-month-record in January 2025, boosted by Chinese New Year holidays
The number of international visitors to Japan in January 2025 was up 40.6% year on year to 3,781,200, breaking the single-month record for two months in a row, boosted by Chinese New Year holidays.
Hotel Okura, a Japanese prestige hotel brand forms a strategic alliance with a resort hotel brand of Indonesia
Hotel Okura, a Japanese prestige hotel brand formed a strategic alliance with Plataran Indonesia, a resort hotel brand of Indonesia, for business collaborations. They saw many common grounds in management philosophy.
An innovative tourism service for local residents to create a tour as ‘casts’ is launched in Shikoku, Japan
‘Tabi wa hitomakase (Travel depends on local people in English)' was launched in Shikoku, Japan. Local residents as ‘casts’ share local lives and experiences with travelers as ‘guests,’ which is expected to provide deeper connections with people with travelers.
Hankyu Travel, a Japanese travel agent, will charter France-based cruise Ponant in 2027 for luxury international travelers to Japan
Hankyu Travel International, a Japanese travel agent, will charter ‘Le Jacques Cartier,’ a cruise ship of France-based Ponant, in March and April 2027 to offer Setonaikai cruise tours to luxury international travelers to Japan.
‘Linktivity,’ an e-ticket booking platform of Japan, starts dealing with transportation pass in Shanghai on global 400 OTAs
‘Linktivity,’ a BtoB e-ticket booking platform of Japan, started dealing with ‘Shanghai Pass,’ transportation pass in Shanghai on global 400 OTAs, including Japanese OTAs, connecting to Linktivity.
Hong Kong-based Klook raised another funds of $100 million to expand partnership with Google Cloud for AI and collaborations with tourism authorities in APAC
Klook, a Hong Kong-based local experience booking platform, raised funds of $100 million to expand partnership with Google Cloud in the AI development and to collaborate with local tourism authorities.
The average daily rate of hotels in Kyoto City reached record-high 20,195 yen with the occupancy rate of 78.5% in 2024
The occupancy rate of hotels in Kyoto City was 78.5% in 2024, 5.1 higher points than 2023. The average daily rate (ADR) was record-high 20,195 yen, higher than 17,403 yen in 2023 or 15,610 yen in 2019.
Bangkok-based Minor Hotels operating in 58 countries worldwide enters the luxury market of Japan in tie-up with Richmond Hotel operator
Royal Holdings of Japan, an operator of Richmond Hotels,and Minor Hotels, a Bangkok-based luxury hotel and resort residence operator, will launch a joint venture ‘Royal Minor Hotels’ to open 21 luxury hotels in Japan.
JR Kyushu, a railway company of Japan, and SkyDrive ally with Oita Prefecture for ‘Flying Car’ tour services
JR Kyushu, a railway company covering Kyushu area, and SkyDrive, a ‘Flying Car’ developer, signed a comprehensive agreement with Oita Prefecture to launch sightseeing tours by ‘Flying Car’ in Beppu Bay in 2028.
‘Disney Cruise’ in Japan will be operated by Yusen Group, an Asuka operator, offering 1250 cabins for 5,500 passengers
Oriental Land, a Tokyo Disney Resort operator, signed a basic agreement with Nippon Yusen and Yusen Cruise for a joint cruise business based in Japan in 2028, making ‘Family Entertainment Cruise’ come true.
Highway bus WILLER is booked by 11 times more Chinese travelers to Japan during this year’s Chinese New Year holiday period than a year go
Highway bus WILLER's Chinese passengers increased to 2,473 as of January 28 2025 during the Chinese New Year holiday period (January 13 to February 23 2025), which were about 11 times more than a year ago.
e-ticket management system provider ‘Japan ticket’ connects with Klook on API for pre-payment and instant booking for international travelers
Japan ticket, an e-ticket management system provider for international travelers to Japan, has started connecting with Klook to allow users to book tourism experiences provided by Japan ticket on the Klook platform.
Online booking for Shinkansen in the western Japan is now available on Apple Map
JR West, a railway company of Japan, has begun connecting online and ticketless booking services ‘Express Booking’ and ‘Smart EX’ with the route search on Apple Map.
Sumitomo Mitsui Card reveals that credit card payment in Japan by international visitors increased year on year by 55% in 2024
Sumitomo Mitsui Card revealed that international visitors to Japan paid 55.3% more money with credit cards during the period from January to November 2024 than a year ago. Payments in hotels, ryokans, restaurants and amusement parks increased,
Cherry blossom in Japan is expected to bloom earlier in this spring, and the earliest blooming may be seen in Tokyo on March 21
Weather News announced that cherry blossom is expected to bloom nationwide earlier than usual. The earliest blooming is seen in Tokyo on March 21, and blooming will begin in Hakodate on April 22.
New amusement park ‘JUNGLIA OKINAWA’ will open on July 25 2025, differentiating prices between residents in Japan and international visitors
A new large-scale amusement park ‘JUNGLIA OKINAWA’ will open in the northern part of Okinawa Prefecture on July 25 2025, differentiating prices between residents in Japan and international visitors. Economic ripple effect is estimated at 6.8 trillion yen for 15 years.
JTB and Airbnb Japan work together for reuse of abandoned houses to receive travelers in local regions
JTB and Airbnb Japan have agreed to work together for reuse of abandoned houses to receive travelers in local regions, having a goal of developing the areas in 100 regions nationwide by 2028.
ANA plans to increase international flights by 8% in FY2025 to meet growing inbound travel demand
ANA Group, including Peach Aviation and Air Japan, plans to operate 8% more international flights in FY2025 than FY2024. Peach and Air Japan plan to expand networks for Asia respectively within FY2025. Details will be announced later.
A key for 40 million international visitors in 2025 is how Japan National Tourism Organization encourages them to local regions
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Executive Senior Vice President mentioned a possibility of 40 million international visitors in 2025, "I believe that the current strong trend will be unchanged. We continue developing active promotions.”
JAL will launch Narita-Chicago services on May 31 2025, and its group airline JTA launch its first international services to Taipei
JAL will launch daily services between Narita and Chicago on May 31 2025. Japan Transocean Air (JTA) a JAL Group airline, will launch its first international services between Naha and Taipei by the end of FY2025.
