Japan Domestic Travel
Cherry blossoms blooming is forecasted on March 18 in Tokyo first, and full blooming is expected to be earlier nationwide
This year's cherry blossom season is expected to start blooming first in Tokyo on March 18, according to Weathernews. Full blooming will be earlier than usual nationwide.
Three prefectures in Hokuriku will start receiving bookings for financial aid package on March 8 2024, encouraging leisure travel in the earthquake-hit regions
Niigata, Toyama and Fukui Prefectures have decided to receive bookings for financial aid package on March 8 2024. The package will be applicable to travel from March 16 to April 26.
Japan Tourism Agency reveals outlines of a travel discount program in the devastated Hokuriku, but opening date is not decided yet
Japan Tourism Agency officially announced outlines of a travel discount program in the devastated Hokuriku. International visitors to Japan are eligible for the program, too.
Japanese AI speaker provider TradFit launches a new service to recommend a right hotel in a destination based on smartphone data
TradFit, a Japanese AI speaker provider for accommodation, launched a new service to recommend a right hotel in a destination based on data acquired from a user’s smartphone.
Foreigners’ guest nights in Japan were up 32% in December 2023 compared to pre-pandemic
The total number of guest nights in December 2023 (provisionally) was up 9.4% year on year to 51.5 million, which were also up 9.3% compared to the same month of 2019. Foreigner travelers were up 32.3% to 12.1 million.
EXPO 2025 Osaka Kansai is expected to generate 891.3 billion JPY in spending by visitors
Asia-Pacific Institute of Research (APIR) estimated spending by visitors to EXPO 2025 Osaka Kansai at 891.3 billion JPY in a basic case, which of 224 billion JPY for transportation, 173.5 billion JPY for accommodation, 161.9 billion JPY for drinking and eating, 186.7 billion JPY for shopping and 145 billion JPY for entertainment.
A tourism aid package for four prefectures hit by Noto Peninsula Earthquake is approved, discounting up to 30,000 JPY for a two-nights tour
To support the Noto Peninsula Earthquake-hit regions, a travel discount program is launched for four prefectures, which will be available from March to late April before Golden Week period starts.
Guest nights in Japan by both Japanese and foreigners finally exceeded the pre-pandemic level for three consecutive months
Total number of guest nights in November 2023 (provisionally) was up 16.9% year on year to 53.6 million, which were up 7.9% compared to the same month of 2019. The share of foreigners’ guest nights was 22.8% of the total in October.
Airbnb Japan introduces its first new functions exclusively forJapan, reflecting the current trends of increases in group guests and stays in local areas
Airbnb Japan has introduced new specific functions for Japan in line with the recent trends in the Japanese market, saying that guests choose locations other than famous tourist spots and prefer to group travel.
A tour to stay in a mountain cabin at the 5th station of Mt. Fuji in the winter is available at 79,200 JPY a person
Sato-koya, a mountain cabin located in the 5th station of Mt.Fuji, will begin providing a tour to stay in the winter. The price is 79,200 JPY a night a person, including a variety of activities and a guide tour.
Hoshino Resorts, a Japan’s hotel chain, offers a digital detox plan for young guests, sealing a smartphone in a box
Hoshino Resorts, a Japan’s hotel chain, has started selling an unique stay plan without a smartphone, named ‘No Smartphone Stay.’ In checking in, smartphone is sealed in the box.
Guest nights in Japan by both Japanese and foreigners finally exceeded the pre-pandemic level in September 2023
Guest nights by Japanese travelers and foreigner travelers in September 2023 were respectively up 0.6% to 40.7 million and up 15.4% to 9.5 million compared to the same month of 2019.
Tourism Expo Japan 2023 was held in Osaka to appeal tourism in Japan to the world toward EXPO 2025 Osaka Kansai
Four-days ‘Tourism Expo Japan 2023 Osaka/Kansai’ was held with a theme of ‘OPEN THE DOOR TO THE FUTURE,’ from October 26 to 29 2023 to showcase the future of diversified tourism industries in Japan after the pandemic.
Tourism DX on an app for rent-a-bicycle users is tested in Shimanami area, a popular destination in Japan for cyclists
Shimanami Japan, a local DMO, has started tourism DX demonstration on its app for rent-a-bicycle users in Shimanami area in order to increase local spending by them.
A leading Japanese cruise operator unveils a new luxury ship, targeting not only regular senior travelers but also new customers
MOL Cruises announced that the Japanese cruise operator will begin operating a new cruise ship ‘MITSUI OCEAN FUJI’ in December 2024, expecting to attract senior working people or couples in Japan and even inbound travelers as new customers.
Okinawa forecasts that tourists will reduce 20% to 8.22 million in 2023 compared to 2019, as domestic tourists recover to the pre-pandemic level
Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau (OCVB) has forecasted that the number of tourists to Okinawa will increase by 44.3% year on year to 8.22 million in 2023. International arrivals in Okinawa are expected to reduce 65.5% to 1.02 million compared to 2019.
Experience booking platform ‘Klook’ starts selling a package of accommodation and local activities in Japan particularly for young generations
Local experience booking platform ‘Klook’ has started offering ‘Stay +,’ a package combing accommodation booking with in-destination products such as such as airport railway tickets or theme-park admission tickets.
A new medical tourism is launched in Hakuba, Nagano Prefecture Japan, in cooperation between accommodations and a local clinic
A medical tourism by collaboration by a ski resort, accommodations and a local clinic was launched in Hakuba Iwatake area in Nagano Prefecture for travelers who are concerned about their own healths.
Ministry of Tourism Japan expands a partnership with ‘Pokémon GO’ to help travelers rediscover local historic architectures
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has started a partnership with ‘Pokémon GO’ in three cities to help users rediscover historic architectures in local areas.
JTB luxury travel retailer ties up with Rikkyo University to create new wellness travel products
Royal Road Ginza, a JTB luxury travel retailer, ties up with Rikkyo University Wellness Research Institute to work together for creation of new wellness travel products. The first product focuses on ‘well-sleep’ and ‘onsen’ in Kamakura and Tsukiji.
