Japan Bound
Co-Founders of local experience booking platform ‘GetYourGuide’ talk about how they expect the Japanese market and why
GetYourGuide co-founders, Johannes Reck and Tao Tao talked about the Japanese market and partnership with suppliers, expecting that Japan continues being one of the most popular destination on its platform.
An Okinawa-based DMC is launched for inbound adventure travel tours across Japan in cooperation with five local DMCs
Okinawa-based ‘Nature Travel Japan’ was launched as a new destination management company (DMC). Under a brand name of ‘Japan Adventure Travel,’ five local DMCs partner to create adventure travel tours across Japan for inbound travelers.
Japan Tourism Agency creates new ‘Travel Etiquette’ and ‘Tourism Pictogram’ as guidances for travelers to promote sustainable tourism
Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) has created new ‘Travel Etiquette’ and ‘Tourism Pictogram’ to raise awareness of tourist etiquette and recommended behavior.
Japan National Tourism Organization issues ink painting NFT to promote Osaka Kansai EXPO as a gateway to travel nationwide
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) issued 20 kinds of ink painting NFTs featuring local landmarks in 10 regions as one of the efforts in Osaka Kansai EXPO 2025 promotions.
Uber Japan will dispatch taxies in Hakuba, Nagano, in the limited winter season to improve conveniences for international visitors
Uber will begin dispatching taxies on the Uber app in Hakuba Village, Nagao Prefecture in the limited winter season to improve conveniences for international visitors who are used to use the Uber app.
The research about over-tourism in Japan finds that 60% of all regions realize over-crowded tourists, and the biggest challenge is traffic
According to the Jalan Research Center's survey, 59.7% of people in residence areas and 63.4% of people in business areas realized that tourists are crowded or slightly crowded.
International visitors to Japan exceeded 30 million at the fastest rate in history with 3.31 million in October 2024
the number of international visitors to Japan in October 2024 reached record-high 3,312,000 on a single months basis. The numbers for the first ten months totaled 30.2 million visitors, exceeding 30 million at the fastest rate in history .
30% of foreign visitors to Japan have experienced over-tourism in traveling
The joint research by JTB Foundation and Development Bank of Japan finds that about 30% of foreign visitors to Japan have experienced over-crowded situation in tourist destinations or tourism spots.
International guest nights increased by 50% in three urban areas and 20% in local regions in August 2024
The total number of guest nights in August 2024 was up 1% year on year to 64.9 million. Guest nights of international travelers were up 24.9% to 13.2 million (up 39.5% over August 2019), accounting for 20.4% of the total.
Kyoto City is taking precautions against over-tourism, such as pre-booking of parking slots or a digital map to spread tourists, for the busiest autumn
DMO KYOTO and City of Kyoto is developing ‘Kyoto Traveler’s Promise’ campaign from November 1 2024 to February 2025 to promote ‘Kyoto Tourism Moral.' A pre-booking of parking slots will be introduced in Higashiyama area.
More than 90% of international travelers to Japan intend to visit regional areas, but less than 10% have visited there before
International travelers from the world intend to visit regional destinations in Japan, but they have not been there yet. The ratio of international travelers who have visited lregional destinations before is less than 10% on average.
Outer garden of the Imperial Palace, the heart of Tokyo, is exclusively reserved as a premium event for the first time
A premium event ’Special experience in “The Heart” of Tokyo’ in Kokyo Gaien National Garden (outer garden of the Imperial Palace) will be organized for the first time on November 20 and 21.
JAL and Hoshino Resorts launch a joint campaign to introduce ‘a little-known but good destination’ for inbound travelers
JAL and Hoshino Resorts launched a joint campaign to introduce 'a little-known but good destinations’ in Japan on each of the owned media and offer dynamic package tours.
Transactions on Visa cards by Korean travelers in Japan increase from 39% to 48% of all their spendings
Transactions on Visa cards by Korean travelers accounted for 62% in Asia Pacific, and the ratio of spendings on Visa cards in Japan increased from 39% of the total to 48%, according to Visa.
The most popular family travel destination among travelers in Asia is Tokyo. according to Booking.com survey
The most popular family destination among multi-generations travelers in 11 countries and regions in Asia is Tokyo, according to Booking.com survey. The highest-interested destination is Urayasu, a city of Tokyo Disneyland.
Japan National Tourism Organization begins digital promotions for ‘EXPO + Tourism’ in earnest, including delivery of local NFTs
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has begun digital promotions for ‘EXPO + Tourism, encouraging JNTO website visitors to visit the ‘EXPO + Tourism’ tour booking website, and delivering NFTs featuring nature, foods or cultures in 10 regions.
NEC and Klook offer a package service of hotel pre-checkin and baggage delivery from an airport to a hotel
NEC, Klook and Maruwa Transportation will begin offering ‘Travel Light’ service combining pre-checkin of a hotel with baggage delivery from an airport as one of the solution service against over-tourism.
Can in-destination experiences be a trigger for inbound travelers to revisit Japan?
Things encouraged to experience next time by information getting in traveling in Japan are ‘onsen,’ ‘tourism facilities’ and ‘sweets or snacks’ for Taiwanese travelers and ‘theme parks,’ ‘Japanese traditional or luxury restaurants’ and ‘popular casual restaurants among local people’ for American travelers.
International visitors to Japan are expected to exceed the pre-pandemic level this year with 2.87 million visitors in September
The number of international visitors to Japan in September 2024 reached 2,872,200, 26.4% more than the same month in 2019. The final result in 2024 is expected to exceed 31.9 million visitors in 2019.
Japanese Wi-Fi router rental launches a travel brand for inbound travelers with a tagline of ‘Explore Wonderland Japan’
Vision, a Wi-Fi router rental company of Japan, launched a travel brand ‘Japan Destinations’ as a destination management company (DMC) to provide seamless arrangement of hotel, activity, transportation and tour guide.
