Japan Domestic Travel

The number of guest nights for Japanese domestic travel recovery initiative ‘Go To Travel’ reached 39.8 million by the end of October, and the average supported amount by the government was 4,743 JPY a traveler a night.

Guest nights of the government’s domestic travel recovery initiative ‘Go To Travel’ reached about 31.4 million in the period between the launch day of July 22 and October 15 2020, doubling from 16.9 million announced on September 15.

NAVITIME Japan surveyed what Tokyo residents searched for their travels after Tokyo was added in the government’s domestic travel recovery campaign ‘Go To Travel' in comparison between the first weekend of October and the first weekend of September. The most-searched prefecture for public transportation was Ishikawa.

Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) staff themselves experienced Workcation in Hokkaido to translate their experiences into policymaking for Workcation.

Japanese influential economy body Keidanren or Japan Business Federation is addressing promotion of Workcation in Japan, working together with Japan Travel and Tourism Association and Workcation Alliance Japan.

According to NAVITIME Japan, the most popular destination was ‘Gotemba Premium Outlet Mall’ in Shizuoka, followed by ‘Tottori Sand Dunes’ in Tottori and ‘Nikko Toshogu’ in Tochigi in big 'Sliver Week' holiday, based on driving navigation service data.

The total number of guest nights for the Japanese government’s domestic travel recovery campaign ‘Go To Travel’ has reached 16.9 million for the first two months, and a budget of about 73.5 billion JPY has been used so far.

The total number of guest nights was down 58.4% year on year to 26.3 million in August 2020 (preliminary report). The monthly result of Japanese guest nights worsened from a 47.9% reduction in July 2020 with no positive effect yet from Go To Travel campaign.

Domestic travel consumption by Japanese travelers was down 83.3% year on year to 1,004 billion JPY in the second quarter of 2020 under the state of emergency declaration, which was lifted on May 25.

TripAdvisor survey illustrates that 45% of Japanese travelers plan driving, outdoor or nature travels in this autumn, and among them, the most popular destination is Hakuba, Nagano Prefecture.

Local bus and tour operator in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture launches a new package product incorporating PCR testing in tie-ups with a local clinic to ensure safer travel and confidence in traveling.

The trend survey of Nikkei BP, a business magazine publisher, finds that the index score of ‘Workcation’ is rapidly rising, as Japanese workers are more interested in the new working style with COVID-19.

Local shopping coupons, as part of the Japanese government’s domestic travel recovery campaign ‘Go To Travel,’ will be distributed on October 1 2020.A coupon is equivalent to discount of 15% on the total travel price for shopping in a local destination and neighbor prefectures.

Japanese guest nights in Kyoto City in July 2020 were down 50.1% year on year, but the monthly result improved from 23.8% in June, and DMO Kyoto explains that room rates on OTA after October this year are rising to the summer vacation level.

Interests in Workcation has been rising among Japanese workers since the pandemic stops their routine works, however it is true that both employees and employers have several challenges to do it.

Airbnb will join the Japanese government’s leading domestic travel campaign ‘Go To Travel’ as a home sharing platform, offering discounted listings in the middle of this coming October.

Users of the Japanese government’s domestic travel recovery campaign ‘Go To Travel’ reached about 4.2 million guest nights in total for the first month. Registrations in the campaign accounted for 49% of all accommodation providers and 58% of all travel service providers.

JTB offers VR-based ‘Virtual School Trip 360’ combining a 360-degree image tour with realtime communication with local people in order to give a school trip opportunity to schools suspending their trips amid COVID-19.

Booking.com and Agoda join 'Go To Travel' campaign, the Japanese government's leading domestic travel recovery campaign. After each of partner accommodations or vacation rentals register themselves in the campaign, the OTA will sell them on its platform.

Japanese overnight travel performance rate on its travel booking site jalan.net dropped to the lowest ever of 53.6% in FY2019 ending March 31 2020, largely affected by COVID-19 in March 2020. Overnight travel expenses were down 6.1%.