Japan Bound
TikTok Go launches a project to promote local appeals in Japan, firstly in Kyoto City and Otsu City
TikTok launched ‘TikTok Go Local,’ a project to promote local appeals in Japan using ‘TikTok Go.' The first project will be developed in Kyoto City and Otsu City.
Japan’s medical service provider MEDI PHONE provides free medical translation services in Kumamoto to support foreigners
Following the Kumamoto Earthquake, Japan’s medical service provider MEDI PHONE provides free medical translation services in Kumamoto to support foreigners.
Multimodal booking platform ‘Omio’ is accelerating its business in Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Omio’ announced a $10m strategic investment from Granite-Integral to accelerate its expansion in Japan and strengthen its presence across Southeast Asia.
Japan National Tourism Organization appeals Japan’s original wellness contents in the growing US market
JNTO recognizes it is notable that family travelers with kids from long-haul source markets, especially from US, have recently been increasing.
60% of luxury cruise passengers participate in local tours at ports of call, with high-priced tours being preferred among inbound travelers
The average participation rate for optional tours at ports of call in Japan was 60% for "luxury and expedition ships-class" ships, exceeding the 20% rate of "causal and premium ships -class" ships.
Spending in Japan by international visitors amounted to 2.5 trillion yen for Q2 of 2026
Spending by international visitors for the second quarter of 2026 (April to June) increased by 0.2% year on year to 2.5 trillion yen. US topped the list with 384.8 billion yen.
International arrivals in Japan were down 6.8% in June 2026, while record-high were seen 15 source markets
The number of international arrivals in Japan in June 2026 was down 6.8% year on year to 3,148,600, arrivals from 15 source markets were record-high for June.
Spending on local activities in Japan by international travelers accounts for just 5% of the total
‘Tabinka Summit 2026,' an event to discuss how activity operators can earn more money, showed that spending on local activities in Japan by international travelers accounts for just 5% of the total.
Japan Association of Travel Agents is rebuilding two-way tourism under new leadership, aiming at 20 million or more Japanese outbound travelers
Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) launched its new executive team in June 2026. They are rebuilding two-way tourism with a goal of 20 million or more Japanese outbound travelers.
‘SAGAWA Hand-Free Travel’ in Japan extends the leaving baggage location to a bank in Kyoto
Sagawa Express is trying to extend the leaving baggage locations for ‘SAGAWA Hand-Free Travel’ service to banks in cities. The first bank location is MUFG Kyoto branch.
Visa fee for foreigners to Japan rises by five times to 15,000 yen for single validity and 30,000 yen for multiple validity
Visa fee for foreigners to Japan rose by five times to 15,000 yen for single validity and to 30,000 yen for multiple validity on a yen basis.
Awaji Island and Kobe City jointly promote gastronomy tourism with a goal to triple international guests
Awaji Island Tourist Association and Kobe Tourism Bureau in Hyogo Prefecture encourage tourists to stay there longer by offering local tourism experiences.
Japan Times selects Uchiko, Ehime Prefecture as a valuable region in Japan to be introduced to the world
Japan Times selected Uchiko in Ehime Prefecture in ‘The Japan Times Destination Region 2026’ project to introduce valuable regions in Japan to the world.
Visitors to 10 Hakuba Valley ski resorts reached 1.9 million in the 2025-2026 winter season, out of which 48% were foreigners
The total number of visitors to 10 ski resorts in the Hakuba area in the 2025-2026 winter season were up 3% year on year to record-high 1,925,000 in the last decade.
International arrivals in Japan were down 3.6% in May 2026, while record-high were seen 19 source markets
The number of international arrivals in Japan in May 2026 was down 3.6% year on year to 3,559,900. Despite the reduction overall, arrivals from 19 source markets broke the previous record for May.
The repeater rate of inbound tourists to Japan is 65%, while the first-time visit rate from long-haul markets is 60%
EY Strategy and Consulting (EYSC) has released the latest tourism report ‘Toward Building a Sustainable Inbound Market,' analyzing and organizes the behavior, consumption patterns, and regional dispersion of tourists.
The Destination Restaurant of the Year 2026 in Japan is awarded to a shark fin specialty restaurant in Kesennuma, Miyagi
The Destination Restaurant of the Year 2026 in the 6th Japan Times Destination Restaurants was awarded to ‘Kesennuma KUROMORI,’ a shark fin specialty restaurant, in Kesennuma, Miyagi.
JAL will augment five international routes, including San Diego and Bengaluru, to meet growing inbound travel demands
JAL will augment to daily flights on five international routes after September 2026 to meet growing inbound travel demands, including Narita-San Diego and Narita-Bengaluru after September 1.
Empty-hand travel service in Japan allows an international traveler to add up to 1.5 hours for leisure, the survey says
The final report on empty-hand travel in Japan finds that the empty-hand travel service allowed a traveler to add up to 1.5 hours for leisure activities.
Real Pokémon GO event in Tokyo gathered 1.71 million participants, encouraging them to walk in unknown Tokyo
‘Pokémon GO Fest Tokyo’ was held in the Tokyo Bay Area for four days. Including ‘In-Town Game Play’ over entire Tokyo (except islands), a pre-event from May 25, the total number of participants reached about 1.71 million.
