News
High-end private compartment class on Tokaido Shinkansen was unveiled before offered on October 1 2026
JR Tokai unveiled ‘Supreme Class,’ an upper class beyond the current ‘Green Class,’ which will be available on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen between Tokyo and Hakata.
Narita Airport will be enhanced to 500,000 aircraft movements and a capacity of 75 million passengers a year
Narita is enhancing the airport functions to increase aircraft movements to 500,000 times a year, which are expected to increase capacities to 75 million passengers.
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.
The first Hyatt luxury brand ‘Alila’ in Japan will open in Sengokuhara Hakone in 2028
Hyatt luxury brand ‘Alila’ will open in Sengokuhara Hakone in 2028. ‘Alila Sengokuhara Hakone’ will be the first Alila in Japan.
Airbnb Japan prioritizes an increase in Japanese guests to contribute to disperse them to local areas
New Airbnb Japan Representative Director Shintaro Nakagawa talked about the strategy in the Japanese market, prioritizing to raise awareness of the brand in Japan to increase Japanese users.
Japanese travelers in this summer holiday season are estimated to reduce by 5% to 71.2 million - JTB forecast
The number of Japanese travelers in this summer holiday season (July 15 to August 31 2026) is estimated to reduce by 4.6% year on year to 71.2 million, according to JTB.
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.
Spain's national tourism strategy centers on ‘residents,’ balancing their lives with tourism - Spain Talks in Japan
The Spanish Embassy's Tourism Office held the Spain Talks in Tokyo to discuss over-tourism, harmony with local residents' lives, the geographic dispersion of tourism, and the creation of experiential value.
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.
tripla, a Japanese IT solution provider for accommodation, partners with MakeMyTrip to help its users expand sales in India
tripla, a Japanese IT solution provider for accommodation, announced that its channel manager ‘tripla Nexus’ for accommodations is linked with Indian OTA ‘MakeMyTrip.'
ADR of major hotels in Japan rose by 8.6% to 17,818 yen, and the occupancy rate reached 83.3% in FY2025
According to Tokyo Shoko Research, ADR and the average occupancy rate of 13 major hotel brands reached the highest levels in FY2025 after the pandemic ended.
JTB、the Japan’s leading travel company, to acquire major Asian DMC ‘EXO Travel’ to expand its global business
JTB will acquire stocks of All Wise Holdings, which owns ‘EXO Travel,’ a major DMC in Asia to expand the travel businesses from Europe, US or Australia to Asia as a global leading DMC.
Japanese international travelers were up 4.7% to 1.13 million in May 2026
he number of Japanese international travelers in May 2026 was up 4.7% year on year to 1,127,400. Compared to May 2019, the number was still down 21.6%.
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.
ANA and JAL will raise fuel surcharges again to the highest levels ever from July 2026
ANA and JAL will raise their fuel surcharges for the tickets from July 1 to August 31 2026 to the highest levels ever, depending on the latest Singapore Kerosine price.
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.
