News

NAVITIME Japan, a navigation app provider, supports ‘empty-hand travel' for international visitors to Japan

NAVITIME Japan, a navigation app provider, supports ‘empty-hand travel' for international visitors to Japan

Bounce Japan and NAVITIME Japan started the system linkage between Bounce Japan’s ‘Bounce' and NAVITIME’s ‘Japan Travel by NAVITIME' to help international visitors find baggage storage spots on their traveling routes.
JAL will launch daily flight services between Narita and Delhi and start cod-shares with IndiGo in January 2026

JAL will launch daily flight services between Narita and Delhi and start cod-shares with IndiGo in January 2026

JAL will start serving daily flights between Narita and Delhi, India with Boeing 787-8 on January 17 2026, expecting to meet both business and leisure travel demands and transit demands from South Asia to North America via Narita.
ADR in Kyoto City was down 7% to 17,000 yen in August 2025, but the occupancy rate is expected to reach 90% in early October

ADR in Kyoto City was down 7% to 17,000 yen in August 2025, but the occupancy rate is expected to reach 90% in early October

The average occupancy rate of 113 hotels in Kyoto City was 76.8% in August 2025, and ADR was down 6.7% to 16,863 yen. DMO KYOTO has forecasted that the occupancy rates are expected to be 86.2% in October.
Agoda sets stricter standards for third-party suppliers in addition to an AI-based trouble detection tool and a 24/7  support service

Agoda sets stricter standards for third-party suppliers in addition to an AI-based trouble detection tool and a 24/7 support service

Agoda implemented improvement of functions on the booking platform, including stricter compliance standards for third-party suppliers, an AI-based trouble detection tool and a 24/7 support service.
Michelin Guide unveils 128 Michelin Key 2025 hotels and ryokans in Japan, including seven 3 Keys and 20 2 Keys

Michelin Guide unveils 128 Michelin Key 2025 hotels and ryokans in Japan, including seven 3 Keys and 20 2 Keys

Michelin Guide unveiled 128 Michelin Key 2025 hotels and ryokans in Japan. 3 Michelin keys go to ‘Asaba’ in Shizuoka for the firs time (promoted from 2 key) in addition to six hotels selected last year.
JTB launches a new sharing service for baggage delivery in Japan to match a traveler with a driver

JTB launches a new sharing service for baggage delivery in Japan to match a traveler with a driver

JTB has launched a new sharing service ‘Baggage GO’ to match a traveler who wants to deliver baggage in a tourist destination with a driver who wants to take it on a system.
Visitors to Tourism EXPO Japan 2025 reached 126,900 in total for four days, exceeding  the initial expectation

Visitors to Tourism EXPO Japan 2025 reached 126,900 in total for four days, exceeding the initial expectation

The number of visitors to “Tourism EXPO Japan 2025’ at Aichi Sky Expo from September 25 to 28 2025 was 126,900 in total, exceeding the initial expectation of 100,000.
Event booking platform ‘Peatix’ launches a multi-language booking service for international visitors to Japan

Event booking platform ‘Peatix’ launches a multi-language booking service for international visitors to Japan

Event booking platform ‘Peatix’ has launched ‘Visiting Japan,’ a new service for international visitors to Japan to find and book events in multi-languages.
WTTC forecasts Japan will be the most serious country in shortage of tourism workforces in 2035

WTTC forecasts Japan will be the most serious country in shortage of tourism workforces in 2035

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) released ‘Future of the Travel & Tourism Workforce." Japan is most severely affected, with a labor supply shortfall of 29% compared to demand levels in 2035.
Airbnb and JTB, the largest Japanese travel agent, launch a local revitalization project in Japan, expecting to bring the success stories to the world

Airbnb and JTB, the largest Japanese travel agent, launch a local revitalization project in Japan, expecting to bring the success stories to the world

JTB and Airbnb Japan have launched a local revitalization project named ‘Mirai Nigiwai Kobo’ in Japanese to solve a variety of issues in local areas and create new sustainable values.
JR East, a Japanese railway company, extends a ticketless service for foreign travelers to Shinkansen and Narita Express

JR East, a Japanese railway company, extends a ticketless service for foreign travelers to Shinkansen and Narita Express

JR East, a Japanese railway company covering eastern Japan, has begun linking ‘Welcome Suica Mobile,’ an app for international visitors to Japan, with JR-EAST Train Reservation,’ a ticket booking platform.
Japanese OTA Rakuten Travel launches AI agent to assist users find accommodations meeting their needs, based on reviews and booking trends

Japanese OTA Rakuten Travel launches AI agent to assist users find accommodations meeting their needs, based on reviews and booking trends

Rakuten Travel, one of the largest OTAs in Japan, has launched an AI agent ‘Rakuten Travel AI Hotel Search’ that assists a user to find hotel or ryokan candidates, based on reviews and the booking trend analysis data.
Yokohama City Visitors Bureau launched a new tourism branding campaign ‘Blooming Yokohama’ toward GREEN×EXPO 2027

Yokohama City Visitors Bureau launched a new tourism branding campaign ‘Blooming Yokohama’ toward GREEN×EXPO 2027

Yokohama City Visitors Bureau launched a new tourism branding campaign ‘Blooming Yokohama’ to create momentum for ‘GREEN×EXPO 2027,' which will be held from March 19 to September 26 2027.
Narita Airport handled the first 1 million Japanese passengers in August 2025 since the pandemic ended

Narita Airport handled the first 1 million Japanese passengers in August 2025 since the pandemic ended

The number of Japanese passengers from/to Narita Airport in August 2025 was up15% year on year to 1,050,000, exceeding 1 million a month for the first time since the pandemic ended.
‘Tourism EXPO Japan 2025’ was held in Aichi for the first time, opening with the prime minister’s remark that tourism is a trump for local revitalization

‘Tourism EXPO Japan 2025’ was held in Aichi for the first time, opening with the prime minister’s remark that tourism is a trump for local revitalization

Tourism EXPO Japan 2025 with a theme of ‘Travel for Discovery and New Encounters’ opened at Aichi Sky Expo in Aichi Prefecture on September 25. At the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba sent a video message: “Tourism is a core industry in the regions.
Activity booking management system ‘JTB BÓKUN’ launches a new system linkage to manage both domestic and overseas bookings

Activity booking management system ‘JTB BÓKUN’ launches a new system linkage to manage both domestic and overseas bookings

‘JTB BÓKUN,’ an activity booking management system, has launched a new system linkage with ‘OMUSUBI,’ a SEEC’s booking management system to manage bookings from multiple OTAs.
Seibu Prince Hotel of Japan acquires Seattle-based lifestyle hotel brand Ace Hotel to accelerate its global business development

Seibu Prince Hotel of Japan acquires Seattle-based lifestyle hotel brand Ace Hotel to accelerate its global business development

Prince Hotels Worldwide (SPW) will acquire all stocks of Seattle-based lifestyle hotel brand Ace Group International LLC (AGI) at up to $90 million. SPW is going to accelerate its global business development strategy.
Airbnb contributed to 770 billion yen to GDP in Japan, with three days stay on average by international guests

Airbnb contributed to 770 billion yen to GDP in Japan, with three days stay on average by international guests

Airbnb's economic contribution to GDP by stays and the related spending in Japan amounted to 770 billion yen in 2024, according to the survey conducted by Oxford Economics.
Japanese outbound travelers were up 15% year on year to 1.65 million, 80% of the 2019 level

Japanese outbound travelers were up 15% year on year to 1.65 million, 80% of the 2019 level

The number of Japanese outbound travelers in August 2025 was up 14.7% year on year to 1,648,300, the most outbound travelers in this year.
International arrivals in Japan reached 3.4 million in August 2025, the first over 3 million for August

International arrivals in Japan reached 3.4 million in August 2025, the first over 3 million for August

The number of international arrivals in Japan in August 2025 was up 16.9% year on year to 3,428,000. After the single-digit growths for the past two months, the growth rate returned to double-digit again.