News
U.S. had the top share of international visitor’s nights in Kyoto City in March 2026
The average occupancy rate of 113 hotels in Kyoto City was 81.6% in March 2026, 2.5 higher points than a year ago. U.S. had been the top market share of international travelers’ nights since October 2025.
Travel consumption in Japan totaled 37.6 trillion yen in 2025, including 9.5 trillion trillion yen by international visitors to Japan
The total amount of travel consumption in Japan reached 37.6 trillion yen in 2025, 9.6% more than 34.4 trillion yen in 2024, including 1.4 trillion yen in international travel by Japanese travelers (a share of 3.7%).
JAL enables boarding and transfers using only facial recognition, linked with individual information on smartphones
JAL and Tokyo International Air Terminal (TIAT) demonstrated the next generation boarding experience using digital identity, using facial recognition, from boarding to transfer.
Sagawa Express, a Japanese delivery service, starts online booking for baggage storage service with multi-languages
Sagawa Express, a Japanese delivery service, started offering online booking for baggage storage service with multi-languages.
Hilton will open luxury brand ‘LXR’ in Hakone Gora area in the summer 2028
Hilton will open its luxury brand ‘LXR Hotels & Resorts’ in Hakone Gora area in the summer 2028., as the second LXR brand in Japan, following Kyoto.
International hospitality tech conference ‘HITEC’ will be held in Tokyo in December 2026 for the first time
International hospitality tech conference ‘HITEC TOKYO’ in the first Hospitality Tech EXPO will be held in December 2026 in Tokyo for the first time.
ANA and JAL will raise fuel surcharges by up to two times from May 2026, charging 56,000 yen on U.S. and Europe routes
ANA and JAL Group will raise the fuel surcharges on their international flights departing from May 1 2026, revising their fuel surcharge rules to respond rapid change of market prices.
New rules on usage of mobile battery in a flight cabin was enforced in Japan on April 24 2026
New rules for a passenger to bring mobile battery into a flight cabin was enforced on April 24 2026, following the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) ’s emergency amendment.
There is a 4.5 times gap between Japanese travelers to Taiwan and Taiwanese travelers to Japan in 2025
There was still a 4.5 times gap between Japanese travelers to Taiwan and Taiwanese travelers to Japan. Taiwan Tourism Administration is trying to increase Japanese travelers to Taiwan.
Japanese international travelers were up 6.7% to 1.52 million in March 2026
The number of Japanese international travelers in March 2026 was up 6.7% year on year to 1,519,000. Compared to March 2019, the number was still down 21.3%.
International visitor spending in Japan amounted to 2.3 trillion yen for the first three months of 2026
Spending by international visitors for the first three months of 2026 increased by 2.5% year on year to 2.3 trillion yen. A French traveler spent 407,759 yen per person.
International arrivals in Japan exceeded 10 million for the first three months of 2026 with 3.62 million in March
The number of international arrivals in Japan in March 2026 was up 3.5% year on year to 3,618,900, and the total for the first three months of 2026 already reached 10,683,500.
JTB acquired a location data analysis company to Internalize processes from problem identification to effectiveness verification
JTB acquired all stocks of Nightley, a location data analysis company to strengthen to use and analyze its customer insight data.
MUFG Bank and Sagawa Express launch a new empty-handed travel service in the bank branch in Kyoto City
MUFG Bank and Sagawa Express have launched a new empty-handed travel service ‘KYOTO Travel Satellite’ in MUFG Bank Kyoto branch.
An app helping international drivers avoid rent-a-car accidents is released by NAVITIME JAPAN
NAVITIME JAPAN and Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance developed a smartphone app to reduce rent-a-car accidents by international travelers to Japan.
Local experience bookings by Japanese international travelers during the Golden Week period 2026 increased by up to 2.2 times
According to KKDAY JAPAN, local experience and optional tour bookings from Japanese international travelers for 10 days from March 26 to April 6 2026 were up 2.2 times.
JTB creates motorcycle tours in Japan for luxury international travelers
JTB and MOTO TOURS JAPAN will work together in creating new motorcycle tourism in japan for international travelers.
JAL, JTB and JR East work together for a new tourism model for wide-area tours, combining air and rail
JAL, JTB and JR East are working together for a ‘multi-layered tourism’ initiative in the eastern Japan area, combining multiple modes of transportation, such as rail and air travel.
Mitsui hotels in Japan introduce an online medical consultation service for international visitors
39 Mitsui hotels introduced online medical consultation service ‘Mimipo for Travel,' 24/7 online medical consultations available from hotel rooms.
Activity booking platform KKday connects Japanese PMS providers, allowing accommodations to offer package plans
KKday has started system linkages with Japanese PMS providers of ‘TL-Lincoln and TEMAIRAZU, allowing accommodations offer package plans combined with local experiences or tickets on the KKday platform.
