Japan Bound

Uber will begin dispatching taxies on the Uber app in Hakuba Village, Nagao Prefecture in the limited winter season to improve conveniences for international visitors who are used to use the Uber app.

According to the Jalan Research Center's survey, 59.7% of people in residence areas and 63.4% of people in business areas realized that tourists are crowded or slightly crowded.

the number of international visitors to Japan in October 2024 reached record-high 3,312,000 on a single months basis. The numbers for the first ten months totaled 30.2 million visitors, exceeding 30 million at the fastest rate in history .

The joint research by JTB Foundation and Development Bank of Japan finds that about 30% of foreign visitors to Japan have experienced over-crowded situation in tourist destinations or tourism spots.

The total number of guest nights in August 2024 was up 1% year on year to 64.9 million. Guest nights of international travelers were up 24.9% to 13.2 million (up 39.5% over August 2019), accounting for 20.4% of the total.

DMO KYOTO and City of Kyoto is developing ‘Kyoto Traveler’s Promise’ campaign from November 1 2024 to February 2025 to promote ‘Kyoto Tourism Moral.' A pre-booking of parking slots will be introduced in Higashiyama area.

International travelers from the world intend to visit regional destinations in Japan, but they have not been there yet. The ratio of international travelers who have visited lregional destinations before is less than 10% on average.

A premium event ’Special experience in “The Heart” of Tokyo’ in Kokyo Gaien National Garden (outer garden of the Imperial Palace) will be organized for the first time on November 20 and 21.

JAL and Hoshino Resorts launched a joint campaign to introduce 'a little-known but good destinations’ in Japan on each of the owned media and offer dynamic package tours.

Transactions on Visa cards by Korean travelers accounted for 62% in Asia Pacific, and the ratio of spendings on Visa cards in Japan increased from 39% of the total to 48%, according to Visa.

The most popular family destination among multi-generations travelers in 11 countries and regions in Asia is Tokyo, according to Booking.com survey. The highest-interested destination is Urayasu, a city of Tokyo Disneyland.

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has begun digital promotions for ‘EXPO + Tourism, encouraging JNTO website visitors to visit the ‘EXPO + Tourism’ tour booking website, and delivering NFTs featuring nature, foods or cultures in 10 regions.

NEC, Klook and Maruwa Transportation will begin offering ‘Travel Light’ service combining pre-checkin of a hotel with baggage delivery from an airport as one of the solution service against over-tourism.

Things encouraged to experience next time by information getting in traveling in Japan are ‘onsen,’ ‘tourism facilities’ and ‘sweets or snacks’ for Taiwanese travelers and ‘theme parks,’ ‘Japanese traditional or luxury restaurants’ and ‘popular casual restaurants among local people’ for American travelers.

The number of international visitors to Japan in September 2024 reached 2,872,200, 26.4% more than the same month in 2019. The final result in 2024 is expected to exceed 31.9 million visitors in 2019.

Vision, a Wi-Fi router rental company of Japan, launched a travel brand ‘Japan Destinations’ as a destination management company (DMC) to provide seamless arrangement of hotel, activity, transportation and tour guide.

Cunard, a cruise operator selected ‘Sukayu Onsen’ in Aomori, Japan as the most luxury shore excursion experience, valuing the unique landscape and Japanese traditional onsen experience and lunch.

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) hosted inspection tours for luxury travel consortium ‘Serandipians’ in Hokuriku and Setouchi. Quentin Desurmont, Serandipians Chairman, who joined the tour, talked about potentiality of Japan as a luxury destination.

Shibuya Ward and Shinjuku Ward, jointly called, “Keep rules” to visitors during this coming Halloween period, enforcing the ordinances banning drinking on the streets. Ken Hasebe, Mayer of Shibuya Ward, said that strong measures are needed to prevent over-toruism.

A digital tourism PR booth was set up at Kansai International Airport to encourage international tourists to visit local areas in western Japan before Osaka Kansai EXPO opens in April 2025.