News
A pre-booking program for Mt. Fuji will be launched in July 2024, giving climbers wristbands for qualification
Yamanashi Prefecture will introduce a pre-booking program to collect admission fees from climbers to Mt.Fuji on July 1 2024. The prefecture placed a gate in the Mt. Fuji fifth entrance station to collect admission fees this year.
Trip.com received more travel bookings from China to Japan in Q1 of 2024 than 2019, increasing travelers to local areas
Trip.com received more travel bookings from mainland China to Japan in the first quarter of 2024 than the same period of 2019, and bookings in local areas of Japan have increased.
Japanese outbound travelers in April 2024 still remained half of April 2019
The number of Japanese outbound travelers was down 46.7% to 888,800 in April 2024 compared to the same month 2019.
International visitors to Japan exceeded 3 million in April 2024 for two months in a row, already reaching 10 million in total
The number of international visitors to Japan in April 2024 was up 4.0% to 3,042,900 compared to the same month of 2019. For the first four months of 2024. the total already reached 11.6 million visitors in total.
Foreigners’ guest nights in Japan were up 33% in March 2024 compared to pre-pandemic
The total number of guest nights in March 2024 (provisionally) was up 8.2% year on year to 54.9 million, which consisted of 42.2 million Japanese guests (up 1.3%) and 12.7 million foreigners' guests (up 33.4%).
A Japanese railway operator in Kansai area sells digital ticket on smartphone for WeChat Pay users of China
Kintetsu Railway will sell digital tickets for the lines between Osaka Nanba or Kyoto and Nara to WeChat Pay users of China on WeChat mini program, working together with Linktivity.
Narita Airport tests the face recognition boarding process on a passenger’s smartphone in linkage with ANA and JAL apps
The face recognition boarding process ‘Face Express’ on a passenger’s smartphone was tested at Narita Airport, linking the app with ANA and JAL apps.
South Korea’s unicorn OTA earnestly sets out to exploit accommodation partners in Japan
GC Company, a South Korea’s unicorn OTA, has earnestly begun exploiting accommodation partners in Japan with a goal of annual transactions of about 110 billion yen for businesses in Japan by 2028.
Marriott renovates 14 UNIZO Holdings’ hotels in Japan to Four Points Express by Sheraton, the first brand in APAC
14 UNIZO Holdings’ hotels in Japan will be renovated to Four Points Express by Sheraton. They will be the first Four Points Express by Sheraton brand in APAC.
Popularity of ‘Pets Tourism’ is rising in Japan, as two-thirds of dog owners hope to travel with their pets
63% of dog owners hope to travel together with their dogs. The ratio of owners who are eager to travel with their pets (except owners who want to if possible) reduced to about 10% of all.
85% of travel and hospitality business operators in Japan are forced to limit their operation hours due to labour shortage
85% of travel and hospitality business operators in Japan were forced to limit their operation hours due to labour shortage. The hospitality industry has struggled with their operations, such as reduce in operation days (51%).
Japanese remote workers in Tokyo remain 40% with more hybrid-typed works combing with coming into office
The ratio of employed remote workers in Japan decreased from 26.1% in FY2022 to 24.8% in FY2023. In Tokyo Metropolitan area, the ratio remained about 40%.
JAL achieved considerable increases in both revenue and profit for FY2023, carrying 1.5 times more international flight passengers
JAL increased revenue by 20.1% year on year to 1652 billion yen for FY 2023 ended March 31 2024, 19.2% more than even FY2019, carrying 1.5 times more international flight passengers.
ANA posted record-high operating income for FY2023 with more international passenger revenue than domestic passenger revenue for the first time
ANA Holdings considerably increased operating revenue for FY2023 ended March 31 2024 to 2,056 billion yen because of strong air travel demand after the pandemic. International passenger service revenue surpassed domestic passenger service revenue.
Japan’s IT solution provider Tripla installs a multi-currency payment function in its booking engine for accommodations
Tripla, a Japan’s IT solution provider for accommodations, launches a multi-currency payment function on its booking engine ‘Tripla Book,' which is a direct booking function for accommodations.
A stay program in 400-years-old ‘Marugame Castle’ in Kagawa Prefecture will be on sale at 1.26 million JPY a night
A stay in 400-years-old ‘Marugame Castle Experience’ in Kagawa Prefecture will be on sale at 1,265,000 JPY a night for two persons including one dinner and one breakfast.
Japan National Tourism Organization continues focusing on sending inbound travelers to local regions in FY2024
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) continues focusing on sending inbound travelers to local regions in FY2024, developing large-scale campaign for 10 Asian source markets in partnership with OTAs.
ANA unveils the TaaS platform concept for seamless travel, expanding travel opportunities without air
ANA X, a ANA Group company, unveiled the TaaS (Travel as a Service) Platform concept for seamless travel on an smartphone app to expand an ANA economy zone by providing more opportunities to live or travel with accumulated miles.
What are the reasons for foreigners to apply for Japanese ‘Digital Nomad’ visa started on April 1 2024?
Japanese ‘Digital Nomad’ visa rule was enforced from April 1 2024. Japan Expert Immigration Law Firm supports foreigners who are interested in staying in Japan for their jobs. What are reasons for them to choose Japan as a nomad destination?
Airbnb contributes $1 million to a Japan-U.S. regional tourism exchange program, sending Japanese tourism professionals to U.S.
Airbnb will contribute $1 million (about 153 million JPY) to a regional tourism exchange program between Japan and U.S, sending 15 to 20 tourism professionals from Japan to U.S.
