Embrace diversity of Japan's culture and destinations

Business Insider highlights that in 2023, Japan's tourism industry reached remarkable heights, with international visitors spending approximately 5.31 trillion Japanese yen, or around $37 billion.

Japan has become a sought-after destination for tourists, and a new initiative aims to make visiting the country easier and more affordable than ever. Japan Airlines is now offering free domestic flights for travelers from the US, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand. The airline will also extend this offer to tourists from Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, China, and Taiwan. To take advantage of the free tickets, passengers must book round-trip international flights with Japan Airlines along with domestic flights within Japan in the same reservation.

However, travelers from the US, Canada, Mexico, and China who intend to stay in their initial destination for more than 24 hours will incur a $100 layover fee. A representative from Japan Airlines informed Business Insider that "no end date has been set" for this initiative.

This programme is designed to make lesser-known cities and towns more accessible to visitors. Grace Cheng, a travel blogger from New York, previously noted that many tourists mistakenly focus solely on Tokyo, which doesn’t capture the full diversity of Japan’s culture. 

Tokyo has gained popularity in recent years, with a record 19.54 million international visitors last year, according to data from Statista. In 2023, international tourists spent approximately 5.31 trillion Japanese yen, equivalent to around $37 billion, according to the website. 

"Tokyo is not Japan," Cheng emphasized. "To truly understand what Japan is like, you need to explore other cities."

She recommended Sapporo in the northern Hokkaido prefecture, noting that it is often more affordable than the capital and boasts friendly locals. Additionally, Harper's Bazaar Singapore highlighted Kanazawa on the east coast of Honshu for its Edo-period architecture, historic teahouses, and traditional Japanese artists. The publication also mentioned several other noteworthy destinations, including Naoshima, an island town in the Seto Inland Sea.

By Naila Huseynova