Japan Tourism 2026 Transformation

Above, Fukuoka Tower in Kyushu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For years, Japan has endeavored to increase tourism to the country. Now that they have (with the Japanese yen adding a big incentive), they can't seem to handle the influx in foreign visitors.

This influx presents two differing patterns.

It is interesting to note that first-time visitors prefer visiting familiar cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. But, experienced Japan visitors are looking for something new and venturing out in the countryside.

Travel and Tour World has posted an article on this.

They begin it with:

Japan’s tourism sector is entering a new phase in 2026.  Travel behaviour is changing quickly. Visitors are no longer following the same fixed routes. Instead, they are making choices based on experience and familiarity. This shift is creating two distinct  travel patterns.

Industry observations show that first-time visitors prefer famous cities. Meanwhile, repeat travellers are exploring beyond them. This change is influencing how travel companies design packages. It is also shaping how destinations promote themselves.

Tourism planners now focus on offering both classic and unique experiences. This balanced approach helps attract a wider range of global travellers.

To read more, go here.

Japan Sees Surge In Tourist Complaints In 2024

Above, my hotel room in Sasebo, Kyushu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I have been to Japan eight times since 2001 and I never felt any reason to complain about anything. There are some travelers who like to complain about anything and everything. 

I had read before my first trip that hotel rooms in Japan are smaller than ones in the U.S., so I knew what to expect. I found prices roughly comparable to those in the U.S.

Travel and Tour World has posted an article on a surge in tourist complaints in 2024 over accommodations, pricing and fake goods.  

They begin with:

There has been a noticeable increase in complaints from international visitors to Japan, one of the most visited countries in the world. Consultation requests have increased as a result of problems with lodging, expensive goods, and even fake goods as the tourism sector continues to grow. A record number of enquiries were received by Japan’s National Consumer Affairs Centre (NCAC), suggesting that the visitor experience needs to be improved and awareness raised.

To read more, go here. 

 

Shinkansen At 60

Above, a bullet train pulls into Atami Station in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Did you know that last year the famous Shinkansen, or Bullet Train, in Japan turned 60?

Incredible as it may seem, the Shinkansen began Service in October 1964. 

I have taken rail trips on the Shinkansen from Sendai to Kyushu and points in-between. They have always been enjoyable and comfortable.

According to Travel and Tour World:

On October 1, 1964, just days before Tokyo hosted the Summer Olympics, Japan unveiled the world’s first high-speed rail service — the Shinkansen, also known as the bullet train. This sleek white marvel did more than cut travel times; it became a powerful symbol of Japan’s rapid post-war recovery and technological prowess, setting a global benchmark for rail innovation.

To read more, go here. 

Gamera Day Yesterday

Above, yours truly in line to get into the theater.

Since it was windy outside and that drives my sinuses crazy, I stayed indoors for most of the day.

I decided to revisit Gamera The Brave (2006), a reboot of Daiei/Kadokawa Pictures Gamera character.  I attended the premiere of the movie on April 29, 2006 at the Picadilly Theaters in the Yurikucho Mullion Building in Chiyoda, Tokyo. 

Above, yours truly at the souvenir table in the theater lobby.

Later, when I bought the Japanese DVD of the movie, there was an extra showing the premiere and I was seen waiting to enter and at a souvenir stand in the theater's lobby. I was at the "ripe old age" of 52 at the time. Hard to believe, now that I am 71. Where did the time go?

Above, the JR Central Towers at JR Nagoya Station were
 featured in Gamera The Brave. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In 2014, I planned to visit Nagoya, where much of the action of Gamers The Brave takes place, but a snowstorm caused me to modify my Japan visit. In 2007, while taking a train down to Kyushu, the train stopped at JR Nagoya Station and I got a photo fo the JR Central Towers featured in the movie.

Later, during dinner, I decided to watch Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe (1995). It had been a long time since I watched it as well. A few months before my dad's passing in 1999, I loaned my parents the DVD of it and they both enjoyed it.

Above, the Fukuoka Dome in 2007 was featured in Gamera:
 The Guardian of the Universe. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In 2007, I did pay a visit to the Fukuoka Dome that was featured in Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe during the attempted capture of three Gyaos birds. 

The locations mentioned were covered in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

February Foreign Visitors To Japan Hit Monthly Record

Above, the Saikai Bridge near Sasebo on Kyushu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan's economy is being driven by the surge of foreign tourists, according to CNBC.

This isn't surprising given the favorable foreign exchange rate in Tokyo between the U.S. dollar and other currencies against the Japanese yen.

February's number of foreign visitors hit a new record.

According to an article from Kyodo News:

The number of foreign visitors to Japan in February rose 16.9 percent from a year earlier to a record 3.26 million for the month, driven by strong demand for winter sports and the Chinese New Year holiday trailing into the month, government data showed Wednesday.

The figure topped 3 million for the first time in February, driven by a surge in visitors from Australia and the United States, the Japan National Tourism Organization said.

By country and region, South Korea led with 847,300 visitors, up 3.5 percent and a record for the month. China followed with 722,700 visitors, a 57.3 percent increase, driven in part by expanded flight connections between the two countries.

To read more, go here. 

Nagasaki Marriott Hotel Opens

Above, the JR Nagasaki Station in 2007. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my 2007 trip to Japan, I went down to Kyushu for a few days.

One of my stops was in Nagasaki, the site of the second atomic bomb drop that ended World War II. While there, I visited the Nagasaki atomic bomb park and museum.

I arrived in Nagasaki at the JR Nagasaki Station. As there were no shinkansens there at the time, I traveled there on a commuter train from Sasebo.

Nagasaki Station has a new neighbor that has just opened: the Nagasaki Marriott Hotel.

According to Kyodo News:

The first Marriott hotel in Japan's southwestern Kyushu region opened Tuesday adjacent to JR Nagasaki Station amid hopes of boosting local tourism.

Along with a new shinkansen bullet train service connecting Nagasaki and the Takeo Onsen hot spring resort in neighboring Saga Prefecture launched in September 2022, the new luxury hotel is expected to help attract visitors and revitalize the economy.

The Nagasaki Marriott Hotel, which is Marriott's ninth in Japan, offers restaurants and rooms with panoramic views of local attractions such as Nagasaki Port and Mt. Inasa. 

To read more, go here. 

30% of Japan's Prefectures Seeing Tourism Exceeding 2019 Numbers

Above, Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It took Japan longer than the rest of the world to reopen following the pandemic. But since Japan reopened, tourism is recovering.

Right now, 30% of Japan's prefectures are seeing tourism exceeding numbers prior to the pandemic.

According to Kyodo News:

TOKYO - Nearly 30 percent of prefectures across Japan experienced crowds surpassing pre-coronavirus pandemic levels in the first half of this year, with local areas outpacing Tokyo, according to private sector data.

Based on an analysis of major train stations in each of Japan's 47 prefectures, 13 locations, or 28 percent, recorded more people than during the same period in 2019. Conversely, 21 locations, or 45 percent, witnessed a decline in crowds, but this decrease was less than 10 percent. 

To read more, go here. 

Japan Reopens To Tourists

Above, the Saikai Bridge near Sasebo City on Kyushu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is finally fully open to foreign travelers.

It is hoped by the Japanese government that the influx of foreign tourists will help revive the economy and the Japanese yen. The current rate of exchange between the dollar and yen is ¥145.63.

According to CNA:

TOKYO: Japan reopened its doors to tourists on Tuesday (Oct 11) after two-and-a-half years of tough COVID-19 restrictions, with officials hoping an influx of travellers enticed by a weak yen will boost the economy.

By mid-morning, tourists from Israel, France and Britain were already pouring in.

"It's a long, long dream come true," said 69-year-old Adi Bromshtine, a retiree arriving at Tokyo's Haneda airport from Israel.

"We were planning before COVID-19 and waiting and waiting," she told AFP.

Itay Galili, a 22-year-old student also arriving from Israel, said he had been closely monitoring the news for word of the border reopening.

"As soon as I heard it's going to reopen on the 11th, I started planning. Tickets were expensive ... but no price (is) too heavy," he told AFP.

Japan slammed its borders shut early in the pandemic, at one point even barring foreign residents from returning, and has only recently begun cautiously reopening.

To read more, go here. 

Gaijinpot: 5 Historical and Quirky Places to Visit in Kyushu

Above, the Peace Statue at Nagaski Peace Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that Japan will be welcoming foreign tourists again in four days, it is now the time to take a look at what places to visit while there.

Gaijinpot has posted five historical and quirky places to visit in Kyushu. I visited Kyushu back in 2007 and enjoyed the trek there.

For daikaiju eiga fans, Kyushu was prominent in Rodan (1956), including Mt. Aso, Sasebo City and Fukuoka. Fukuoka was featured in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995). While visiting the seven on the list, side trips to other sites are worth one's while. They are covered in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

They begin with:

Kyushu is Japan’s southernmost main island and the third largest after Hokkaido. There are seven prefectures that make up the island: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Oita, Kumamoto, Miyazaki and Kagoshima. These prefectures are home to a handful of active volcanoes (26 to be exact), world-class hot spring towns and great local cuisine.

While not as popular as Okinawa or Kyoto there’s an undeniable charm to each prefecture that make up this island. From Kokura Castle in Kita-Kyushu down to Sakurajima in Kagoshima, many other destinations await the eager explorer.

Here are our top five spots to get you started on planning your Kyushu adventure.

 To read more, go here.

Travel + Leisure's 50 Best Places To Travel In 2022

Above, the Saikai Bridge in Kyushu, Japan. Kyushu made the list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that we're in a new year, it is time to start thinking about where to go on vacation. Naturally, all this hinges on whether or not coronavirus and all of its variants will die off any leave us all alone.

Travel + Leisure has 50 best places to travel in 2022, internationally and domestically. Some of them I have been to already. There are some I am looking into.

They begin with:

Planning new adventures as a new year approaches is always a thrill, but finding the best places to visit in 2022 is unique. After two years of border closures, cruise cancellations, and travel restrictions galore, 2022 is the year we hope to get back out there, uninhibited (albeit vaccinated and COVID tested), return to our favorite destinations, and cross new ones off our lists.

Though the hospitality industry was hit hard by the pandemic, many properties used the forced downtime to renovate rooms, add new amenities, and expand outdoor spaces to offer even more once guests return. 2022 is when many travelers will venture further from home, and even overseas, for the first time since the start of the pandemic, finally reaping the benefits of these valiant efforts.

Although COVID variants remain, regulations are still evolving, and precautions must still be taken, many of the destinations we chose for 2022 offer what we believe travelers are looking for in a post-pandemic world, from hotels with private accommodations to destinations teeming with fresh-air activities. Others, like Las Vegas, are for those who are ready and raring to make up for all the social time they missed — with a few splashy headliners, including Adele and the Raiders, thrown in for good measure.  

To read more, go here. 

JNTO To Relaunch "Enjoy My Japan" Campaign

Above, the Saikai Bridge that was featured in Rodan (1956) in Kyushu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is still closed off to foreign visitors. But when the country does reopen to foreign visitor, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) will be ready. They hope.

JNTO is relaunching its "Enjoy my Japan" promotional campaign.

According to Japan Today:

TOKYO - While Japan has not yet re-opened its borders to overseas visitors, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and the country’s many local attractions are gearing up for the resumption of international travel.

JNTO has re-invigorated its global “Enjoy my Japan” campaign, originally launched in 2018, signaling Japan’s readiness to meet its ambitious goal of welcoming 60 million overseas visitors by 2030.

Promoting Japan as a destination that can be enjoyed by all travelers, the campaign highlights seven unique travel passions – Nature, Outdoors, Traditions, Cuisine, Art, Relaxation, and Cities. The key message is that Japan offers more than just iconic sites in Tokyo or Kyoto; there are a whole range of diverse destinations offering something for every traveler. Whether their dreams include exploring mystical waterfalls or immersing their bodies and minds in a high-tech museum, Japan will fulfill them.

The campaign theme “Enjoy my Japan” emphasizes the interaction between overseas visitors and local people. The goal is not only to motivate travelers to form deeper and more personal connections with Japan; the campaign also aims to encourage local Japanese to welcome visitors warmly and with open arms.

The updated campaign website is available in six languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Russian. The attention of visitors to the home page will immediately be drawn to the menu bar along the top, which offers routes to pages focusing on specific travel passions. Under each theme, they can find insightful history, useful travel tips, and vivid illustrations of the numerous destinations and activities.

To read more, go here. 

Japan: Deepest Earthquake Ever Detected

Japan is well known for its volcanoes and earthquakes. It is right on the Pacific's "Ring of Fire".

Many volcanic eruptions have been noted in recorded history, most recently it was Mount Aso in Kyushu and the Tohoku Earthquake (the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami) is still fresh in people's minds despite having taken place ten years ago.

An interesting earthquake took place under Japan's Bonin Islands (Ogasawara Islands) several years ago. At a depth of 423 miles, it was one of the deepest earthquakes ever recorded. National Geographic has posted an interesting article about it.

They begin it with:

One spring evening six years ago, hundreds of miles underground, our planet began to rumble from a series of peculiar earthquakes. Most of Earth's temblors strike within a few dozen miles of the surface, but these quakes stirred at depths where temperatures and pressures grow so intense that rocks tend to bend rather than break.

The first jolt, which struck off the coasts of Japan's remote Bonin Islands, was recorded at magnitude 7.9 and up to 680 kilometers (423 miles) underground, making it one of the deepest quakes of its size. Then another oddity emerged in the cascade of aftershocks that followed: a tiny temblor that, if confirmed, would be the deepest earthquake ever detected.

 To read more, go here.

Mount Aso On Kyushu Erupts

Mount Aso on Kyushu, Japan should be a familiar place to fans of Godzilla and related kaiju movies.

Above, inside Aso Volcano Museum in 2007. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was where the Rodans met their demise in Rodan (1956). I paid a visit to Mount Aso National Park in 2007. I couldn't see much as a snowstorm blew into the area at the same time I was there. However, I was able to see inside of the crater through television monitors set up in the visitor center.

Well, the old mountain has decided to erupt again.

Reuters reported:

TOKYO, Oct 20 (Reuters) - A volcano erupted in Japan on Wednesday, blasting ash several miles into the sky and prompting officials to warn against the threat of lava flows and falling rocks, but there were no reports of injuries or casualties.

Mount Aso, a tourist destination on the main southern island of Kyushu, sent plumes of ash 3.5 km (2.2 miles) high when it erupted at about 11:43 a.m. (0243 GMT), the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

It raised the alert level for the volcano to 3 on a scale of 5, telling people not to approach, and warned of a risk of large falling rocks and pyroclastic flows within a radius of about 1 km (0.6 mile) around the mountain's Nakadake crater.

 To read more, go here. 

Kyushu Shinkansen Gets Send-off...10 Years Later

Above, Fukuoka Tower in 2007. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2007, I took a trip down to Kyushu to see Kumamoto, Mt. Aso, Nagasaki, Sasebo and Fukuoka.

At that time, the "Shooting Star" Shinkansen was still under construction. It didn't begin service until March 12, 2011. 

Above, Kumamoto Station in 2007. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It would have come in handy for me as I had to rely on smaller and slower commuter trains to get from Fukuoka to Kumamoto.

The ceremonial send-off for the Shinkansen was canceled due to the Great East Japan Earthquake of the day before on March 11.

Finally, ten years later, a ceremonial glitzy send-off was held for the train.

According to the Asahi Shimbun:

KAGOSHIMA--Ten years after being fully launched, a bullet train dubbed the "Shooting Star Shinkansen" finally got the send-off it wanted but canceled due to the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.

The Shinkansen made a special run on March 14, carrying hundreds of wishes solicited from the public and emitting spotlights into the night sky in seven hues and attracting spectators along the way.

The run marked the 10th anniversary of the full opening of the Kyushu Shinkansen Line, which connected Fukuoka to Kagoshima, in March 2011.

The train, comprising six cars, left JR Kagoshima-Chuo Station at 6:35 p.m. for Hakata Station in Fukuoka without passengers.

Above, a view of Fukuoka from Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Kyushu: 5 Hidden Gem Places

Above, a snow-covered shrine at Mt. Aso Volcano National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2007, I spent several days at Japan's westernmost island of Kyushu. It was one memorable trip that I recommend to others.

Once the pandemic ends (whenever that'll be), Kyushu is a place to seriously look into during Japan vacation planning.

Japan Today has posted five "hidden gem" places that deserve a visit.

They begin with:

TOKYO - As someone who has been in Kyushu for over ten years, I can attest that it’s a pretty nice place to live. The island consists of seven prefectures: Fukuoka, Oita, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Miyazaki and Kagoshima, and often Okinawa is included too. 

Kyushu is much more laid back than its mainland counterpart, and people here are friendly and full of character. Where else can you can enjoy city life with beautiful scenic views just a stone’s throw away? I wouldn’t trade living down here for Tokyo at all. 

However, Kyushu is often overlooked in people’s Japan itineraries. A shame, because you miss out on visiting places like the Nagasaki Peace Museum, Kumamoto Castle, or other great sightseeing spots. But Kyushu has much more to offer than what a cursory Google search might tell you. Where are the places that the locals like to visit? Here are a couple for you!

To read more, go here. 

More Foreigners Venturing Out of Japan's Metropolitan Areas

Above, Nagasaki's Hypocenter Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It used to be that foreign visitors to Japan just confined their visits to metropolitan areas such as Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka.

That is now changing as more foreign visitors are venturing outside of metropolitan areas to see different places and experience different things.

Above, the Saikai Bridge in Kyushu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japan Times reported:

About 18 million foreign travelers visited regions outside of the Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka metropolitan areas in 2018, some 40 percent more than the number of travelers who visited only those metropolitan areas, an annual government report showed Friday. 

The figure marked steady growth from the 10.2 million visits logged in 2015, according to the 2019 white paper on tourism, which was adopted at a Cabinet meeting the same day. 

Of the 31.19 million foreign travelers to Japan last year, 57.7 percent visited regions outside of the three metropolitan areas, and they spent more than ¥1 trillion. 

The report found that foreign travelers seeking experiences, including skiing, visiting hot springs or engaging in nature tourism, have a strong tendency to visit nonmetropolitan areas. 

Such travelers also tend to spend more per head than those who do not engage in experience-based consumption.

 To read more, go here.

Japan's Streetcars Day

Above, a Nagasaki streetcar in 2007. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Government of Japan Tweeted the following:

Until I rode several streetcars in Nagasaki, Japan in 2007, I hadn't ridden one since I was a toddler in Los Angeles. Los Angeles had streetcars until the last ones were removed in 1963.

To read more about streetcars in Japan, go here.

Fukuoka Travel Tips

Above, Fukuoka Yahuoku! Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fukuoka is fast becoming a popular travel destination. I paid it a visit back in 2007 after an all-day shinkansen ride from Tokyo and after visiting other places in Kyushu first.

Kaiju fans are familiar with Fukuoka as it was used in Godzilla vs SpaceGodzilla (1994) and in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995). The most prominent landmarks of Fukuoka used in those movies were Fukuoka Tower and Fukuoka Dome (now called the Fukuoka Yahuoku! Dome).

Japan Visitor has some tips for places to see while in Fukuoka.

They begin with:

Fukuoka is gaining a reputation as an alternative city in Japan to visit due to its relaxed atmosphere. It is the crown jewel of the Kyushu area and both a cultural and commercial hub. 

Fukuoka has a wide variety of choices in terms of places to to visit and things to do. Though a large, modern city it still retains its charm and cultural heritage. As a result the city is fast becoming popular with tourists from around the world. 

Here are some highlights visitors to Fukuoka can enjoy.

To read more, go here. 

Visit Old Japanese Naval Port Towns of Maizuru, Kure and Sasebo

Above, the Hario Towers near Sasebo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2007, I took a trip down to Kyushu to visit several places of historical and kaiju history.

While there, I visited Kumamoto, Mount Aso Volcano National Park, Sasebo, Nagasaki and Fukuoka.

Tokyo Cheapo has an article on visiting Japan's old port towns, which includes Sasebo. In the Sasebo portion of their article, they focused on the Hario Towers, purportedly the towers that transmitted the signal to the Japanese fleet to attack Pearl Harbor. Near the towers, is the Saikai Bridge that was featured in Rodan (1956).

Above, the Saikai Bridge near Sasebo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you are a submarine fan, there is a port town (Kure) where submarines can be viewed and a museum dedicated to the Japanese battleship, Yamato.

They begin their article with:

Many visitors to Japan limit their sightseeing to the country’s major cities, like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. Beyond those hot spots, however, exists a wealth of history and culture in local areas that can offer unique tourist opportunities. Consider Maizuru, Kure and Sasebo—three old Japan port towns chock-full of natural beauty, historical attractions and nautical adventures.

To see the full article, go here.

Japan Tops 20 Million Foreign Visitors At Fastest Pace

Above, Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The number of foreign visitors to Japan has reached 20 million at the fastest pace this year.

It reached that number on Wednesday, according to an article from NHK.

They reported:

20 million foreigners have visited Japan so far this year. It's the earliest in any year this milestone has been reached. 

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga revealed the new record to reporters on Monday in the town of Teshikaga in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost prefecture.

To read more, go here.