japan travel discount program international

How to Apply for the Go To Travel Campaign

The Japanese government has launched the Go To Travel Campaign to encourage people to travel around Japan from July 22, 2020 onwards. This is a great opportunity to travel cheaply in Japan! This campaign is not for international travelers but only for residents in Japan. So if you already live in Japan, why not go for a trip around Japan with the Go To Travel Campaign? In this article, we will explain what the Go To Travel Campaign is and how to travel cheap with it!

What is the Go To Travel Campaign?

Current situation of go to travel campaign (updated 2022), prefectural discount, motto tokyo, how to use go to travel coupons, the website you can book go to travel campaign:, how to take a pcr test in japan, tour packages, japan wonder travel tours , other articles you may enjoy.

The Go To Campaign consists of 4 different campaigns which will support the industries which have been severely affected by COVID-19 such as travel, food, and entertainment industries, etc. Go To Travel Campaign is one of these campaigns and the government will cover half of the domestic travel costs up to ¥20,000 per person per day (up to ¥10,000 for a day trip) by issuing coupons that are worth 15% of travel costs (up to a total of ¥6,000 per day) and giving 35% off discount on the travel package. There is no limit on the number of traveling with the campaign, so you can repeatedly travel at half-price in Japan during the campaign.

Go To Travel Campaign has been suspended since March 2021 .

Meanwhile, there are alternative campaigns such as the prefectural campaigns which are quite similar to the Go To Travel Campaign. (we will explain it later in this article)

Go To Travel campaign will be resumed as GoTo 2.0 when it’s ready, and the discount rate is likely to change. The discount rate is originally 35 percent of the trip cost (up to 14,000 yen) and comes with local coupons that are 15% worth of the whole travel costs (up to 6,000 yen). ▶See how it works GoTo 2.0, however, will give a 30% discount (up to 10,000 yen) with 3,000 yen (weekdays) or 1,000 yen (weekends) coupons.

At the moment, what we expect for the new Go To Travel campaign is as follows; 

• More discounts may be applied on weekdays than on weekends
• It’ll be required the vaccination certificate or certificate of the negative test result to apply for the campaign.

We’ll update the latest information accordingly when the official announcement is made.

Pre-Go To Travel Campaign 2022

From October 11 to the end of December or early January , the government decided to launch a new campaign (全国旅行支援, zenkoku ryoko shien) to encourage people to travel more. During this campaign, you can travel anywhere around Japan with a discount as long as you already got vaccinated three times or get a negative test result on the PCR test.

The prefectural discount offers to the residents of Japan, giving a discount on travel packages and a coupon ticket for local restaurants. It gives you a maximum of 7,000 yen for both a travel package and a coupon ticket (5,000 yen for accommodation + 2,000 yen for coupons).  This discount is valid until September 30th, 2022 , and you can use this discount only in the region you live in. Regions and prefectures that you can currently use Prefectural Discount (as of September 13)

You can book from the website of Japanese travel agencies such as Jalan and Rakuten Travel etc.

From September 1st, 2022, the Motto Tokyo campaign will resume for Tokyo residents. If you plan for an overnight trip that costs over 6,000 yen, you will get a 5,000 yen discount! For a day trip, if your travel costs over 3,000 yen, you will get a 2,500 yen discount. The Motto Tokyo campaign will be valid until September 30, 2022.

How does the Go To Travel Campaign work?

It is basically a package deal, and the campaign will cover half of the travel costs up to ¥20,000 per person per day. About 70% of reimbursement is an actual discount on the package and about 30% of it is with coupons that you can use for gift shops, restaurants, amusement parks, and transportation.

Here’s how it works;

• If your travel package costs ¥20,000, you can save half of the cost which is ¥10,000 with the campaign. You will pay ¥13,000 for your trip but you will get coupons with a total value of ¥3,000. With that, you can save ¥10,000 in total.
• If your travel cost is ¥50,000, half of the costs will be ¥25,000, however, the reimbursement is up to ¥20,000 per day. So you will pay ¥36,000 of the total costs and will get coupons with a total value of ¥6,000. With the coupons, eventually, you can save ¥20,000 in total.

How to apply for the Go To Travel Campaign

Book a package via travel agencies or book the accommodation directly. If you book a package via a travel agency, accommodations and transportation (trains, highway fees, airplanes, buses, etc.) will be included but if you book accommodations directly, transportation will be excluded from the discount. But either way, you will get coupons. The discount is not only valid for the accommodation but also if you book overnight transportation such as a cruise ship, the overnight ferry, or a sleeper train (excluding overnight transportation that only offers seats), you can get a discount for those too. If you want to go on a day trip, the campaign will cover your transportation fee + food or activities.

We ( Japan Wonder Travel ) are not currently operating the service. The websites you can book Go To Travel Campaign are as follows,

Either a vaccination certificate or a certificate of the negative test result will be required if you apply for the Go To Travel Campaign. There’s an English service that allows you to get a test quickly and easily in Tokyo and Osaka. You can choose the test type between swab and saliva. There’s an option to receive the negative result certificate on the same day as you take the test, so if you are in a rush, this will be very useful! ▶ Book PCR test from here

If you have any questions about coupons, please read these articles first! – Everything you need to know about Go To Travel Campaign Coupons (General) – The best way to use go to Travel Campaign Coupons in the popular destinations

Q. Is the hotel for the quarantine also included for the Go To Travel Campaign? It can be used for the quarantine hotel if you are a resident visa holder. Basically only the Japan resident can use the Go To Travel Campaign. But not every hotel accepts the quarantine, so please check with the hotel before you make a booking. If you are an international traveler and look for a quarantine hotel, please check this website for more information ( Self-Isolation Japan.com ) Q. How can we get coupons? Please check this article! ( Where can you receive the coupons? )

Q. If I want to stay for a couple of nights at my friend’s house, can I still use the Go To Travel Campaign? As long as you stay at the hotel on the same day of your arrival, your trip can be applied partly to the Go To Travel Campaign. For example, if you go on a trip for 3 nights 4 days and you stay at the hotel for the first night and stay at your friend’s house for the rest of your trip, it’s considered a 1 night 2 days trip for the Go To Travel Campaign and you will get the discount for it. However, if you only stay at your friend’s house, it is not applicable for the Go To Travel Campaign at all.

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Happy traveling!

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Japan Wonder Travel is a travel agency that offers guided tours throughout Japan.  From private walking tours to delicious Food and Drink tours, we can help you organize the best tours just for you! If you want to explore Japan and learn more about the history and backstories of each area you are visiting, our knowledgeable and friendly English speaking guides will happily take you to the best spots!  In addition, we can provide you with any assistance you may need for your upcoming trip to Japan, so please feel free to contact us if yu have any questions or need some help! 

▶ Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Drink Tour Explore the most lively and popular fish market in Tokyo and try some of the local’s favorite street foods and sake with one of our friendly and knowledgeable English speaking guides! 

▶ Tokyo 1–Day Highlights Private Walking Tour (8 Hours) There’s no better way to explore an area than taking a tour with a knowledgeable local guide. You will have the chance to learn about the history and interesting background stories of Tokyo, as well as discover some hidden gems which can be hard to do without a guide.

▶ Mt. Fuji Day Trip Bus Tour from Tokyo Experience the breathtaking views of Mt. Fuji by visiting the highlights of the area on our guided sightseeing bus tour! Departing from Shinjuku in central Tokyo, you can travel comfortably to all of the best spots in the area by bus.

Stay informed of the best travel tips to Japan, the most exciting things to do and see, and the top experiences to have with the Japan Wonder Travel Newsletter. Every week we will introduce you to our latest content.

Great article! “[…]If you already made a booking for your trip before the campaign started, you can still apply the discount if you went on a trip between July 22nd to August 31st. “ 🤓 I checked the indicated website to apply online and unfortunately it looks like the application deadline for this was 14 September. Does anyone know of this is the case or if there is another way of applying still? Thank you.

Hi Rashomon-san, Thank you for pointing it out, and that’s correct, the deadline for the application was September 14th. Sorry we haven’t updated with that information. We updated on the article as well.

I was going to request a motel quote using Go To Travel. However, found the information requested to be intrusive and not required for just my asking for a quote.

Hi Mark, Thanks for your message. In terms of the price for accomodation: you can check the prices of the hotel online yourself and add our service fee to the amount. However, we cannot only book your accommodation, as a travel agency we need to sell packages (transportation & accommodation + optional activities). If you are looking to only book a motel I recommend you do this yourself (as this is the cheapest way). For the actual booking we need to collect some information such as proof of living in Japan (and being able to make use of the Go To Travel campaign) and keep it on file. That’s why we ask for a copy of your residence card. Hope we could clarify some things for you, otherwise please send us an email or reply here again.

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2022 Domestic Travel Subsidy Program: Discounts for Residents in Japan!

Japan's Domestic Travel Subsidy Program, offering discounts of up to 11,000 yen per person, launched on October 11, 2022. This article gives an overview of the travel discount program, details on participating travel agencies and reservation sites, and prefectural websites! 　

Mitoyo, Kagawa, Japan

What Is Japan's Domestic Travel Subsidy Program?

Himeji Castle. Photo by Pixta The Domestic Travel Subsidy Program , aiming to stimulate Japan's tourism industry, launched in October 2022. Eligible travelers will be entitled to discounts up to a maximum of 11,000 yen each.

Due to the sudden flood of reservations, there is concern among those unable to make their bookings. However, a national budget of 560 billion yen has been allocated for this campaign. So, travelers can expect to benefit from the generous subsidies offered by this program.

This article will introduce Japan's Domestic Travel Subsidy Program with an outline and important things to keep in mind. MATCHA readers will learn details about participating travel agencies and reservation sites. There's also a list featuring each prefecture and its respective website!

Outline of the Domestic Travel Subsidy Program

What are the dates of this program.

The discount campaign runs from October 11 until December 20, 2022. Starting dates can differ slightly depending on the prefecture.

How Much Are the Travel Discounts?

Travelers will receive a 40% discount. The discount is capped at 8,000 yen per person per night for tours that include transportation and accommodation. The discount is capped at 5,000 yen per person per night for accommodations only.

Discount coupons can also be used in certain regions for restaurants and souvenirs. Additionally, there are 3,000 yen discounts for weekday accommodations and 1,000 yen discounts for accommodations on national holidays. These are available directly at the accommodation facility.

Important Points of the Domestic Travel Subsidy Program

The Great Buddha of Kamakura. Photo by Pixta

Here are some key things to keep in mind with this subsidy program.

Limited to Japanese Citizens and International Residents

The program's main criteria for eligibility is that applicants live in Japan. This applies to Japanese citizens and international residents. A driver's license, My Number card, or another form of identification is required to show proof of Japanese residency.

Unfortunately, the discount campaign is not available to international visitors but only to international residents of Japan.

Vaccine Passport (3 Shots) or a Negative PCR Test Required

Travelers who want to receive discounts on this campaign will need to present a vaccination certificate showing they've had three shots. Those who haven't received three vaccinations must provide a negative PCR test.

To receive an accommodation discount, please remember that all group members must present their vaccine passport (3 shots), not just the group representative.

How the Word "Holiday" Is Defined

The monetary amount of discount coupons differs depending on whether it's a weekday or a national holiday. Fundamentally, a "holiday" refers to a one-night, two-day stay on Saturdays and Sundays. In other words, a one-night, two-day stay on Friday-Saturday or Sunday-Monday will be considered a weekday accommodation.

Program Details Differ Depending on the Prefecture

Each prefecture in Japan is included in the Domestic Travel Subsidy Program, making it different from the Go To Travel Campaign launched in 2020.

This is why the details of the subsidy program differ in each prefecture. Some prefectures even offer original travel discounts―in addition to the 11,000 yen maximum subsidy offered by the national campaign.

Which Accommodation Facilities Offer Discounts?

Keep in mind that not all accommodation facilities and tours are part of the Domestic Travel Subsidy Program.

Please note that at the end of this article, there's a list of websites for each prefecture's subsidy campaign. This article also features information on tours.

We Recommend Making Reservations ASAP!

Presently, accommodation facilities have received a flood of reservations, prompting travel agencies and tour companies to shut down their website reservation sites temporarily.

However, the subsidy program is backed by a 560 billion yen budget. Although many places have stopped taking reservations, there's a good possibility that they will resume bookings in the near future. So, please keep checking back with them.

Discounts in Addition to the Travel Subsidy Program

Tokushima Prefecture's Iya Valley Gorge. Photo by Pixta

As previously mentioned, each prefecture's details concerning the Domestic Travel Subsidy Program will differ. Next, we'll introduce some of the prefectures offering original discounts in addition to the national subsidy program.

Tadaima Tokyo Plus (Japanese) is the website for accessing the Domestic Travel Subsidy Program in Tokyo. This can be used in conjunction with Motto TOKYO (Japanese), a discount service for travels in the greater Tokyo area for locals.

Motto TOKYO offers a 5,000 yen discount on one night's accommodation. With the national program, travelers can enjoy a maximum discount of up to 16,000 yen!

The start date for Motto TOKYO was October 20, 2022.

Nagano Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture's Shinshu Wari SPECIAL (Japanese) offers a 1,000 yen discount (500 yen coupon x 2) on transportation for a one-night stay per person. This will help keep transportation costs down when visiting spots within the prefecture.

Nara Prefecture

Nara Prefecture's Ima Nara Campaign 2022 (Japanese) offers discount coupons for souvenir shopping and other items at participating shops in the prefecture. 1,000 yen coupons are issued for national holidays, while 2,000 yen coupons are available for prefectural citizens.

Kochi Prefecture

In Kochi Prefecture, the Kochi Kanko Recovery Campaign (Japanese)―Kochi's original discount campaign―can be used with the Kochi Kanko Tokuwari Campaign (Japanese), the national program.

The Kochi Kanko Recovery Campaign offers travelers a 5,000 yen cashback on money spent on highway fees and public transportation.

Tokushima Prefecture

Tokushima Prefecture's Minnade! Tokushima Travel Wari (Japanese) is aimed at travel packages within the prefecture that include accommodation and travel fees. It plans on giving each person a maximum of 5,000 yen cashback in addition to the national campaign's benefits.

Which Travel Sites Deal With the Travel Subsidy Program?

With the Travel Subsidy Program, discounts can be received when making a reservation directly with the accommodation facility. Travelers can also make a booking via a hotel reservation site.

Below, we've listed the reservation sites that handle the Domestic Travel Subsidy Program.

Currently, some sites are temporarily not accepting bookings due to the flood of reservations. There might be additional important points to consider, so please consult the official websites for more details.

Rakuten Travel

Join a Tour for a Worry-Free Experience

Some people might feel that it's troublesome to check the terms and conditions of the subsidy program in different prefectures.

We recommend booking a tour through a travel agency at times like this! Below, we've listed tour companies that handle the subsidy program, so by all means, please take a look.

Yahoo! Travel

Kinki Nippon Tourist

Nippon Travel Agency

Official Websites for Participating Prefectures and Cities

The prefectures and their official websites for accessing the Domestic Travel Subsidy Program are listed below. Please use this as a reference when departing on your next trip.

Note: All of the websites are in Japanese. Some websites have links to English travel content but not to the subsidy program itself.

Use These Discounts to Enjoy Travels in Japan!

Rurikoin Temple in Kyoto. Photo by Pixta With the domestic COVID-19 situation gradually improving, many people in Japan are getting the travel bug.

In addition to the Domestic Travel Subsidy Program, several prefectures are offering their own unique travel discount services.

Please use these campaigns to save on expenses and fully enjoy your travels in Japan!

Main image: Tokushima Prefecture's Iya Valley Gorge. Photo by Pixta

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Japan go-to travel campaign | Japan Domestic Travel Subsidy Program

by Venese | Jun 1, 2022 | Japan Travel | 0 comments

Have you heard of the Japan go-to travel campaign? Are you wondering how to use the latest Japan Domestic Travel Subsidy Program and want some inspiration for your next domestic travel?

Here is everything you need to know about Japan Domestic Subsidy Program and Japan Go-To Travel Campaign!

Table of Contents

Japan Domestic Travel Subsidy campaign overview

The Japan Domestic Travel Subsidy Program is a “nationwide tourism demand stimulation measure” that offers discounts on travel prices and grants regional vouchers.

Unlike GoTo Travel, which was a national collective initiative, the Japan Domestic Travel Subsity is organised on a prefecture-by-prefecture basis.

Therefore, the start date can also be after 11 October, starting with those prefectures that are ready.

The end date is also set for the end of December (most prefectures have set to end on 20 December), but it is up to each prefecture to decide whether or not to extend the date.

Please note that some of the contents may differ from prefecture to prefecture.

Japan Domestic Travel Subsidy campaign discounts

The discount is 40% off the price of a trip (maximum per person per night: 8,000 yen for overnight travel with transport, 5,000 yen for others).

Along with this, you will receive a regional voucher worth 3,000yen for weekday use and 1,000yen for holiday use. These regional vouchers can be used at restaurants and other local businesses in the travel destination.

For day trips, you can get 40% off with maximum 5,000 yen support per person, along with regional voucher for 3,000yen for weekdays and 1,000yen for weekends.

The discount is valid for up to seven consecutive nights per trip, with no limit on the number of times the campaign can be used.

Duration of Go-to Travel Campaign

The programme will be implemented from 11th October to 20th December 2022 (starting 20 October for Tokyo). After the new year, the decision on whether or not it will be continued will be based on the infection situation and demand trends.

Holiday vs Weekday

“Holiday” applies to overnight trips where both the day of the overnight stay and the following day are Saturday, Sunday or public holiday. Holidays for day trips are Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Other days are treated as ‘weekdays’.

What do I need to bring for Go-to Travel Campaign?

In order to qualify for the discount, make sure to bring your identification documents such as a driver’s licence. You also need to present proof of three previous vaccinations (an image or a photocopy is acceptable) or a negative result of a PCR test or similar test is required.

How do I make a reservation for Go-to Travel Campaign?

To use the campaign and make a reservation, apply for a trip at a discount price through one of the following travel booking websites participating in the campaign, such as Rakuten Travel, a travel agency, or an accommodation facility.

Upon presentation of identification documents and proof of vaccination at the time of accommodation, the customer will receive a regional voucher.

Here are the websites where you can make reservations. Please note that this is subject to change. Please refer to the following websites for the most up-to-date information.

• Jalan: https://www.jalan.net/ryoko-shien
• Rakuten Travel: https://travel.rakuten.co.jp/special/zenkokuryokoshien/
• Yahoo: https://travel.yahoo.co.jp/feature/zenkoku-ryoko-shien/
• Ikkyu: https://www.ikyu.com/special/01/zenkoku-ryokoshien/
• JTB: https://www.jtb.co.jp/kokunai/ryokoshien/webcoupon/
• Rurupu: https://www.rurubu.travel/theme/gototravel/ryokoshien/
• NTA: https://www.nta.co.jp/kokunai/special/ouen/ryokoshien/
• JAL PAK: https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/ja/domtour/areatourism-cp/
• HIS: https://www.his-j.com/kokunai/campaign/alljapan_plan/

Old vs New Go-to Travel Campaign 

In the past, for Go-To Travel, half of the trip price was subsidised up to JPY 20,000 per person per night (35% travel discount + 15% common regional voucher), and the high discount limit made it popular with expensive accommodation. 

It was also pointed out that tourist attractions were crowded on weekends and consecutive holidays. There were talks that the increased human traffic may have contributed to the spread of infection.

Because of these issues, even before taking office, Prime Minister Kishida had launched Go-To 2.0, an evolved approach to infectious disease control, and decided to utilise the vaccine and testing package. The new system was based on the premise of safety and security, with a difference in discount rates between holidays and weekdays to disperse travel demand.

The discount rate and maximum discount amount have also been reduced to avoid concentration on luxury accommodation, and discounts are more generous when using transport operators, to support the recovery of tourism demand from transport operators and rural areas.

5 Most popular holiday destinations in 2022

So now the question is, where should you go with the Japan Domestic Travel Subsidy? 

You might want to make use of this discount to visit places that you haven’t had a chance to check out yet or discover places that you have never heard of. Maybe some places might have been a little out of your budget and now with the discount, you want to make use of this opportunity. 

To help you figure out where to go, here are the 5 most popular holiday spots in 2021 to give you some inspiration for your domestic travel! The statics you can find here are taken from Rakuten Travel.

The first place was Nara prefecture travel became popular with + 235.6% compared to the previous year. In particular, the “Yoshino / Totsukawa / Tenkawa / Gojo area”, which is rich in nature and allows you to enjoy outdoor leisure activities that avoid dense mountains and rivers, increased by + 536.8% (about 6.4 times).

In addition, as a sacred place for the popular manga “Kimetsu no Yaiba”, “Katsuraki Nii Honoikazuchi Shrine <Fuefuki Shrine>” in Katsuragi City is a new tourist spot.

Nara Prefecture is the ancient centre of Japan and was the ancient capital of Heijokyo during the Nara period. Therefore, there are many buildings and Buddhist statues designated as national treasures and world cultural heritage, and there are various attractions.

The deer in Nara Park is also known nationwide. Some of the most spectacular spots are the Tanize Suspension Bridge and the Mitarai Valley, which are one of the longest in Japan.

Tokushima 

Tokushima Prefecture is in second place with a year-on-year increase of 151.3%. By age group, the number of people in their 20s to 30s has increased to + 194.7% (about 2.9 times), and the demand for travel within the prefecture among young people is increasing.

Tokushima Prefecture is full of individuality, with more than a quarter of the 88 sacred sites “Shikoku 88 places” scattered throughout Shikoku, such as “Naruto Whirlpools” and “Awaodori Kaikan”. The highlights are complete.

If you climb the mountaintop from the 5th floor of the Awaodori Kaikan on the “Mt. If you want to experience a mysterious sight, we also recommend the “Abashi / Unkai Observatory”, which is more likely to appear in the early morning of March-April and October-December.

From the observatory, you can overlook Oboke and the Yoshino River, which are known for their beauty in the valley, when there is no sea of ​​clouds.

Akita Prefecture is in third place with a year-on-year increase of 105.5%. By accommodation composition, “Children” travel increased the most at + 411.2% (about 5.1 times), and the number of nights for families increased.

Akita Prefecture has many important intangible folk cultural properties such as the Oga Peninsula’s quirky “Namahage” and the Three Great Festivals of Tohoku, the Kanto Festival.

Events that colour the four seasons are also famous, such as the “Kakukan Sakura Festival” in the spring, the “Omagari Fireworks (National Fireworks Festival)” in the summer, and the “Yokote Kamakura” in the winter.

At Lake Tazawa, the deepest lake in Japan, the legend of Princess Tatsuko remains, and there is Gozanoishi Shrine, which is also known as a power spot, and is dotted with activities and sightseeing spots. In addition, Akita’s famous “Oyu Stone Circles” and “Isedōtai Site”, which are included in the “Hokkaido / Northeastern Jomon Archaeological Sites” are expected to be registered as World Cultural Heritage in July. Isedotai Seki) ”is also attracting attention.

Gunma Prefecture is in fourth place with a year-on-year increase of 98.2%. There are scenic spots such as “Oze”, “Fukiwari Waterfall” and “Tone River”, and it is an area where you can enjoy many high-quality hot springs such as “Kusatsu”, “Ikaho”, “Minakami” and “Shiman” as one of Japan’s leading hot spring kingdoms.

There are historical and railway fans’ must-see tourist spots such as the world heritage “Tomioka Thread Mill”, the “Megane Bridge” which is the site of the Abt system railway, and the “Watarase Valley Railway” where the trolley train runs, and it is one of the best power spots in the Kanto region.

There are many attractions such as the famous “Haruna Shrine”. In October 2020, leisure spots that make full use of the latest video technology, such as the experience-based edutainment facility “ENNICHI by 1 → 10 AQERU Maebashi,” were born.

Okinawa 

The fifth place is Okinawa Prefecture (+ 95.3% compared to the previous year) where you can enjoy a tropical vacation with many spectacular beaches. Many hotels have plenty of sea activities and a variety of pools. In recent years, large resort hotels, villas, and condominium inns have opened one after another. Some luxury inns have private beaches and private pools.

The “Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium” is famous nationwide, including the Ryukyu Kingdom-related ruins such as the world heritage sites “Shuri Castle” and “Nakagusuku Castle Ruins”. “Mihama Town Resort American Village” is dotted with wall art and fashionable cafes that you will want to upload to SNS, so you can enjoy it in a different way. In addition, remote islands such as Miyakojima and Ishigakijima are not to be missed and are tourist attractions.

Japan go-to travel campaign 2020

The Japanese government has proposed a number of steps under the name of a nationwide ‘Go To’ campaign aimed at increasing travel within Japan and supporting local businesses in reaction to COVID-19’s unprecedented impact on tourism. 

The Japan Go-To Travel Campaign began on July 22nd, 2020, and offers Japanese citizens and international residents discounts and subsidies of up to 50% on travel within Japan. Discounts are given in the form of subsidised lodging and ‘common coupons,’ which can be used at participating retailers, restaurants, and other locations.

Japan Go-To Travel Campaign is a travel campaign that aims to promote and encourage travel and tourism in Japan. Japan Go-To Travel is a government campaign that aims to increase the number of tourists visiting Japan by increasing awareness of the country through social media, such as Twitter and Instagram.

Japan’s Go-To Travel campaign was started in 2018 by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) Japan with the aim of increasing tourist visits to Japan. The Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida announced in March 2022 that the government is planning to relaunch the “Go-To Travel” campaign “when the opportune moment comes.”

According to Kishida, the government is looking into the COVID-19 infection situation and meeting with specialists to determine when the campaign should resume. This page will be updated as soon as an announcement is made. Until then, we’ll go over the last COVID-19 campaign to see what’s in store for the months ahead.

From July 22nd, 2020, the government will cover up to half of the cost of accommodation and transportation for 1-day trips up to JPY10,000 per person and 2. overnight trips up to JPY20,000 per person. Trips of up to seven days in length had been covered. The amount you are entitled to on an overnight trip is based on the cost of your lodging, with a maximum claim of JPY20,000 per person. This is what that support looks like:

70% will be provided through reduced accommodation; 30% will be made available through the usage of ‘common vouchers.’

News on Japan Go-To Travel Campaign 2020

As of this, the Japan Go-To Travel Campaign will not proceed until the level of Corona is safe enough to travel with minimal spread. The tourism minister Tetsuo Saito stated, “We’re not at a point where we can announce a specific date for resuming the campaign, we’re in a situation where we should assume that the spread of (the coronavirus) will proceed rapidly.”

However, some travel companies and booking sites are considering resuming the Japan Japan Go-To Travel Campaign, and are planning to offer discounts for currently booked and newly booked vacations after the decision are made.

When it is agreed to restart the Japan Go-To Travel Campaign, for example, JTB and HIS will contact the target passengers individually via email, and if they agree to the participation criteria, the discount will be applied as is. Similarly, Rakuten Travel, Ikyu.com, and others have stated that the discount will be applied later without the need to rebook the trip.

How does the Japan Go-To Travel Campaign work?

Travellers can apply through participating travel agents, online reservation sites, and lodging companies. Up to 30% of the travel fee will be decreased, and a “regional common coupon” (3,000 yen on weekdays and 1,000 yen on holidays) will be issued that may be used at registered member stores of travel destinations, as well as the entire tourist destination.

For Go To travel, the “Regional Common Coupon” will provide 15% off the ticket price. Paper coupons and electronic coupons are the two types of coupons available. Each voucher is issued in 1,000 yen increments and cannot be changed. The method of distribution is determined by the operator who booked the trip.

What kinds of trips are eligible for the Japan Go-To Travel Campaign?

All sorts of trips from long weekends to day trips.

What does the Japan Go-To Travel Campaign cover?

The Go-To-Travel Campaign covers all forms of trips including accommodation, transportation, food and goods and services which include excursions.

How to use Japan Go-To Travel Campaign

The official Japan Go-To Travel information states that the campaign is available for all residents of Japan, both Japanese citizens and foreign residents with valid visas.

Overnight stays at registered lodgings, trip arrangements made through registered travel agencies are all eligible for discounts, and the vast majority of hotels and travel agents across the country are registered.

The official website of the Japan Go-To Travel campaign has a list of associated businesses. The campaign is active in all of Japan’s regions. Depending on the development of the virus, some places may be temporarily excluded from participating in the campaign. Only if they are part of a trip package are they eligible for the discount.

The discount, for example, cannot be used on standard purchases of flights or rental cars; however, it can be used on flights or rental cars that are part of a vacation package booked through an authorised travel agent.

How to apply for the Go-To Travel Campaign

In order to apply for the campaign, you have to reserve your desired trip through a campaign-registered hotel using the hotel, a travel agent, or a reservation website. On the other hand, you can purchase a vacation package from a registered travel agent.

You pay 65 percent of the total cost of the lodging or package at the time of booking, with the remaining 15 percent in coupons supplied by the travel agent or hotel. 

On the campaign’s official website, a list of registered hotels and travel brokers may be seen in Japanese. Many hotel reservation companies, such as Booking.com and Agoda, are also participating in the Japan Go-To Travel campaign.

The discount is not only good for lodging, but also for overnight transportation such as a cruise ship, an overnight ferry, or a sleeper train, for which you might receive a discount. The campaign will pay for your transportation, meals, and activities if you choose to go on a day trip.

How to use Go To Travel Coupons

During the day(s) of your journey, coupons can be used to pay for goods and services at registered stores and restaurants, as well as transportation and other travel services in the prefecture visited and nearby prefectures. Please note that they are non-refundable. The campaign’s official website includes a list of registered businesses.

Coupons are issued in either paper or electronic form, depending on the issuing agent (to be used with a mobile device). Coupons are provided in 1000 yen increments, with the amount adjusted up or down to the closest 1000 yen (500 and more is rounded up; less than 500 is rounded down).

What do you think about the Japan go-to travel campaign? Hope you find this guide helpful to help you figure out exactly what is Japan go-to travel campaign, how to use it and some inspiration on where to go!

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Japan Reinstates Its Domestic Travel Discount Program, Here's Who Qualifies

Japan’s domestic travel discount program was suspended at the end of 2022 through the New Year holiday season, but it is back! The Japan Tourism Agency reinstated the program last week on a smaller scale.

The return of the discount program gives hope to boost Japan’s hospitality industry and economy, which suffered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was originally launched for residents on October 11, 2022. Travel to Tokyo was excluded until October 20, 2022.

The Japanese government expects the program to last until the end of March 2023. Each prefecture was allocated a certain amount of funds by the central government. The program will end in stages as funds run out. Each prefecture will use its judgment on when to terminate the program.

In December, the discount was up to ¥11,000, about $84. It has now been scaled down to a maximum of ¥7,000 per night per person, which is about $54. This includes shopping coupons that can be redeemed at restaurants and local vendors.

During a news conference last week, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said, “I hope (the discount program) will stimulate nationwide travel demand and have as many people as possible visit.”

Related: Diary Of A Black Traveler: How Troy Found Peace In Japan

Who qualifies for discounts?

Residents and foreign nationals of Japan are eligible for the travel discount program. Foreign tourists are not eligible for the discount program.  

Eligible travelers will need to have either received three COVID-19 vaccine shots or submit a negative PCR or antigen test within 72 hours of checking into a hotel. Japan’s health ministry website lists approved vaccines for those who received vaccines outside of the country.  

Proof of vaccination or a negative test result is required at check-in. If you forget to bring proof, you must pay the full price and are not eligible for the discount. Other acceptable forms of proof are the government’s vaccine passport smartphone app and vaccine vouchers used during vaccination. You will also need to show your ID (driver’s license, passport, or residence card) when checking in.  

If you’re traveling with a group of people and one person forgets to bring proof of vaccination or a negative test result, the entire group may be denied the discounted rate.  

An exception to the rule is children 11 and under — they will not have to show proof of vaccination or a negative test result as long as they have an ID and are traveling with an adult eligible for the discounted rate.

What are the discounts like?

Travelers will receive 20% off of up to ¥5,000 (about $39) per person per night for accommodations and transportation. A discount of ¥3,000 (about $24) per person per night will be applied to those who just booked a hotel.  

“Reviving tourism demand is very important to revitalize the economy. We want people to travel in Japan while taking basic COVID-19 precautions,” says Japan’s tourism minister Tetsuo Saito during a news conference last week.  

Additionally, ¥2,000 (about $16) worth of vouchers will be given to travelers who travel on weekdays. If you’re traveling on the weekend, you can expect ¥1,000 (about $8) in vouchers. These vouchers can be used for shopping and at restaurants. The vouchers will even be given upon check-in at the hotel or through the travel agency you book with.  

How do I book?

To receive discounts when booking, you can plan through travel agencies such as Rakuten Travel , Yahoo Travel , Jalan Travel , JTB , and Rurubu Travel .

Related: Japanese Theme Parks Reopen To Tourists With New Rules, Including No Screaming Or Talking On Rides  

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A nationwide travel discount program will be kicked off on October 11, supporting up to 11,000 JPY a traveler a night

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced in New York on September 22 2022 that the government will kick off a nationwide travel discount program and an event discount program on October 11 2022. Kishida said, “With the programs, the government will support hospitality, travel and entertainment industries, which have suffered from the pandemic.”

A nationwide travel discount program, separately from ongoing prefectural travel discount program, was supposed to be launched in July this year, however it has been postponed due to re-spread of COVID-19. 

The program will discount by 40% a traveler a night. The discounted ceiling  is up to 8,000 JPY for a tour with transportation services and up to 5,000 JPY for others. In addition to the travel discount, the government will subsidize a shopping coupon of 3,000 JPY a traveler for weekdays and 1,000 JPY for weekend. The scheme allows a traveler to benefit a discount of up to 11,000 JPY. 

Together with full open of the border, the domestic travel program is expected to accelerate recovery of the tourism industry as a whole. 

Let us hear your VOICE Please feel free to leave any comments or opinions.

Japan will fully open the border on october 11 2022 by lifting visa requirement for foreigners and the limited entry cap a day, international arrivals in august 2022 were still 170,000 only, despite more than 100,000 for five consecutive months, latest news, airbnb contributes $1 million to a japan-u.s. regional tourism exchange program, sending japanese tourism professionals to u.s., jr tokai, a train operator of japan, will introduce luxury private rooms in tokaido shinkansen bullet train for executive passengers, jal and ana have received around 10% more international flight bookings for this coming golden week holiday period, japanese outbound travelers still recovered slowly to 1.2 million in march 2024, international visitors to japan exceeded 3 million in march 2024 for the first time, boosted by cherry blossom.

Guest nights in home-sharing in Japan for the first two months of 2024 were 30% more than a year ago

Interest in overseas travel of Japanese people is much lower than the world’s average

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Japan to extend domestic travel subsidy program beyond April

The government is planning to extend a domestic travel subsidy program, initially slated to end in March, through the summer in hopes of bolstering the tourism industry’s post-pandemic recovery.

The discounts will also not be applicable to reservations that have already been made for travel from April. But once prefectures officially extend the program, travelers can make reservations with discounts.

“The budget allocated for the program has been carried over from the previous year and is expected to continue through the summer until it runs out,” said Kensuke Dogahana, who is in charge of the program at the tourism agency.

The discount rate will remain the same. Travelers can get a 20% discount maxing out at ¥5,000 per person per night for accommodation that is packaged with transportation. If travelers just book a hotel, the maximum discount will be ¥3,000 per person per night.

In addition, travelers will get ¥2,000 worth of vouchers per person per day if they travel on weekdays and ¥1,000 on weekends, which can be used at restaurants and for souvenirs.

The number of domestic overnight stays in 2022 was up around 43% from the previous year at 453.97 million, and only down roughly 24% compared to the pre-pandemic level in 2019. Most travelers were Japanese, with foreign guests only accounting for 3.7% of the total.

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Finally! Japan is fully reopening October 11th, 2022 – travel discounts to be offered as well

• September 22, 2022

We may receive a commission when you use our links. Monkey Miles is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com and CardRatings. This relationship may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Monkey Miles is also a Senior Advisor to Bilt Rewards. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

Japan is finally reopening to tourists on October 11th and will allow visa-free entry and abolish the daily arrival cap! The requirements for entry will be 3 vaccinations or test negative Covid test. They’re also going to be releasing a nationwide travel discount program which will provide discounts for travel, entry to theme parks/sporting events and concerts:

• ¥8,000 discount per person per night booking both
• ¥5,000 for accommodation only.
• ¥3,000 on weekdays
• ¥1,000 on weekends

You can read about how I surprised my wife with a birthday weekend in Tokyo here that would have retailed for $25k…we paid a few hundred.

I couldn’t have asked for the trip to go any better. She was totally surprised and we got to spend an amazing weekend in Tokyo.

The Full Trip Report can be read here and below are the individual segments

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• American Airlines LA to Tokyo on the retrofit 772
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• Japan Airlines First Class Lounge Narita
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Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

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Could you help me with building a trip to Japan to visit my son? I would like to take my other 2 boys and a girlfriend of one of them, but need to do it on a single mom income while putting all 3 through college, I’ve never traveled outside of the U.S. so I’m clueless. A teacher friend of mine directed me to your site. I’ve been waiting for the border in Japan to open and according to your post it will be happening soon. ANY help would be greatly appreciated. I was just quoted from a travel agent near me that plane tickets alone would be $2500 each. I didn’t even pay $1000 last month for when my son left to go to school there. Desperate mother here.

The discount program is ‘may launch’, can’t wait for them to announce for more information

Nope. Not a full reopening. Y’all bloggers think the entire world flocked to the jabs. The reality is that a large percentage did not. Until JP drops the vax requirements, or useless testing, they are NOT reopened

Thailand, however, did announce today a full reopening on Oct 1. No nonsense jabs or tests required.

I’m with Brad. It’s still only a partial reopening. They want three injections of the garbage that does NOT keep you from catching the Vid and does NOT keep you from spreading the Vid. Nonsense.

Thailand has finally applied some common sense. ALL requirements for testing or injections ending on October 1.

3 vax’s, no thanks! 2 was enough for me and I regret those.

Negative covid test works too

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Hit the Road: Japan Starts Subsidy Program for Domestic Travel

Japan launched a new nationwide travel subsidy program for residents on October 11. Travelers can use the scheme to receive discounts on trips to every prefecture, although travel to Tokyo will be excluded until October 20.

The program provides discounts of up to ¥8,000 per traveler per day for package tours combining public transportation and accommodation, and ¥5,000 per person per day for lodging only or vouchers of equal value for day-trip shopping. Travelers can also take advantage of daily vouchers of up to ¥3,000 on weekdays and ¥1,000 on weekends for use at restaurants and for shopping. The subsidies are available for up to seven days during a single trip, covering as much as 40% of costs. The program can be used for any number of excursions during the campaign period, which runs to late December.

Nationwide Travel Discount Program

Comparing the amount of discounts and vouchers, weekday travel by far offers the best value. What is more, the programs treats overnight stays beginning or ending on a weekday as weekday tours. For instance, while ¥1,000 coupons are offered for a trip on a Saturday, Sunday, or national holiday, a Friday-to-Saturday stay or Sunday-to-Monday stay is treated as weekday travel and eligible for the maximum ¥3,000 voucher.

Subsidy Amounts Per Day

Some municipalities are offering their own travel subsidies for lodging and other purposes that in many cases can be combined with the national government program for even better deals. Travelers are encouraged to check websites of travel agents and local governments for more information on offers.

(Translated from Japanese. Banner photo © Pixta.)

tourism travel

Discount Air Tickets

While regular airfares by conventional airlines remain relatively high on domestic routes , the competition by discount airlines and a wide array of discount offers have made domestic air travel in Japan very economical and competitive in recent years. In fact, there are so many discount plans, that only very few travelers are ever paying regular fares.

Special fares for foreign visitors

JAL, ANA, Air Do and Solaseed offer special fares for exclusive use by foreign visitors to Japan. In past years there used to exist many good deals; but during the coronavirus pandemic many of them were discontinued, while the remaining ones are often not better than other discount fares available to the general public:

Low-cost airlines

Peach Aviation and Jetstar Japan are the leading genuine low-cost carriers in Japan, offering just the bare minimum of services and fares that fluctuate with demand and can be very low:

Other cheaper airlines

There are a number of other airlines, which offer services and fare structures similar to JAL and ANA, but with prices that are typically at least 20 percent lower:

Advance purchase discounts

An effective way to get low rates on domestic flights in Japan is to purchase as early in advance as possible. Particularly large discounts are offered when booked at least a month in advance. Many airlines also offer discounts on bookings made seven, three or one day ahead of the travel date.

The biggest discounts are offered on popular routes on which competition is high. Most discounts are available for just a limited number of seats on each flight and may sell out quickly. They are often tied to higher handling fees for ticket modification and cancellation. Some of the discounts are reduced or unavailable during peak travel seasons. Online bookings are possible on each airline's website.

Avoiding peak travel periods

Many of the discount fares are less attractive or unavailable during peak travel periods such as the New Year holidays (late December to early January), the spring school holidays (second half of March and early April), Golden Week (late April to early May) and the summer holidays (mid July through August, especially Obon in mid August). Furthermore, fares on many routes are somewhat higher from Friday to Sunday than during the rest of the week.

Round-trip discounts

Domestic flights in Japan are priced and sold in one-way sectors rather than round-trips. Nevertheless, many airlines do offer small discounts on round trips. However, because only one type of discount can be applied per flight and other discounts are usually better priced, round-trip discounts are rarely the most attractive choice.

Early morning and late night flights

Some early morning and late night flights are typically around 10-20 percent cheaper.

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Japan explorer pass, ana discover japan fare, skymark airlines, peach aviation, jetstar japan, spring japan, solaseed air.

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Japan may introduce a domestic travel discount programme in autumn

The nationwide travel incentive will include discounts for transportation and accommodation across the country

Within the last two years, Japan has introduced a number of domestic travel incentives to help boost the local economy, including the Go To Travel campaign and the Motto Tokyo staycation packages. The Japan Times has reported that the government now plans to launch another nationwide travel programme starting this autumn. 

The domestic travel campaign will mainly support industries badly affected by the pandemic, namely the hotel and transport industries. The incentives will be offered in the form of discount coupons valid within designated areas.

So how much will you actually save? Discounts for public transport and accommodation packages might go up to ¥8,000 per person per night. For accommodations alone, you could save up to ¥5,000. Discount coupons for restaurants and other facilities could be worth up to ¥3,000 on weekdays and ¥1,000 on weekends. 

On another note, recent news suggests that Japan’s remaining border rules could be lifted soon, meaning foreign tourists and independent travellers will finally be allowed into Japan without restrictions. 

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Japan to Continue Nationwide Travel Discount Program in 2023

Rashaad Jorden , Skift

November 25th, 2022 at 1:00 PM EST

The Japanese government announced on Friday i t’s planning to resume its domestic travel discount program in the new year .

Tourism Minister Tetsuo Saito said the government will decide when exactly to relaunch the program, which was initially expected to conclude on December 28 , after monitoring Covid cases in the country. Participants in the program, a campaign the government hopes will resurrect a tourism industry battered by the pandemic, are required to have received at least three Covid vaccine doses or test negative for the virus. The Japanese government relaunched the travel discount program in October after pausing it during the heart of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, discounts offered in the program will be reduced next year, with the discount rate to drop to 20 percent from the current 40 percent. The maximum discount amount available for travelers in tour packages, including public transportation services, will also decrease from $58 (8,000 yen) to $36 (5,000 yen).

Tags: coronavirus recovery , discounts , japan , tourism , travel recovery

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Japan to Continue Travel Discount Program Beyond April

17:09 JST, March 10, 2023

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The Japan Tourism Agency presented a plan Thursday to continue the government’s domestic travel discount program in April and beyond.

The agency took the action at a meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport Division.

Meanwhile, the agency plans to exclude the country’s Golden Week holiday period between late April and early May from the program.

Existing funds for the program allocated from the national to prefectural governments will be carried over.

The program will end in prefectures where the budgets have run out. It is expected to last until around summer in some regions.

The program, which started in October last year, is designed to support tourism and other industries hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It ended on Dec. 27 but resumed on Jan. 10 after the government revised the system, including by lowering the discount rate.

The current discount rate is 20 pct for a maximum subsidy of ¥5,000 per person per night for travel products that combine lodging and public transportation and ¥3,000 for lodging only.

The program also distributes coupons that can be used at restaurants and elsewhere worth ¥2,000 on weekdays and ¥1,000 on weekends and national holidays.

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• COVID-19 Update

Travel discount program to continue, expand from July 1

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

June 15, 2022 at 18:20 JST

The government plans to extend and expand a tourism support program to cover the entire nation from July 1 to bolster a sector that has clamored for help in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The “kenmin wari” discount program was scheduled to expire at the end of June.

However, the government plans to continue the program as an “economy-boosting measure” ahead of the Upper House election next month.

Under the program, the central government provides subsidies to individual prefectural governments to cover half of the travel costs per traveler, or up to 5,000 yen ($37) per overnight stay. The subsidies also provide up to 2,000 yen in shopping and dining coupons.

Introduced in April 2021, the kenmin wari program was initially limited to travel by residents within a prefecture.

But the parameters were widened from individual prefectures to regional blocs, such as the Kanto and Kinki regions, from April this year.

The program has been now in place in all prefectures except Tokyo, which provides its own travel subsidies.

The expansion of the kenmin wari program will allow travelers from large cities, such as Tokyo and Osaka, to the popular destinations of Hokkaido and Okinawa Prefecture to receive the discounts and coupons.

Both the departure and arrival prefectures must agree to join the program for the travelers to receive the discounts.

Prefectures where new COVID-19 cases are increasing can be excluded from the program.

The program will be suspended in prefectures where a COVID-19 state of emergency has been declared or where pre-emergency measures are in place.

Travelers must be triple vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID-19 test to be eligible for the discount.

They can also use the kenmin wari program along with other tourism-related discounts offered by local governments.

Another nationwide travel subsidy campaign, called Go To Travel, has been suspended since the end of December 2020 because of the spread of novel coronavirus infections.

Go To Travel was given a budget exceeding 1 trillion yen. Of the unused 830 billion yen, the government plans to allocate 560 billion yen for the prefecture-based discount program.

The tourism industry has been calling for a resumption of the Go To Travel campaign since the COVID-19 situation started settling down in Japan and the government began easing its border controls.

However, some government officials expressed caution regarding the campaign, and not necessarily for safety reasons.

“The Go To Travel campaign does not have a good image,” one official said.

The Go To Travel campaign was introduced in July 2020 despite warnings from infectious disease experts. In autumn that year, novel coronavirus infections spread rapidly, and many people pointed the finger at the administration of Yoshihide Suga for not reviewing the campaign.

The kenmin wari program is considered more flexible to implement or suspend depending on the infection situation in local areas.

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• Entertainment

Reservation sites jammed as Japan kickstarts travel discount program

October 11, 2022 (Mainichi Japan)

Japanese version

TOKYO -- The Japanese government's "National Travel Discount" program aimed at sparking domestic tourism demand started on the morning of Oct. 11, attracting hordes of traffic at travel reservation websites and making some of them difficult to view.

From around 9 a.m., customers had difficulty accessing Yahoo! Travel's website as it began accepting reservations for package tours including air tickets and accommodation. Similar situations hit Rakuten Travel and Jalan's websites, with some people finding it hard to advance to search or reservation pages.

Under the National Travel Discount program, the government will subsidize 40% of travel expenses until late December.

(Japanese original by Mihoko Kato, Business News Department)

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