japan tourism campaign 2022

‘Go To Travel’ explained

Part of a larger "Go To" campaign intended to restart the Japanese economy following the damage caused by the coronavirus , Go To Travel is a campaign by the national government that offers big discounts on travel inside Japan. Only residents of Japan (including foreign residents) are eligible to take advantage of the campaign.

What is Go To Travel?

• A 35 percent discount on the total cost and
• Coupons worth 15 percent of the total cost to be spent on other travel expenses during the trip

Is there an upper limit?

Yes, there is. The maximum discount that can be received for overnight trips is 13,000 yen per person and night, while the maximum amount of coupons that can be received is 7,000 yen per person and night. In other words, the upper limit applies to travel plans that cost more than 40,000 yen per person and night.

In case of daytrips , the travelers can receive a discount of up to 7,000 yen and coupons of up to 3,000 yen per trip.

Note that children are counted the same as adults. For example, a family of four with two kids can receive a discount of up to 52,000 yen (4 x 13,000 yen) and coupons of up to 28,000 yen (4 x 7,000 yen) on an overnight trip, even if the kids stay for free.

Furthermore, note that only up to seven nights per trip are covered by the campaign. On trips that are longer than eight days, travelers will not be able to profit from the campaign from the 8th night. Note that there is no limit on how many trips can be made during the campaign.

Who is eligible?

All residents of Japan, including foreign residents.

Can temporary visitors to Japan use the campaign?

No, only residents of Japan are eligible.

How long does the campaign last?

The campaign started in late July 2020, but was suspended in December 2020 due to rising coronavirus infection numbers. It is expected to resume once the infection numbers have decreased and continue until at least summer 2021.

Are there any other conditions for participating?

Yes, all participating travelers are requested to follow the "new travel etiquette" with regards to preventing the spread of the coronavirus on their trips. Please visit our page about coronavirus manners for more details.

What is covered?

• Overnight stays at registered lodgings
• Travel plans purchased through registered travel agents

A large majority of hotels and travel agents across the country are registered. Lists of registered businesses are available on the campaign's official website .

Are all regions of Japan covered?

All regions of Japan are covered by the campaign. There is a possibility for some areas to be temporarily excluded from the campaign depending on the spread of the virus.

Does the campaign also apply to transportation, activities, meals and shopping?

The discount applies only if they are part of a travel plan. For example, the discount cannot be applied to regular purchases of flights or rental cars ; however, it does apply if a flight or rental car is part of a travel package sold through a registered travel agent. Likewise, if an activity or meal is part of the travel package, the campaign applies.

What type of daytrips are eligible?

The campaign applies only to daytrip travel packages sold by registered travel agents. The packages have to include 1) transport starting and ending at the same place on the same day and 2) at least some form of travel service besides transport in the destination area, e.g. meals or activities. For example, it does not cover 1-day bus tours that do not include any activities at the destination.

There is no limit on how many trips you can make during the campaign period. However, there is a limit of seven nights per trip that can be covered, meaning that those traveling for more than eight days are not able to profit from the campaign from the 8th night.

How can I use it?

There are mainly two ways to profit from the campaign:

• Book a stay at a registered hotel through the hotel, a travel agent or a reservation website that participates in the campaign.
• Purchase a travel package through a registered travel agent.

At the time of your booking, you pay 65% of the total cost for the accommodation or package, while the 15% in coupons will be issued to you by the travel agent or hotel.

A list of registered hotels and travel agents can be found in Japanese on the campaign's official website . Many hotel reservation websites are also participating in the Go To Travel campaign, including Booking.com and Agoda .

How do I use the coupons?

Coupons can be used to make payments at registered stores and restaurants and for transportation and other travel services in the prefecture visited and surrounding prefectures during the day(s) of your trip. They cannot be refunded. A map showing registered businesses can be found on the campaign's official website .

Links and Resources

Go to travel.

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Go To Travel Campaign Update! How It Works: A Basic Guide for Foreign Residents of Japan (July 2022)

The Go To Travel Campaign, launched on July 22, 2020, was promptly suspended only months later, on December 28. However, with the lifting of the quasi-state of emergency on March 21, 2022, there are hopes that the campaign will soon return. However, we still have yet to hear an official government announcement as of July 2022. As far as a Go To Travel revival goes, however, rather than put it into action all at once, the travel campaign will be seeing a more gradual start, beginning with the resumption of the Prefectural Residents' Discount program in March and the launch of a new travel subsidy, the Regional Block Discount. Many people have taken advantage of these during the long holiday in May, Golden Week. So, what exactly is the Go To Travel campaign? And when will it resume? What changes will take place? Also, what are the Prefectural Residents' Discount and Regional Block Discount programs all about? You've probably asked these questions yourself. In this article, we'll attempt to answer them! *Go To Travel renewal date still to be determined as of July 15, 2022. *Article based on information available as of July 15, 2022. main image：PIXTA

What is the Go To Travel Campaign?

Go to travel campaign renewal step one: prefectural residents' discounts, go to travel campaign renewal step two: regional block discounts, what we currently know about the pre-renewal go to travel campaign, vaccination and infection status in japan as of july 2022.

Go To Travel is a subsidy program initiated by the Japanese government to restore travel and promote tourism throughout Japan's various regions. The campaign's first phase began on July 22, 2020, and lasted until September 1, 2020. The second phase launched on October 1 of the same year, and caused quite a stir with the addition of Tokyo as an eligible region, after being excluded from phase one. The campaign, however, was promptly suspended by the end of the year in response to the fifth wave of Covid-19. Although an announcement on November 19, 2021, hinted at changes being made in preparation for the campaign's resumption, as of July 2022, there is still yet to be an official announcement of its start date. However, several steps have been implemented toward its revival. The Prefectural Residents' Discount, a regional travel subsidy implemented throughout each individual prefecture, was renewed in March of 2022. A new Block Discount has also been established, expanding the Prefectural Residents' Discount to regional blocks such as Tohoku, Kanto, and Kinki. The goal of these programs is to gradually take a 'soft landing approach' to curb infection rates. The movement is summarized below. Step-By-Step Plan Toward Go To Travel Campaign Renewal Step 1 Renewal of Prefectural Residents' Discount starting April 2022: For travel within the prefecture of residence and neighboring prefectures. Will resume sequentially for individual prefectures in areas where infection has been curbed. ↓ Step 2 Regional Block Discount starting April 2022: Until now, prefectural discounts have only applied to individual prefectures. This step will gradually expand that range to include 'regional blocks'. Regions will be divided into six blocks, including Hokkaido/Tohoku, Kanto, and Hokuriku Shinetsu/Chubu. ↓ Step 3 First half of July 2022 - Start of "National Travel Support" postponed: The country had been considering shifting from "Prefectural Residents' Discount" to a nationwide "National Travel Support" program to stimulate tourism demand, but this was postponed due to a rise in Covid cases. ↓ Step 4 Renewal of Go To Travel Campaign (*No official announcement as of July 2022) From the first half of July 2022, the country planned to commence its "National Travel Support" program (in Step 3) and see the completion of the "Prefectural Residents' Discount" for accommodation on July 14 (with check-out on July 15). Due to the recent rise in Covid cases, the Japan Tourism Agency decided to postpone the start of "National Travel Support" on July 14, opting to extend the "Prefectural Residents' Discount (Block Discount)" until August 31 (with check-out on September 1). However, the decision on whether to extend the period will be made on a prefecture-by-prefecture basis and officially announced. Prefectures that do not extend the program will suspend it at the current deadline of July 14 (for check-out on July 15).

The Prefectural Residents' Discount in step one of the step-by-step plan will be put into effect until the resumption of the Go To Travel campaign. It includes travel discounts within the user's prefecture of residence and neighboring prefectures. Prefectural Residents' Discount Summary: ・Discounts of up to 5,000 yen per person per night, up to 50% of the original price. The same applies to day trips. ・Discounts up to 2,000 yen per person/night provided for souvenir shops , restaurants, and public transportation. The same applies to day trips. ・To be eligible for prefectural discounts, a user must have had both vaccines or a negative PCR test (test not required for children under 12 accompanied by a guardian). ・Prefectural discounts for accommodations until May 31, 2022. Not applicable during Golden Week (April 29-May 8, 2022). As an example, if you stay at an inn for 10,000 yen per person per night, you'll receive a discount of 5,000 yen. If you apply additional discounts at a value of up to 2,000 yen, you can save as much as 7,000 yen. The above are the basic conditions set by the Japan Tourism Agency. However, specific details on the system and content, including discount rates and vaccination requirements, may vary by municipality. Please be sure to check your local government's official website for accurate information.

This program divides Japan into six regions. Discounts that were previously only available for travel within the same prefecture or neighboring prefectures will now apply to prefectures within the same regional block, which means a broader range of travel. The addition of applicable regions will be dependent on consent from each prefecture. For example, if Kanagawa Prefecture wants to attract Chiba residents, but does not obtain the consent of Chiba Prefecture , it will not be eligible for the Regional Block Discount. Application of Regional Block Discounts will be announced and commence according to each prefecture's ability to make adjustments. Regional Block Discount Summary: ・Regions are divided into the following six blocks. Please note that Yamanashi Prefecture is included in the Kanto Region, and Mie Prefecture is included in the Hokuriku Shinetsu/Chubu Region.

・Visitors residing outside the prefecture must meet vaccination requirements, such as having received up to three vaccinations, or receiving a negative PCR test. (Test not required for children under 12 if accompanied by a guardian). As with the Prefectural Residents' Discount, requirements such as vaccination status and other applicable conditions are determined by individual prefectures. Please visit the campaign homepage for each prefecture for more details. Note that for travel outside of the block, each municipality may have its own discount system, as well. Be sure to check the official website of each municipality for more information. For example, the city of Hakodate , Hokkaido, has its own ' Hakodate Wari,' a special discount that only applies to that city. Non-residents of Hakodate or other prefectures within that region may receive a 50% discount when spending a minimum of 3,000 yen per person per night at specified Hakodate accommodations (see terms and conditions for details).

Finally, although the exact renewal date is still to be determined, let's take a look at what we currently know about the New Go To Travel Campaign, as announced on November 19, 2021. Discount Rates: 30% discount on accommodation and day trips for domestic travel (including group travel) Max Discount: (per night) Accommodation plus transportation: up to 10,000 yen / Accommodation only: up to 7,000 yen Max Discount: (day trip) Up to 3,000 yen Regional Common Coupon: (per night) Weekdays: 3,000 yen / Holidays: 1,000 yen Health & Safety Measures: Implementation of Vaccine-Test Package (*) / Report when testing positive within 2 weeks after travel / Record of travel history behavior The Vaccine-Test Package

(*) The Vaccine-Test Package allows relaxed restrictions for travelers upon confirmation of either vaccination status or test results. ・Vaccination Status: Proof of receiving both vaccinations, with at least 14 days since the second vaccination. ・Test Results: Confirmation of negative test results of PCR test or rapid antigen test. Results are valid within 3 days from the sample collection date for PCR tests (or from the test date if the sample collection date is unknown), and within one day for rapid antigen tests.

Content including discount rates and regional coupons revised from previous Go To Travel Campaign.

According to government data , as of July 14, 2022, 82.0% (103,796,378 people) of the population have received their first dose of the new Covid-19 vaccination, 80.9% (102,432,324 people) have received their second, and 62.3% (78,845,744 people) have received their third. However, although the Ministry of Health , Labor and Welfare has encouraged vaccination throughout the municipalities, they have not declared vaccinations mandatory for children in Japan due to evidence regarding preventive effects in children remaining uncertain. This is reflected in the numbers, showing 18.9% (1,402,011 children) have received their first vaccination, and 17.5% (1,299,419 children) have received their second.

After going through the preliminary steps of the Prefectural Residents' Discount and Regional Block Discounts, Japan may finally be able to proceed with the Go To Travel Campaign throughout the country. As of July 2022, the number of Covid cases in Japan has been increasing nationwide and is said to be in the seventh wave, and increased contact is expected to continue due to the summer vacation. There has been no official announcement from the government as to when the "Go To Travel" campaign will resume. Prime Minister Kishida announced at a press conference that the scope of coverage for the fourth vaccination will be expanded from the current 60 years and older to include healthcare workers and staff of elderly care facilities, and that vaccination will begin from the week of July 18 onward. He also stated that he is not considering any new restrictions on activities at this time, and that he intends to maintain a balance between socio-economic activities and mitigating the spread of infection. We can only hope that as people take advantage of these decentralized travel campaigns, each and every one will also continue to take thorough measurements to prevent the spread of the virus. *Article based on information available as of July 15, 2022. *Conditions and methods of use vary by prefecture. The information in this article may differ from actual information. Please check the Japan Tourism Agency and prefectural government websites for the latest information. *All photos for illustrative purposes only. Translated by: Krys Suzuki

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News & Opinion

[UPDATE] Japan’s “Go To Travel” Campaign: What You Need to Know

The rumors, the facts and how to get discounted domestic holidays

July 13, 2020 Updated On December 15, 2020

[UPDATE] On December 14, the Japanese government announced that the “Go To Travel” campaign will be halted nationwide from December 28 to January 11 amid a surge in coronavirus cases across the country. Further decisions will be based on how the situation develops, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said. 

Furthermore, Tokyo and Nagoya, two cities where infections have been rapidly spreading in the past couple of weeks, will be removed from the travel campaign, e ffective December 18. Inbound travel to Tokyo through the campaign will be halted and outbound travel discouraged until December 27.

Prior to this announcement, the only two cities that had been temporarily removed from the campaign were Osaka and Sapporo. 

For those who have already booked a stay, cancelation fee will not be charged if canceled between December 14 and December 24. 

Amid surging new coronavirus infections reported in Tokyo, torrential rain and floods that have claimed the lives of dozens of people in Kyushu (with many remaining missing) and massive event cancellations throughout the country due to the coronavirus, Japan’s government just announced its latest campaign that does the opposite of what you’d expect given the circumstances: it encourages people to travel, interact with locals in other prefectures and pretend that life is back to normal.

You read this correctly. The brand new “Go To Travel Campaign,” Japan’s latest initiative to save its economy from the grips of the pandemic — has been pushed (despite all odds) to start on July 22, approximately half a month earlier than planned. The reason? It needed to begin before the four-day weekend starting on July 23.

What is the “Go To Travel” campaign?

In April 2020, Japan suffered its most significant drop in foreign tourism. In that particular month, Japan welcomed only 2,900 international travelers, down 99.9% from the same time in 2019. It’s the first time since 1964 the monthly number of guests had dipped below 10,000. Domestic travel — while the nation was under the government-declared state of emergency — was practically nonexistent either. So, as you can imagine, Japan is itching to get people back on the road, in shops, restaurants and spending up big.

The problem is that, as of present, given its still shut borders, it can’t count on inbound tourism — which is why the government is pushing domestically.

After a month of waiting for clarification, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport Kazuyoshi Akaba announced in a meeting on July 10 that Japan would launch the initiative, their ¥1.7 billion “Go To Travel” campaign, at the end of this month.  

Kicking off on July 22 and running until mid-March 2021 (or until all the money runs out), the campaign is a government initiative to help stimulate Japan’s post-Covid-19 economy, with a focus on the travel, hospitality and entertainment sectors. As a way to boost local businesses and industries significantly impacted by the pandemic, the government offers substantial discounts and subsidies for those looking to travel domestically. 

The campaign will cover half of the applicants’ travel spending, with the subsidy capping at ¥20,000 per person per night, or ¥10,000 per person for single-day trips. To make the most of the campaign, travelers will have to spend ¥40,000 per night, with 50% paid by the traveler and 50% paid by the government. 

Who is the campaign for?

The Go To Travel campaign is for those planning to travel domestically and is geared towards travel products that include accommodation and transportation, such as package tours (including day trips) booked through travel agencies and travel reservation sites or directly through a hotel’s website. Some travel agencies that are already selling packages include JTB, JTrip, Life Tour, IACE Travel and more. 

Foreign travelers are, in theory, eligible for this campaign, given that they book their trip through a travel agency participating in the campaign — and that they can travel all the way to Japan, which may not be possible anytime soon. To add to that, as of present, the news and information about the campaign are still all in Japanese, so it’s fair to say that the campaign is not really targeting overseas travelers. At least for now. 

The news confusion

In late May, while the early stages of the campaign idea were coming into formation, a rumor that the Japanese government would be paying for half or even more of the visitors’ expenses once borders opened again started to do the rounds both here in Japan and overseas.

The news was misreported but was published by a not insubstantial number of international news outlets, forcing The Japan Tourism Agency to release a statement and a series of tweets clarifying that the program would only cover “a portion of domestic travel expenses.” So, if you saw those reports and hadn’t seen any follow-ups, we’re sorry to inform you that the offer was indeed too good to be true. 

What can you do with it?

The maximum subsidy will cover half of a person’s travel costs up to ¥20,000 per person per night, meaning that if a trip including travel, accommodation and other outside expenses cost ¥40,000 per day, the government will cover ¥20,000 maximum. Say your trip costs an average of ¥20,000 per day (before the discount), then the government will cover half, so you’ll only spend ¥10,000.

The delegation of the subsidies is broken up into two elements: travel charges and retail. Travel charges include travel expenses like transport tickets and accommodation. These make up 70% of the subsidy, meaning 70% of the potential ¥20,000 per day (¥14,000) has to go towards these expenses. The remaining 30% (maximum ¥6,000) will be awarded in the form of local coupons to be spent on things like souvenirs from the area.

Initially, reports claimed those who booked a trip before the campaign announcement wouldn’t qualify for the subsidy. But, to keep it fair, the deal will now also apply to those travelers who can retroactively receive the discount. Given that this is a government initiative, of course, this means that travelers will have to go through the process of filling in an application form, providing proof of stay at a hotel during the campaign period, attach a receipt for their expenses and a consent on the use of personal information. Details of how to apply are still in the works, but there have been promises that the refund of the discount will be paid by credit card or bank transfer. Worth the ordeal? Probably not, but that’s another issue. 

How to get the discounts and what are the conditions

To take full advantage of the subsidy, travelers must make their bookings through a campaign registered travel agency or directly through an accommodation booking website. This rule has been somewhat controversial. Some argue that by booking through an agency, smaller, independent businesses and those that lack a booking site on their own — like family-run ryokans — may miss out on cashing in on the benefits, as major players in the industry like JTB sit at the forefront of the campaign and are set to profit big.  

Beyond the travel agency stipulation, surprisingly, the terms and conditions on the deal are few. There’s no limit to the number of times you can take advantage of the campaign, meaning you can take as many subsidized trips as you like, plus there’s no limit to the number of consecutive nights at the destination. However, some conditions do apply to personal travel arrangements: say, if you book your accommodation and transport separately, then the half-price subsidy will only apply to the accommodation arrangements. 

More information on the delegated agencies and the government’s other similar ‘Go To’ campaigns like Go To Eat and Go To Shop is set to be released in the coming weeks, though rumors are that the Go To Eat campaign will benefit users with up to 20 percent discounts and/or discounts of up to ¥1,000 for people booking restaurants via online restaurant booking sites. 

For more information on the Go To Travel Campaign, see  here . 

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On Nov. 5, election officials across America will count more than 150 million ballots to answer a burning political question: Who will be president of the United States? Until then, the best signals we can get will mostly come from public opinion polls, which will be the fuel of endless debate on who has the lead, Democrat Joe Biden or Republican Donald Trump. But what do polls really tell us? Lik

Behind the Japanese Tourism Industry’s Campaign to Reopen the Country

Maki Shiraki, Yuki Nitta and Rocky Swift, Reuters

May 30th, 2022 at 7:00 AM EDT

After months of pressure from businesses reliant on tourism, the Japanese government is finally beginning to loosen restrictions. The prime minister is also facing an election in July. So there's that.

Japan ‘s easing of a two-year ban on foreign tourists seeks to balance the enormous economic importance of tourism with concerns that travellers would trigger a COVID outbreak, insiders say.

The decision means Japan will allow in a limited number of foreign tourists on package tours starting June 10. Last week a few “test tours,” mainly of overseas travel agents, started to arrive.

Relaxing some of the world’s strictest pandemic border measures required months of pressure from travel and tourism executives, three insiders told Reuters, describing both the government’s fears of public backlash if infections spiked and the industry’s concerns of an economic wipeout.

“There were worries that foreign tourists would include a lot of people with bad manners – people who don’t wear masks or don’t use hand sanitiser and that infections could spread again,” said one tourism company executive, who like the others spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

The industry pressed Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner as well as government ministries, he said, but initially found them unresponsive.

Government resistance softened after Japan’s “Golden Week” holidays in May, when people travelled domestically but infections didn’t sharply increase, the executive said.

“If the government doesn’t open up the country, more companies will go bankrupt, and that’s no good politically,” he said.

Kishida’s LDP faces an election in July. Although the closed-border policy was overwhelmingly popular early on, the public has warmed up to reopening as the pandemic has eased and the cost of closure became more apparent. A recent Nikkei poll showed 67% of respondents felt it was “reasonable” to allow in foreign tourists.

The foreign ministry felt pressure from overseas on the measures, and was one of a handful of ministries that tried to persuade Kishida’s government, another insider said.

Ultimately, foreign pressure may have helped ensure the change, said an industry executive.

Local governments remain worried that foreign tourists will bring in the coronavirus, the industry executive said, making it difficult to open the country fully.

Japan, where guidelines such as mask wearing and hand sanitising are scrupulously followed, has avoided the kind of massive infections that have swept through other countries.

Hotel operator Resol Holdings Co Ltd opened four new locations in the run-up to the Tokyo Olympics, expecting a massive influx of foreign tourists. It was a total bust, said operations manager Hideaki Kageyama.

“You can’t pay the bills, the rent, the labour without inbound tourism,” he said, adding that the border easing would not be enough to quickly revive the industry.

The number of hotels that shut down nationwide rose to the highest in five years last year, and hotel debt levels have more than doubled since 2019, according to researcher Teikoku Databank Ltd.

Government subsidies have helped stave off widespread bankruptcies. Resol might have gone under if it weren’t for side businesses such as golf courses and solar plants, Kageyama said.

Tourism was a rare bright spot for Japan before the pandemic. A record of about 32 million foreign tourists visited in 2019, spending some $38 billion. The government still aims to bring in 60 million tourists a year by 2030.

The rickshaw pullers in Tokyo’s Asakusa temple district have gotten by giving rides to domestic tourists instead of the throngs of Chinese who used to come.

“I want the foreigners to return,” said Yui Oikawa of Rise Up Tokyo Rickshaw. “It was more lively that way, with people from all over coming to Asakusa to pray or have a drink.”

There’s also a lost opportunity: the yen is at its weakest level in 20 years, making Japan a cheaper destination for travellers.

For now, tourists can only come on guided, package tours and as part of a quota of 20,000 arrivals each day, including residents.

Singapore and Thailand began welcoming back tourists in the second half of 2021 and in April further eased entry rules. Japan doesn’t have a timeline for a resumption of full-scale, independent tourism, and the easing could be reversed it COVID worsens, the government says.

The small test tours that started last week are mainly made up of foreign travel agents. They have been subject to strict itineraries that have been mocked online as reminiscent of a visit to North Korea.

The test tours will help the government flesh out guidelines for trips from June 10, officials say.

But Clement Kueh, an Australian travel agent who arrived at Tokyo’s Haneda airport last week, said he and his colleagues still weren’t certain how authorities would define what constitutes “group” travel.

“We’re not sure what that means exactly,” he said.

(Reporting by Maki Shiraki, Yuki Nitta and Rocky Swift in Tokyo; Editing by David Dolan and Gerry Doyle)

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This article was written by Rocky Swift, Yuki Nitta and Maki Shiraki from Reuters and was legally licensed through the Industry Dive Content Marketplace . Please direct all licensing questions to [email protected] .

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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 aims to resume Go To Travel campaign in mid-January

Tourism promotion scheme to last into April if COVID cases remain at low level

TOKYO -- The government plans to resume the Go To Travel subsidy program to stimulate demand for domestic travel as early as mid-January 2022, Nikkei has learned.

The program is aimed at promoting tourism during the off-season months of February and March, avoiding the year-end and New Year holidays. The subsidies' limit will be lowered to 13,000 yen ($114), down from 20,000 yen before it was suspended last December due to the rise in COVID-19 cases. It was initially launched in July 2020.

Japan's economic stimulus to balloon to over $350bn

Japan's restaurants and hotels welcome life after state of emergency, japan travel industry faces stark holiday season, japan's suga to halt whole travel campaign as covid surges, latest on economy, china's first-quarter industrial profits rise at slower pace, tokyo inflation slows for 2nd straight month, falls under boj goal, u.s. economy grows 1.6% in q1, slowing more than expected, sponsored content, about sponsored content this content was commissioned by nikkei's global business bureau..

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Japan could resume Go to Travel subsidy campaign in February 2022

The domestic tourism programme, which provides travel and dining discounts, will include compulsory Covid-19 countermeasures

Restrictions have now been lifted and Japan is slowly reducing quarantine time for travellers, so we’re all keeping our fingers crossed for a return to something like normality.  Last December, Japan’s Go to Travel domestic tourism subsidy campaign was suspended nationwide due to a resurgence of Covid-19 cases and the programme hasn’t resumed since. 

Now that case numbers have dropped significantly and over 70 percent of Japan’s population has been fully vaccinated, The Japan Times reports that the travel campaign is looking to resume in February 2022. Although the return of the programme is not officially confirmed yet, the rebooted version of Go to Travel will apparently include compulsory Covid-19 countermeasures such as requiring travellers to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test result when checking in. The Japan Tourism Agency will draft the operational guidelines for travel by the end of November.

Previously, the campaign covered 50 percent of domestic travel costs of up to a maximum of ¥20,000 per person per night, but that cap may be lowered to ¥13,000 once the programme resumes. There are also plans to reduce discounts for accommodation from 35 percent to 30 percent to encourage people to stay at local, more affordable hotels and inns rather than luxury spots. 

The revised campaign will also aim to encourage more weekday travelling by offering coupons worth ¥3,000 to use for dining and shopping on weekdays, while weekend and holiday coupons will only be worth ¥1,000.

The government is also discussing a plan to run the campaign until the end of Golden Week in May and then switch to subsidising local prefectural government tourism campaigns to promote travel for residents within their own prefectures.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more details are announced.

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• Entertainment

Japan set to boost prefectural travel subsidy programs

June 10, 2022 (Mainichi Japan)

Japanese version

TOKYO -- Japan is expected to extend and expand its prefectural travel subsidy programs to revitalize the tourism industry hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, but the central government's "Go To Travel" subsidy campaign will remain suspended.

The 47 prefectures' subsidy programs were launched as substitutes for the national "Go To Travel" campaign and are sponsored by local bodies for prefectural residents. The programs had initially subsidized only inner-prefecture travel, but the areas were expanded to neighboring prefectures in November 2021. Since April 1 this year, Japan has been divided into six regional blocs under the tourism initiative, and those who are traveling within each area have been eligible for the subsidies. The central government is subsidizing the cost to local bodies that implement the programs.

The central government is now considering extending and expanding the prefectural travel subsidy programs, which were to end this month, on the grounds that Japan has been seeing the COVID-19 infection situation falling to a moderate level and that the country would officially resume accepting foreign tourists from June 10.

Local governments can decide whether or not to implement prefectural subsidy campaigns and the applicable destination areas, making it easier for them to respond to the true state of local infections. Meanwhile, the resumption of the "Go To Travel" campaign, which had been uniformly implemented across the country, will remain suspended after its resumption was deemed "too early," according to a Japanese government affiliated source.

(Japanese original by Akira Murao and Nozomi Gemma, Political News Department)

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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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Kanagawa Prefecture Travel Campaign 2022

Odawara, Hakone, and Mishima Skywalk

It has been a tough two years with regards to travel as almost all areas of Japan have been affected by the pandemic. Kanagawa Prefecture previously had a special travel campaign to help support local areas that were damaged by Typhoon Hagibis, which occurred back in October 2019.

During April of this year, they reinstated the campaign . The English version of this web page does not show the discount campaign but it is essentially a 5000 yen discount on hotels per night and a 2000 yen coupon to use for food or souvenirs. Taking advantage of the campaign, my step-son Hiro and I decided on a short trip to Odawara, Hakone, and Mishima Skywalk.

We booked our trip for April 15-16 and naturally the rains came. Not to be dissuaded we purchased a two-day Hakone Free Pass and started our adventure by taking the Hakone Tozan Bus to Mishima Skywalk. I had previously visited the bridge, but it was the first time for Hiro, so I became a tour guide pointing out interesting facts. At 400m (1,312 feet) it is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Japan. On a clear day there are magnificent views of Mt. Fuji and Suruga Bay. In the north area there is zip lining, other forest adventures, and a live owl display in the building at the end of the bridge. On the southside take the escalator up to the Sky Garden for plenty of floral displays and shops. For our trip it was clouds, fog, and periodic rain, but still enjoyable as we crossed the bridge and joked about imaginary ghosts coming out of the fog.

We boarded another Tozan Bus back to Hakone and walked part of the Old Tokaido Road with the very tall cedar trees, then stopped for a great soba lunch, which is a specialty of the area.

After our meal we walked over to Hakone Park, once a villa in 1886 for the Emperor and Empress. In 1946 it was donated to the public and became a prefectural park. It has some really nice observation areas and the sakura were still in bloom.

We continued along the lakeside trail to Hakone Checkpoint, a National Historic Site. During the Edo period, it was used as a security checkpoint to ensure warriors did not continue along the Tokaido road to Edo (Tokyo). The gates and buildings have been fully restored and there are several historical markers in English explaining the history of this checkpoint.

We rode another bus to Hakone Yumoto Station for our train ride back to Odawara. Through the Kanagawa campaign we were booked into the new Tensei-en Hotel attached to the Minaka Shopping center. If you haven`t visited this center it is a new development using Edo period-style buildings. Inside are many excellent restaurants. For our supper Hiro and I opted for HOJO conveyer belt Sushi, which was excellent.

We then took a short walk a little after 7:30pm to Odawara Castle for some night time pictures.

See link for Day Two .

Getting there

From Odawara Station take either the Hakone Tozan Bus or Odakyu Line to Hakone Yumoto and then continue on via cable car or bus

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By Rey Waters

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Information

1 Chome-1-1-9 Sakaecho, Odawara, Kanagawa 〒250-0011 ( Directions )

0465-22-2339

odawara-kankou.com

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Confusing mix of policies sours start of domestic travel discount campaign

The kickoff of a nationwide travel discount program aimed at boosting the domestic tourism industry is facing headwinds due to a confusing array of policies that vary by prefecture.

Discounts of up to ¥8,000 ($54) per person per day will be available for package tours including public transportation, while discounts of up to ¥5,000 per person per day will be offered for bookings of accommodation only. Vouchers worth ¥3,000 per person per day are available for food and shopping expenses on weekdays, with the figure falling to ¥1,000 per person per day on weekends.

Travelers need to be vaccinated with three shots or provide a negative PCR test taken within three days of their departure. The discounts will be available for travel through Dec. 20.

Overall, the campaign began on Tuesday, but Tokyo has delayed accepting travelers using the discounts to Oct. 20.

Meanwhile, Miyagi Prefecture is allowing its residents to be eligible for the discounts with only two shots when traveling within the prefecture. But travelers visiting from outside the prefecture need to be vaccinated with three doses to qualify.

“By making prefectures implement (their own) discounts, they can flexibly run the system based on the spread of infections in their local areas,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Tuesday. “Prefectures are offering their own time schedule or types of discount and then conveying the information to relevant parties.”

The hodgepodge of rules is causing a headache for travel agencies and hotel operators.

Hoshino Resorts, which runs a hotel chain, decided to push back accepting reservations for the discounts until Oct. 25 so they can have a website ready that offers a comprehensive rundown of the details and conditions for the discounts for each of its hotels across Japan.

“Under the current system, users are expected to go through more steps to make reservations since the campaigns vary by prefecture and policy on vaccinations may differ among travelers,” Hoshino Resorts said on its website.

“As a result, we launched a dedicated website for the national travel discount from Oct. 11 that offers all the details at a glance,” Hoshino Resorts said.

In addition, the Japan Tourism Agency's announced that discounts could be applied to trips that had been booked before the start of the discount campaign, which only added to the confusion, with some booking agencies setting separate polices.

Travel agency H.I.S. has asked travelers who booked trips before Oct. 7 — ahead of the discount launch — to cancel their reservations and rebook after Friday if they want to apply the discounts for trips starting in November. The move prompted harsh criticism on social media.

Yahoo Travel, meanwhile, stopped accepting reservations for prefectures that have already received the maximum number of reservations for the funding allocated to the travel agency. Those prefectures include: Iwate, Miyagi, Yamagata, Niigata, Tochigi, Ehime, Nagasaki and Miyazaki.

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