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Japan, the land of cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji, boasts not only bustling modern cities like Tokyo and Osaka but also countless other hidden gems waiting to be discovered. From the pristine beauty of Matsushima Bay with its thousands of small islands to the vibrant, bustling streets of Fukuoka, this country always has something new to surprise visitors.
However, during their exploration of Japan, many tourists often focus only on well-known destinations and overlook lesser-known places. This is because these destinations are often scattered across different regions, making travel difficult and expensive. Furthermore, information about these locations is not widely publicized, leaving tourists with limited options.
Recognizing this, the Japanese government has implemented various policies to attract tourists to new destinations. Tourism promotion programs and free domestic airfare have been implemented to facilitate tourists' exploration of these promising regions.
Japan Airlines said it will offer international travelers free domestic flights to provide a "seamless travel experience" across the archipelago, as well as help alleviate overcrowding at some of Japan's most popular destinations.
To qualify for a free domestic flight, travelers simply need to book a round-trip international flight with the airline, with both legs purchased in a single booking. The flight will be completely free if the layover time at the first destination in Japan is less than 24 hours. Otherwise, a layover fee of USD 100 will apply.
Currently, the airline is offering free domestic flights for travelers from the US, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, and Singapore. This policy also applies to travelers from Australia and New Zealand starting September 19th, Vietnamese and Filipino travelers starting September 25th, and Indonesian, Indian, Chinese, and Taiwanese travelers starting September 27th.
Tourism promotion programs, including free domestic airfare, have been and are being implemented to facilitate travel for tourists.
The airline has announced that the list of countries eligible for free domestic flights will be expanded later this month.
According to data released by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) on September 18, the number of foreign visitors to Japan in August increased by 36% compared to the same period in 2023, reaching 2.93 million people, a record high for August. This also represents a 16.4% increase compared to August 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) also reported that since August 1st, the number of tourists visiting Japan has exceeded 24 million, a 58% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Currently, Japan – a country aiming to attract 60 million foreign tourists annually by 2030 – is facing several challenges, including labor shortages in some accommodation establishments and negative impacts from the tourism boom, such as traffic congestion.
