Japan’s tourism industry has undergone a transformative shift, with Japan’s domestic tourism spending surging by 27.7% to JPY 5,596.3 million. Accommodation costs, which currently dominate travel spending at 35%, will revitalize the hotel industry.
TOKYO, JAPAN (The CTP News) – Japan’s tourism landscape is undergoing a transformative shift as the latest data from the Japan Tourism Agency reveals an impressive resurgence in travel consumption between April and June 2023. During this period, the nation witnessed a remarkable 27.7% surge in domestic travel spending, reaching a total of 5.5963 billion yen. Importantly, foreign visitors played a pivotal role in this resurgence, contributing 1,205.2 billion yen to the total spending, nearly 95.1% of pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
This resurgence not only signifies a recovery in Japan’s tourism industry but also highlights a noteworthy change in tourists’ preferences. There has been a significant uptick in their demand for accommodations, which has become the primary focus of their travel expenditure. Accommodation expenses, totaling 421.8 billion yen, now account for 35% of total spending, overtaking shopping expenses, which have dropped to second place at 25.2%. This shift is expected to fuel the recovery of Japan’s hotel industry.
According to the Japan Sudo Travel Statistics Survey, the total number of overnight visitors in May was 49.26 million. Among them, Tokyo (7,874,610 people) had the highest number of overnight stays, Osaka Prefecture (4,119,880 people) was the second, and Hokkaido (2,949,450 people) was the third. Tokyo is the city where the most tourists stay and stay, with a growth of 20% compared to the same period in 2019. Reservations at hotels in all regions rose sharply, showing growth in both domestic and foreign tourists.
Due to the different factors such as culture and geographical location in various regions of Japan, multiple hotels are popular with tourists in other areas. Japan Hotels can be divided into different forms: Japanese City Hotels, Business Hotels, Japanese Resort Hotels, Inns, and Simple Accommodations. Travelers can choose different types of accommodations according to different needs and budgets. Most are Japanese-owned, but foreign investors also operate many world-famous hotels.
Business hotels are the first choice for most tourists when visiting Tokyo. Although the rooms in business hotels are smaller, the accommodation costs are cheaper and are suitable for business travelers and general travelers. Simple accommodation is the most popular accommodation method in Osaka Prefecture. Simple accommodation only provides simple equipment and services, mainly low-cost and convenient accommodation space.
Japanese City Hotel is the most famous hotel type in Shimane Prefecture. City hotels are generally located in the city center and vary in size. The hotel has relatively complete equipment, luxurious decoration, large room size, and ample guest beds. Shimane Prefecture is known as the “Land of Japanese Mythology” and is one of the birthplaces of ancient Japanese culture. The most famous shrine in the prefecture is “Izumo Taisha Shrine,” one of Japan’s loftiest shrines and attracts an endless stream of people visiting it. After completing their pilgrimage activities, tourists can stay in a Japanese City Hotel and enjoy a spacious and luxurious accommodation experience.
Japanese Resort Hotels have the most occupancy in Chiba Prefecture. Chiba Prefecture has an excellent geographical location. In addition to Narita Airport being within the prefecture, it is also close to Tokyo, making transportation more convenient for travelers. Located between Tokyo Bay and the Pacific Ocean, it has a pleasant climate all year round, making it one of the best vacation spots. Therefore, Chiba Prefecture has many resort hotels, allowing travelers to enjoy a luxurious and comfortable hotel life and leisurely vacation in nature.
With the end of pandemic restrictions, the number of tourist arrivals has increased in various regions of Japan, making tourism again one of Japan’s critical economic development projects. Although the recovery speed of each area is different, they have developed other characteristics according to the history and culture of each site, providing different experiences and enjoyment for Japanese domestic and international tourists. These characteristics are one of the reasons why many tourists visit various places in Japan repeatedly and continue to bring more tourists to Japan.
