Japan might be opening soon, while domestic travel goes niche

Japan’s luck of the draw travel trend.
Japan nighttime billboards


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Japan, recently named the best country to travel in, has been notoriously slow in its reopening process. But if the country’s media is correct, visiting the island nation could be about to get far easier.

According to multiple outlets, the Government is considering dropping pre-testing requirements for travelers and doubling its current tourist cap to 50 thousand at any one time. Japan is currently functioning under a “test tourism” period, with visitors only allowed in as part of an organized tour.

Inside the country, the government has been pushing domestic tourism using some unique programs and incentives. The most recent trend to pick up steam is the “random travel” program, where tourists apply for heavily discounted round-trip train tickets. The catch? They have no clue where they’re going.

It’s been an overwhelming success so far, with interest currently outweighing demand. Several other regions of Japan are now considering similar programs, as well as some other countries.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone. This post contains references to products from one or more of our partners and we may receive compensation when you click on links to those products.

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