national travel discount japan 2022

Japan travel discount program: What you need to know 2022

You may have heard about a Japan travel discount program circulating around the internet lately and are curious to know what it is.

It sounds perfect if you want to save money and travel to Japan! But not so fast… you may not be eligible.

What is the Japan travel discount program?

We have not heard of any official government-released information yet (other than a reported press release interview) about the Japan discount program.

Kyodo News reported in this article  that “Japan will run a  new domestic tourism subsidy program  from Oct. 11 to late December as part of efforts to spur domestic tourism and revive the coronavirus-hit economy…”

This subsidy program is different from the previous travel discount initiative GOTO .

Who is eligible?

Should the program go ahead, the discount will be for residents of Japan for domestic travel. 

There is currently no official English press release, but according to Kyodo News , this is a National travel discount program.

When does it start and end?

Kyodo News states the Japan national travel discount program begins on October 11, 2022.

It will end either the end of December 2022, or January, 2023 (there are conflicting reports on the end date).

More information will be available soon.

How do I apply, and how does it work?

More information to come! Check back here for any updates.

According to Kyodo News , the system is going to be managed by each prefecture. In other words, each prefecture will decide if they will be running the program or not.

How much money does the Japan travel discount program save?

The Japan travel discount program is for Japanese residents only , and according to Kodo News , will provide up to 11,000 yen ($77) per traveler per day in coupons and discounts. These can be used for meals, shopping, and accommodation expenses and events up until either the end of December 2022, or January, 2023 (there are conflicting reports on the end date).

For meals, shopping, and accommodations , I have been unable to locate any details on what the maximum discounts are, or any additional information.

For events such as theme parks, sports, and music, who take “antivirus measures”, there will be a maximum discount of 20% off up to 2,000 yen. This means the maximum amount saved would be roughly $14 USD per event.

10,000 JPY – 20% = 2,000 JPY savings

$70 USD – 20% = $14 USD savings

In conclusion, the discount still has many details to come in order to determine if it’s a good value or not. I’m skeptical because the details we do have regarding event discounts state it’s “up to” 20% off. If you’re a Japanese resident who is planning to do these things regardless of the program, it’d be a great way to save a few dollars.

Additionally, the program may not even run at all, as it will be up to the individual prefectures to implement the program. There haven’t been any confirmed prefectures operating this program yet.

Is Japan open to tourism? Can I travel to Japan now?

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made this announcement  on September 22, 2022,  in New York, USA: 

“from October 11, Japan will relax border control measures to be on par with the U.S., as well as resume visa-free travel and individual travel.”

This means it will become much easier to travel to Japan in 2022-2023, as Japan will be open to independent travel! 

In short: visa-free, no daily arrival caps, and the freedom to travel independently.

What are the vaccine requirements for traveling to Japan?

Information can be found here on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website .

As of October 11, 2022, traveling to Japan has become much easier with many restrictions lifted.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida states that “Japan will relax border control measures to be on par with the US.”

If you are vaccinated , here’s what to expect traveling to Japan after October 11, 2022:

 -you must provide proof of three (3) approved doses of the vaccine (on the Emergency Use List of World Health Organization (WHO))

-no quarantine requirements

-you can travel independently (without tour / travel agency)

-no more cap on daily arrivals

If you are unvaccinated , here’s what to expect traveling to Japan after October 11, 2022:

-provide a certificate of negative result of pre-departure COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to departing from the original country/region

since COVID-19 for Japan travel, as it’s no longer required to do an on-arrival test at the quarantine station, self-quarantine, or to refrain from use of public transportation .

Is it a good time to visit Japan?

Yes! It would be amazing to visit Japan once open to independent travel again after October 11, 2022. 

While we are still learning how to live in a world with COVID-19, it’s here to stay, and life goes on.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) reports that there will be an increasing number of international flights.

As long as you know the risks, have good travel insurance, why should you wait to travel to Japan? It will only get busier as tourism gradually returns to Japan.

The good news is if you plan to travel to Japan soon after independent travel is back, it will likely be less busy as the country gets back up to pre-pandemic tourism levels. 

Not to mention that the JPY is at the lowest value in years, and you could get an excellent bang for your buck (depending on the value of your currency).

Why it’s cheaper to travel to Japan in 2022

You can check the dollar value against your currency by using Google Finance here . 

For example, here is an estimate of the JPY value compared to the USD & CAD value:

In conclusion, JPY has decreased in value because more is required to be valued the same as $1 USD/CAD now versus 2019.

Flight costs to Japan are likely to be reasonably priced as tourism starts back up in attempts to boost the economy.

With fewer crowds, you can experience attractions in a way nobody could before COVID-19. And again, with the JPY value what it is now, I can’t think of a better time to go! (Unless you want to see the cherry blossoms, well, then Spring time is better 😉!) You can read more about the ultimate travel guide here for more advice on Japan travel.

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‘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 .

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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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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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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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Japan to launch domestic travel subsidy program on Oct. 11

Japan will launch a new subsidy program to boost domestic tourism on Oct. 11, the same day it plans to remove its daily cap for overseas arrivals as part of easing COVID-19 border control measures.

The "National Travel Discount," which Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Thursday in New York, will replace the "Go To Travel" subsidy program and expand similar existing programs operating at the prefectural level.

The scheme is expected to provide the equivalent of up to 11,000 yen ($77) in discounts and coupons per traveler per day which can be used for meals, shopping and accommodation fees.

The government plans to announce details of the program as early as Monday, but it has raised doubts about whether it will boost regional economies.

With the start of the program less than three weeks away, the announcement has also left tourism businesses and facilities with little time to prepare, as well as caused confusion about whether the program can be applied to new accommodation reservations.

Under a system where the national government subsidizes the costs borne by prefectural authorities to implement such programs, the 47 prefectures will be allowed to suspend the scheme depending on the infection situation within their jurisdiction.

Prefectural governments will also have the authority to determine the scheme's running period or whether to even implement it at all, leading to the possibility that it may not be launched simultaneously across the country.

The program was to have been introduced in July but was postponed amid the nation's seventh wave of coronavirus infections.

The new date has been set now that cases are declining, in hopes for increased demand in domestic travel in the fall and winter.

While the travel industry has welcomed the move, one operator said implementing the scheme is "complicated and time-consuming."

Small businesses will find it difficult to follow through with the procedure, the tourism operator said.

The move came as Kishida also said the government plans to abolish its cap on daily arrivals on Oct. 11, currently set at 50,000, as well as resume individual visa-free arrivals to the country.

"Japan has prospered through the free flow of people, goods, and money going to and from the rest of the world," Kishida told a press conference in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

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Nationwide travel discount program, a Japanese government’s initiative, was sold out in some regions on the opening day

A nationwide travel discount program began on October 11 2022 as a Japanese government’s initiative to boost domestic travel demand. Several OTAs stopped selling the qualified products on the opening day because of no more availabilities.

The program discounts 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. 

The program is also expected to decentralize travelers to weekdays by special discount offering for weekdays. 

The reactions from consumers were bigger than initially expected. On the opening day, jalan.net and Yahoo! Travel, Japan’s leading OTAs, had troubles with accessibilities due to too much booking requests. 

As the program limits budgets by prefecture, Yahoo! Travel and ikyu.com announced that they stopped accepting bookings in Miyazaki, Miyagi, Iwate and Nagasaki prefectures. 

In addition, discount contents and conditions vary with prefectures. OTAs could not start selling the program all together nationwide. 

Interestingly, Hoshino Resort has opened its original booking website for the program to start selling on October 25 2022. 

Event discount program, another government’s initiative, was launched at the same time, and is joined by poplar theme-parks, such as Universal Studio Japan, Fujikyu Highland, Moomin Valley Park, Legoland Japan or even Tokyo Disney Resort. 

Tokyo Disney Resort has started selling 20% discounted one-day passes and distributing spend-boosting coupons in the limited period.

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

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Japan residents can get up to 40 percent discount on domestic travel – here's how

Save up to ¥8,000 per night on transport and accommodation with the National Travel Discount Programme

To boost the local tourism industry, Japan has introduced a nationwide travel subsidy programme for residents. The National Travel Discount Programme is available across almost all prefectures until late December, with discounts of up to 40 percent (a maximum of ¥8,000 per person per night) on transport and accommodation. This will come in very handy for those on a budget who’re planning to visit the country’s most beautiful autumn destinations .

What is the National Travel Discount Programme?

The travel promotion offers discounts on public transport and accommodation packages up to ¥8,000 per person per night. For accommodation alone, you can save up to ¥5,000 per person per night. The deal also includes discount coupons for local restaurants and other attractions worth up to ¥3,000 on weekdays and ¥1,000 on weekends and holidays, which you’ll receive during check-in at your hotel or ryokan . 

Note that this travel subsidy is only available to those with residency status in Japan , so don’t forget your residence card when checking in. You’ll also have to either submit a negative PCR test result or be triple vaccinated to be eligible for the discount. The accommodation will check your negative PCR test certificate or vaccination status during check-in. 

The campaign is currently ongoing and runs until December 20  (including check-out on December 21). However, there are a few exceptions: Gunma prefecture’s discount deals are only available until October 31 (check-out on Nov 1 included), while Tokyo joins the National Travel Discount Programme only from October 20. The discount deals are also limited, meaning the campaign in each prefecture will end when the capacity has been reached.

For details and additional requirements, check each prefecture’s campaign website here .

How to book

Bookings can be made in person at any national travel agency office such as HIS , JTB or Nippon Travel Agency . You can also book directly at the hotels. 

The easiest and fastest way, however, is via a travel booking site. Jalan and JTB are the most straightforward.

Booking via Jalan is by far the easiest option. Here's how.

• Access the campaign website and enter your preferred travel dates and destination under the subhead ‘今すぐプランを探す(国内宿・ホテル専用)’.
• Click the ‘検索する’ search button and all the participating accommodations will show up.
• Look out for the red icon attached to each deal reading ‘全国旅行支援対象’ to identify the participating accommodations.

As of now, Jalan’s package tours only include trips to Okinawa via flights with ANA or JAL. To book a package tour, follow these steps.

• Fill in the required fields here and choose from the available plans.
• Make sure to select the ‘全国旅行支援クーポン’ coupon during the booking process. It will be available on the payment page.

If you want to book through JTB, here are the steps.

• Access JTB’s campaign website and scroll down to the two tabs that read ‘Hotels and ryokan' (ホテル・旅館) and ‘JR or flights + accommodation' (JR・飛行機+宿泊).
• Pick the prefecture you want to visit and select the number of people.
• A coupon code and a password for that specific area will be displayed, divided by travel on weekdays and weekends.
• Note down the codes before clicking the button under ‘Step 4’ to see the available deals.
• Choose an accommodation or package deal and proceed to the booking page. Here you will have to insert the coupon code and password in order to apply the discount.

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What is Japan’s New ‘Go To Travel’ Campaign – the ‘National Travel Discount’?

PLEASE NOTE: as of October 11 2022, ‘Go To Travel’ was replaced by the ‘National Travel Discount’ program. At this time, Snow Monkey Resorts is not participating in the program however discounted accommodation can be booked via Booking.com . Please note, the discounted rate is only available to Japanese citizens and residents . You will be required to provide evidence of your status in Japan upon check-in.

In response to the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on tourism, the Japanese government has announced a series of measures, beginning with the national ‘Go To Travel’ campaign and now replaced by the ‘National Travel Discount’ – aimed at stimulating travel within Japan and boosting local economies. On this page you will find the following information:

— Latest News & Updates

— How it Works

— Making Use of the Campaign

— Booking Your Travel with Snow Monkey Resorts

— ‘Go To’ Campaign FAQs

— Japan Rail Deals inc. Discounted Shinkansen Tickets

As of October 11 2022, the ‘National Discount Program’ has replaced the long-suspended ‘Go To Travel’ campaign. Under the new program, discounts of up to JPY5000 per person, per day are available for accommodation bookings while and up to JPY8000 for package tours that include the use of public transport. Vouchers of up to JPY3000 per person, per day are available for persons booking weekday travel, reduced to JPY1000 on weekends. In order to be eligible, travellers must be able to provide evidence of at least three COVID-19 vaccination or provide a negative PCR test within three days of their intended travel.

While the new National Discount Program is now underway, details of exactly how it works remain unclear. As a result, we are not yet participating in it and are yet to fully update this page. We will update this page as further information becomes available with an intention to then start offer deals through our website.

LATEST NEWS & UPDATES

The following recent developments and announcements may be of interest:

October 13 2022 : Japan’s new ‘National Discount Program’ is now underway, replacing the long-standing but long-suspending ‘Go To Travel’ campaign. The new campaign is nationally funded but locally administered, resulting in some early confusion with exactly how it works. Since activation of the program on October 11, many hotels in Japan are reporting online issues as websites and booking systems are overburdened with traffic. In principle, the program provides eligible travellers with discounts of up to JPY5000 per person, per day are available for accommodation bookings while and up to JPY8000 for package tours that include the use of public transport. Vouchers of up to JPY3000 per person, per day are available for persons booking weekday travel, reduced to JPY1000 on weekends. In order to be eligible, travellers must be able to provide evidence of at least three COVID-19 vaccination or provide a negative PCR test within three days of their intended travel.

While we intend to participate in this program, we are waiting for clarification of all details and are yet to fully update this page. We will do so as soon as possible.

September 26 2022 : it has been announced that as of October 11 2022 by the ‘National Travel Discount’ program. Specific details of how this program will work and who will be eligible to take advantage of it are yet to be confirmed. We will update this page once more information is available.

June 20 2022 : it is being reported that the government is considering restarting and expanding the national ‘Go To Travel’ campaign from July 1 onward. The ongoing ‘kenminwari’ campaign , which provides substantial discounts to local residents traveling in their own or in some cases also surrounding prefectures, is set to finish at the end of June however it is also being reported it will be extended. Once more information is available, we will update this page.

March 15 2022 : Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has stated that the government is preparing to restart the ‘Go To Travel’ campaign ‘when the appropriate time comes’. Kishida explained that the government is examining the COVID-19 infection situation and consulting with experts in determining when to restart the campaign. Once an announcement is made, we will update this page.

January 10 2022 : the government has announced that due to the increasing spread of COVID-19 across japan, including the new ‘Omicron’ variant, the ‘Go To Travel’ campaign will not be reactivated in January. It had been hoped that the campaign might return as early as the end of this month but the announcement means that Go To will not be returning in the short-term. With the Omicron variant spreading rapidly around Japan, it would appear the campaign will not be returning in early 2022.

December 9 2021 : while there is no official announcement yet, there are indications that ‘Go To Travel’ may restart in February 2022. The incentive program is likely to operate as detailed in the post below however is unlikely to cover the spring holiday period in March and April, nor is it likely to cover Golden Week in late-April / early-May.

HOW IT WORKS

From July 22 nd 2020, the government will support up to half of the price of accommodation and travel expenses for 1-day trips up to a maximum of JPY10,000 per person, and 2. overnight trips up to maximum of JPY20,000 per person. Trips of up to a maximum of 7 days can be covered. For an overnight trip, the amount you are eligible for is based on the cost of your accommodation, with a maximum claim of JPY20,000 per person . Of that support:

— 70% will be delivered through discounted accommodation

— 30% will be available through use of ‘common coupons’

The campaign discount applies to accommodation up to a maximum cost of JPY40,000 per person, per night i.e. a 50% discount = a maximum JPY20,000 . Accommodation costing more than JPY40,000 per night will still be discounted, however that discount maxes-out at JPY20,000 and will not be applied to the cost above that point. Let’s break that down further:

DISCOUNTED ACCOMMODATION

As stated above, 70% of your total saving will be accounted for through discounted accommodation . As an example, if your full accommodation cost for 1 night would normally be JPY20,000 , your payment will be subsidised (at time of booking) at a rate of 70% of half the accommodation price i.e. 50% of JPY20,000 is JPY10,000 and 70% of JPY10,000 is JPY7,000. That amount – JPY7,000 – will be subtracted from the original accommodation price of JPY20,000, meaning that you pay JPY13,000 or a saving of 35% of the usual accommodation cost .

Prior to the availability of coupons, or if you don’t use them, your saving on accommodation alone would be 35% of the original cost (remembering that the campaign has a maximum of JPY20,000 per person, per day). It’s easiest therefore to think of the ‘Go To Travel’ campaign as an assured 35% discount of your original accommodation cost , with the potential to add-up to 50% through use of coupons.

As the graphic above shows, 35% of your total travel cost is accounted for by discounted accommodation; the other 15% will be accounted for by use of ‘common coupons’ – see below for details – totalling a maximum overall saving of 50%. It is important to note that in order to be eligible for this subsidy, hotels and guesthouses must register to be part of the ‘Go To’ campaign. For accommodation that is registered with the campaign, the advertised room price will already include the subsidy i.e. there is no further discount or refund at a later time. The hotel will need to see proof of your eligibility in the form of ID with your address.

For foreign residents, make sure to have your ‘外国登録証明’ (gaikkoku toroku shomei) or ‘gaijin card’ with you as proof of eligibility and your address. Just remember, without use of ‘common coupons’ , which will not be available until October, the maximum subsidy will be 35% of your travel cost .

COMMON COUPONS

Since the beginning of October, coupons of JPY1000 are available to domestic travellers, valid for use at participating stores, restaurants, transport and other venues between the dates of your intended travel. In the equation above, your total possible is saving is JPY10,000 (half of the original cost of JPY20,000). The calculation also shows that JPY7000 has already been accounted for through discounted accommodation. The remaining JPY3000 of your total possible saving of JPY10,000 is provided in the form of coupons.

Common coupons can therefore be said to 1. account for 30% of your total possible saving – in this case, a maximum saving of JPY10,000 – or 2. cover 15% of the original travel cost – in this case, the original cost would have been JPY20,000.

To be eligible, participating stores and restaurants will need to register with the campaign and will have some form of identification or logo on display, allowing travellers to know where they can use the coupons.

HOW WILL I RECEIVE & USE MY COUPONS

The issuance of coupons started from October. Following on from the calculation above, you would be eligible for JPY3000 worth of coupons. You will be issued as 3 × JPY1000 coupons. Coupons can be issued in both paper or digital form. Which one you receive depends on the hotel/travel agent you book:

PAPER COUPONS

At time of booking, the hotel calculates your total total value of coupons – in this case, 3 × JPY1000 = JPY3000. Upon check-in at your hotel, you will be asked to show identification with your name and address (for groups claiming discounts under the ‘Go To Campaign’, all members of the group will need to prove their eligibility). Having proven your eligibility, you will be given your coupons at your hotel to be spent at any participating venue within the prefecture. The coupons will have the prefecture they can be used in and dates of validity marked on them.

For guest that booked a trip through a travel agent. Depending on the travel agent you will receive the coupons by post or digitally. More information about digital coupons can be found below.

DIGITAL COUPONS

When booking through a travel agent, it is likely you will be provided with a digital rather than physical coupon. At time of booking, you will receive an email with a reservation number which will be needed to use the coupons. On the day you wish to use your coupon, you will need to log into a website – yet to be made public – and input your reservation number and the name of the travel agent you booked with. You will then see the total amount you have available for use.

Much like physical coupons, digital coupons will only be available for use in increments of JPY1000. Participating venues will have a QR Code for you to scan, which will deduct the coupons from your account . Just remember, both physical and digital coupons will only be valid for use in the designated prefecture and on the designated dates of travel .

If you do not use them, they cannot be refunded or exchanged for money at a later time. It is also worth noting that change will not be given i.e. if you want to make payment for JPY1700 worth of goods or services, you can choose to use JPY2000 however will not receive any change. This applies to both physical and digital coupons. You could also choose to only use one voucher of JPY1000 and pay the JPY700 in cash – as discussed in the FAQs below.

MAKING USE OF THE CAMPAIGN

Discounts and support offered through ‘Go To Travel’ is the first component of what is expected to be a large-scale campaign that includes ‘Go To Eat’ targeting restaurants and cafes, ‘Go To Event’ subsidising ticketing for registered events, and ‘Go To Shotengai’ promoting local shopping. Having commenced on July 22 nd 2020, the ‘Go To Travel’ campaign was original expected to run until spring 2021. However, the suspension of the campaign for an extended period and talk of its likely return toward the end of 2021 means that now appears likely to be restarted and run into 2022. To take advantage of the subsidised prices, you will need to book directly with the participating accommodation or travel agent , and this is where we come in…

BOOKING YOUR TRAVEL WITH SNOW MONKEY RESORTS

As a registered travel agent, we are happy to be participating in the ‘Go To’ campaign. Based in Nagano, we are proud of our home region and what everyone to enjoy the beauty, open spaces and fantastic attractions of Central Japan. We offer a range of packages including accommodation and transport, with the option of a private guide, restaurants, ticketing and other add-ons. We do this so you can get the best possible deal while focusing on the most important thing – enjoying your getaway! For further details of what we offer, please see our ‘Deals in Nagano & Central Japan’ page or click on the INQUIRY button below and send us a message. We’ll get back to you asap!

‘GO TO’ CAMPAIGN FAQs

The following are some of the most common questions when it comes to understanding the campaign and how it works:

Is the campaign currently operating?

Japan’s old ‘Go To Travel’ campaign was replaced by the ‘National Travel Discount’ on October 11 2022. The new campaign is nationally funded but locally administered, resulting in some early confusion with exactly how it works. Since activation of the program on October 11, many hotels in Japan are reporting online issues as websites and booking systems are overburdened with traffic. In principle, the program provides eligible travellers with discounts of up to JPY5000 per person, per day are available for accommodation bookings while and up to JPY8000 for package tours that include the use of public transport. Vouchers of up to JPY3000 per person, per day are available for persons booking weekday travel, reduced to JPY1000 on weekends. In order to be eligible, travellers must be able to provide evidence of at least three COVID-19 vaccination or provide a negative PCR test within three days of their intended travel. While we intend to participate in this program, we are waiting for clarification of all details and are yet to fully update this page. All further questions and answers are related to the previous ‘Go To Travel’ campaign and may no longer be accurate . We will update this page as soon as possible.

Does the campaign mean I will only pay 50% of my total travel expenses?

Not necessarily. The campaign potentially covers up to half your travel cost but is capped at JPY10,000 per person for day-trips and JPY20,000 per person for overnight trips. As explained above, the support will be broken into 70% accommodation discounts and 30% coupons. Prior to the availability of coupons, or if you do not choose to use them, your saving on accommodation alone would be a maximum of 35% – refer to the information above for details. It’s easiest to think of the ‘Go To Travel’ campaign as an assured 35% discount of your original accommodation cost, with the potential to add-up to 50% through use of coupons.

Who is eligible?

At this time, Japanese citizens and foreign residents in Japan can take advantage of the campaign.

How will anyone know if I am eligible?

Participating venues such as hotels and guesthouses will be required to confirm your eligibility by checking appropriate identification. For foreign residents, you will be required to show your ‘外国登録証明’ (gaikkoku toroku shomei) or ‘gaijin card’. For people travelling as groups, every member claiming discounts under the campaign will be required to provide proof of eligibility.

Do I have to personally register for the campaign?

No. Only participating accommodation, businesses and travel agents needs to register. If you are a Japanese citizen or foreign resident living outside of Tokyo, you can take advantage of the campaign simply by choosing to use accommodation and businesses participating in the campaign.

Will the campaign be extended to international travelers/non-residents?

While possible, the government has not expressed an intention to extend the campaign to overseas visitors in future. Should this change, we will update this page.

Are children and infants covered?

Yes. Children and infants are considered to be one person and therefore eligible to claim support i.e. if parents are traveling with two children this would count as 4 people, each entitled to claim.

Do discounted prices include tax and other charges, such as onsen tax?

The advertised price of discounted accommodation will include tax. Additional charges such as onsen tax should also be included but that is up to the individual guesthouse. Please check directly with your accommodation re additional charges.

In addition to the initial accommodation price, will any further charges upon check-out be subsidized?

No. The subsidy only applies to the initial accommodation charge. Any later or additional fees must be paid directly to the accommodation.

Does the campaign support international flights?

No. The campaign is intended to stimulate local economies and tourism and only applies to domestic travel.

When/how will I receive coupons for my travel?

Physical coupons will be handed to guests upon check-in or will be send to your provide address prior to your travel. For guests booking through travel agents, it is likely you will be issued with digital coupons. Please do note that coupons will only be distributed to trips which the original travel price is equal or more than JPY3334.

Coupons will be issued in the amount of JPY1000. Can I use coupons to purchase things greater than the coupon value i.e. use three coupons totalling JPY3000 to pay for a product or service costing JPY4500?

Yes. Coupons can be used like most other vouchers to cover the full price or part of the cost. If the total cost exceeds the value of your vouchers, you can make-up the difference by paying the business directly.

If I don’t use a coupon/s during my travel, can I have them paid-out in cash or refunded?

No. Unused coupons cannot be exchanged for cash and are not eligible for refunds.

Are rental cars covered by this campaign?

The campaign does not cover rental cars unless they are included in a package such as a combination of accommodation and a rental car.

Before the campaign was launched on July 22 nd , I booked an upcoming trip. Can I still get support?

Yes. You are still eligible as long as 1. the product i.e. your accommodation, is covered by the campaign, and 2. the travel agency or accommodation that sold the product is participating in the campaign. If that is the case, you should be eligible for a partial refund. For further information, please contact the travel agency or accommodation through which you purchased the product to request a refund.

Many prefectures and local governments are running travel campaigns and promotions of their own. Can I combine these with support available through the ‘Go To’ campaign?

It depends on the conditions of the local campaign. Please check with the specific promotion to check whether they can be combined.

How will the amount of support be calculated in the case of trips including different accommodation?

It depends. If the accommodation is booked separately i.e. each hotel is booked directly, the support will be capped at JPY20,000 per person, per day. If however you have booked accommodation through a travel agent, the support will be calculated on the total booking price over multiple days.

What happens if I cancel my booking?

When you book through ‘Go To Travel’, your booking will be subject to the cancellation policy of the supplier so it’s important to check the specific details including the time at which cancellation charges start from. Should you be subject to a cancellation fee, it is important to note that the cancellation fee will be calculated as a percentage of the original / pre-discounted booking price , not the Go To Travel price. This policy has been set by the government.

JAPAN RAIL DEALS INC. DISCOUNTED SHINKANSEN TICKETS

With great deals on offer through Go To Travel, Japan Rail has also come to the party and are offering big discounts on many shinkansen services and a new 3-day pass, only available to foreign passport-holders. Our ‘Discount Shinkansen Tickets: How to Buy Online’ page has a step-by-step guide of how to by discounted shinkansen tickets – up to savings of 50% – online! While our ‘JR East Welcome Pass 2020’ page has everything you need to know about the pass including how and where to get one. All this means that you can use the shinkansen much cheaper right now – the perfect time to combine your discounted fare or 3-day pass with a travel package with us in Nagano!

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What is Japan's New 'Go To Travel' Campaign – the ‘National Travel Discount’?

Japan’s New Go toTravel: National Travel Support（ZenkokuRyokoShien）Begins October 11, 2022

Japan was open to foreign visitors on October 11, 2022, and the negative certificate before departure will be waived if you have proof of three vaccinations. From now on, free travel to Japan will be possible again.

At the same time, the “National Travel Support” campaign has been launched for domestic visitors. The campaign started in Tokyo on October 20, while the other 46 prefectures started from Oct. 11th.

Table of Contents

“National Travel Support”

Picture from： 全国旅行支援とは？│割引の仕組みをチェック！【楽天トラベル】

The “National Travel Support” offers discounts on travel expenses and, like the 2020 go to travel, offers discount coupons by region.

Discount of the “National Travel Support”

The “National Travel Support” offers discounts of up to 40% on travel.

The maximum amount per person per day is 8,000 yen for accommodation including transportation and 5,000 yen for other expenses.

Regional coupons (地域クーポン) can be used at some stores in your travel destination for 3,000 yen on weekdays and 1,000 yen on DAY-OFFs.

There are different criteria for determining DAY-OFF.

In the case of the day of stay, if both the day of stay and the following day are a day of rest (Saturday, Sunday and Japan Day), then the day of stay is a DAY-OFF day. For example, if the day of stay is Saturday and the following day is a Sunday, then the day of stay(Saturday) is a “DAY-OFF”; if the day of stay is a Sunday and the following day is a Japanese holiday, then the day of stay(Sunday) is also a “DAY-OFF”.

In the case of a round-trip trip on the same day, Saturday, Sunday, and Japan’s holiday will be considered as a DAY-OFF

For trips of 8 days and 7 nights or less, you are eligible for the “National Travel Support” discount, and each person can receive the discount an unlimited number of times.

However, the maximum amount of subsidy per person per trip is 11,000 yen.

Requirements for the “National Travel Support” discount

Only Japanese nationals or foreign nationals with resident status in Japan are eligible for the discount. When applying for the discount, you will need to confirm your identity and residence.

My Number Card, Driver’s License, Passport, Resident Card, Special Permanent Resident Certificate, etc.

In addition, you must have proof of three vaccinations or a negative PCR certificate.

Implementation date of “National Travel Support”

October 11, 2022 – December 20, 2022

Only in Tokyo, the program will start on October 20.

The implementation of the program in 2023 will be determined based on the infection situation and demand at that time.

Minimum amount of “National Travel Support”

The minimum amount of “National Travel Support” per person per day/per person per trip is 5,000 yen on weekdays, and 2,000 yen on DAY-OFFs.

If the purchase of goods/accommodation is less than the minimum amount, the discount will not be applied.

Areas where “National Travel Support” is available

This program is available throughout Japan.

However, if there is an area in one of the 47 prefectures that does not wish to participate, that area will not be included in the program.

How to make a reservation for “National Travel Support”

There are several ways to receive discounts for “National Travel Support”.

• Reservation through the travel reservation website
• Reservation through a travel agency
• Reservation by phone or online through an accommodation facility

When making a reservation, you must select or indicate to the staff that you need to make a reservation for discounted travel under the National Travel Support.

After confirming your identity and proof of vaccination, the staff will issue a discount coupon for that area at the time of your stay.

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A Look Into Japan’s Nationwide Economy Boost

Japan officially opened up its borders to international tourism earlier this year hoping to bring back the international community. This is not the only plan it has to help out the tourism industry. Its local and federal governments have been recharging the local economy once again.

Throughout the pandemic, national to local governments have on and off run travel campaigns and deals. This past fall, the federal government has once again launched a nationwide travel campaign Zenkoku tabi wari , 全国旅割 or “National Travel Discount” campaign.

Up to 40% hotel discounts and 3,000 yen vouchers? Here is a little glimpse into the caffeine shot for the economy.

The basics of the “National Travel Discount” campaign

The National Travel Discount campaign’s formal name is Zenkoku Ryoko Shien (全国旅行支援), or National Travel Aid Campaign.

Lets breakdown the Kanji:

支援: Aid / Support

It provides individuals living in Japan (sorry foreign tourists) up to 11,000 yen per day in savings. As you can see, they designed the campaign to incentivize travel on the weekdays. This is to try to smooth demand from the weekends to the weekdays. (My personal hypothesis is perhaps to get Japanese people to use their vacation days ?)

For those who are not aware, it is typical for accommodations in Japan to charge by the person rather than the room. If you stayed at a Ryokan (旅館, traditional Japanese inn), it is common that meals are included and thus it makes sense to charge on a per person basis. Rooms usually do get cheaper the more people that stay in them.

The coupon/vouchers can be used in the region accommodation is in at places such as restaurants, gift shops, and tourist attractions.

Is this discount too good to be true? There are a few catches. You must have 3 vaccines (as of Dec. 9th 2022, 67.2% of the population has received a booster shot.) You also must also book travel on a designated Japanese travel website. Lastely, this campaign is only running from Oct 11 to Dec 27 of this year. The good news is that the government has announced they will run this campaign again next year (2023).

Go To Travel and Go To Eat

Prior versions of the current campaign were under the branding “Go To Travel.” Which had similar benefits such as up to 30% off hotels. As you can see below, the Go To Travel campaign was launched in 2020, prior to vaccines, which correlated with high infection rates, suggesting that the timing may not have been the best.

This campaign also has a little sibling called “Go To Eat,” where restaurant vouchers could be purchased for ¥12,500 (~$125) for ¥10,000 (~$100).

Go to Eat Tokyo

While in Tokyo, my family and I used Tokyo Go to Eat coupons to go to a fancy breakfast buffet, priced at 6,000 yen per person. I would never pay full price for this, but with a 20% discount, we decided to treat ourselves.

1/3 trips we made at the breakfast buffet

Prefecture and regional campaigns

Prefectures and regional governments across Japan have had their own campaigns. Most of these have ended with the new National Travel Discount campaign. But here is a little idea.

Kanagawa Prefecture

Kanagawa prefecture, home to Yokohama and Kamakura, to name a few famous cities, recently started Kanagawa Pay. Kanagawa Pay gives consumers up to 20% back when they pay using the Kanagawa Pay app at select places such as restaurants and stores. The mechanics behind this is a bit convoluted so I will not go into the details. It does not help that it is also incredibly annoying to use as the UI is terrible. For your amusement, please see the photos below.

Kanagawa Pay user interface

Shimogo, Fukushima

In the town of Shimogo (下郷町) in Fukushima Prefecture, there was a campaign for 45% off lodging (which mean hotels, ryokan, inns, etc.) I went back in May 2021 for a short trip and it was very nice. Fukushima is known for the terrible nuclear power plant incident from the earthquake and tsunami in 2011, but there is much more to the prefecture, including beautiful ponds.

One of the Goshiki-numa ponds in Bandai-kogen, Fukushima

Is this the best thing for the economy?

Is this the best way to recharge the country? Good question. I am no economist and “best” is very subjective, requiring the balance of economic needs and health of the people.

Anzai and Nishiura from the Kyoto University School of Public Health conducted a study and concluded that there was a correlation with COVID-19 cases. However, due to the simplicity of their study they could not deduce causation. I suspect that there was causation, but without proof I cannot say. The time of the timeline shown was 2020, before vaccines. Fortunately, things have been improving since then.

On the economic side, the Daiwa Institute of Research estimated ¥3 trillion in direct benefits and ¥1.9 trillion in indirect benefits (a total of about $45 billion) and includes the employment of 460,000 people in the 2020 campaign. Hospitality and restaurants have been particularly hit hard during this pandemic, so from the standpoint of targeting certain industries the logic does make sense.

Potential side effects

Despite strong discounts and incentives to travel, there have been reports of accommodation and travel prices rising that are negating the campaign benefits for consumers. According to NHK , this is likely due to a few factors, the first is dynamic pricing. With low demand throughout the pandemic, hotels and other accommodations lowered prices to attract travelers. However, now with the campaigns and foreign tourists, prices are reflecting the new demand and supply dynamics.

Travel Voice , a tourism industry publication, cites other reasons as well. First, rising energy prices from the Ukraine and Russia conflict have caused major increases in energy prices. In the last year, TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company) raised its electricity prices by 20-40%. Second, many accommodations underwent renovations to mitigate spread of the coronavirus. For instance, accommodations centered around large groups remodeled their dining areas to have private rooms, or increasing individual private rooms rather than group rooms. These upgrades require investments which are often passed on to the consumer.

Final Thoughts

Nevertheless, I am one of those who is partaking in such travel campaigns. The deal may be a little too hard to resist. Depending on your timing and where you go, you may find a good deal. Where would you go if you were in Japan to go to travel (or eat)?

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Japan travel products eligible for government discounts sell out quickly

The Yomiuri Shimbun

13:30 JST, October 12, 2022

Travel products eligible for discounts under a new government program launched Tuesday sold out quickly on some reservation sites, prompting local governments and other entities to scramble to arrange more sales.

The tourism campaign subsidizes travelers up to ¥11,000 per person per night. This is the first nationwide program aimed at boosting domestic tourism demand since the Go To Travel campaign was suspended in December 2020.

The program was launched Tuesday across the nation, with the exception of Tokyo. It has a budget of about ¥560 billion, which the central government allocated to local governments as subsidies, and the money is paid to travel agencies and reservation websites that handle eligible products.

Shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday, major travel agency Kinki Nippon Tourist Co. said that products eligible for subsidies in 46 prefectures had sold out, as it had reached the limit of the money provided to the company by those prefectural governments.

The company said it would resume sales if additional funds became available.

Major travel reservation website operator Ikyu Corp. also saw its Yamagata Prefecture products sell out in less than two hours, according to a company official.

The Yamagata prefectural government is arranging to start additional sales in a few days. An official of its tourism revival strategy division said, “It was unexpected that the initial subsidies ran out so quickly, but there are more funds available.”

Discounts for travel and accommodation in Tokyo are scheduled to start on Oct. 20.

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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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[LIVELY HOTELS] National Travel Discount Program

Japan’s government’s “National Travel Discount” program to stimulate tourism demand is finally underway!

Here are some of the best deals and attractive plans available through the LIVELY HOTELS national travel support program. More eligible plans & discounts will be added soon, so stay tuned!

—– ◆ THE NATIONAL TRAVEL DISCOUNT PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO TO THOSE WITH RESIDENCY STATUS IN JAPAN AND DOES NOT EXTEND TO OVERSEAS VISITORS ARRIVING ON TOURIST VISAS . —–

What is the “National Travel Discount” program？

The “National Travel Discount” is a government program designed to stimulate tourism demand by offering discounts on transportation and accommodations throughout Japan.

The program has expanded from the previous “Prefectural Travel Discount” campaign to include all residents of Japan, regardless of their home prefecture. This includes long-term foreign nationals living in Japan with a properly registered home address.

Local vouchers of up to ¥3,000 per person per day are available for food expenses on weekdays, with vouchers of ¥1,000 per person per day available for food on weekends.

To be eligible for the discount, travelers need to either be vaccinated with three shots or submit a negative PCR test. However, some prefectures may have different requirements for the number of shots needed.

Campaign available until December 20th, 2022!

Here’s how to make a reservation at LIVELY HOTELS:

◆ Please note that proof of residence in Japan and proof of 3 vaccinations or negative results will be required at check-in.

LIST OF ELIGIBLE LOCATIONS

The lively osaka honmachi (osaka) → available from october 11th, 2022.

Enjoy a petit luxury hotel stay at The Lively Osaka Honmachi, where you can enjoy authentic French cuisine in a casual setting. The special anniversary plan is perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions!

Click here for the list of the eligible plans at this hotel

THE LIVELY FUKUOKA HAKATA (Fukuoka) → Available from October 11th, 2022

The Lively Fukuoka Hakata offers several ways to enjoy the charms of being in Japan’s lively port city. The Croffle breakfast plan includes popular Korean sweets breakfast along with some other delicious baked goods. Whether you visit just before boarding a flight or are in town for business or pleasure, this hotel is sure to be an unforgettable experience!

THE LIVELY TOKYO AZABUJUBAN (Tokyo) → Available from October 11th, 2022

Try one of our exclusive cocktails while looking at the Tokyo Tower at the hotel’s top-floor bar, featuring some of Japan’s most talented bartenders. Take advantage of the loft room with its own outdoor terrace or the exclusive theater room for a truly immersive home cinema experience.

UNWIND HOTEL&BAR SAPPORO (Hokkaido) → Available from October 11th, 2022

Enjoy an experience that truly lives up to the wonder of Hokkaido’s snow country! Unwind is a lodge-like-themed hotel where you can discover local drinks and food in a warm and relaxing atmosphere. Enjoy a plan with coupons that can be used at 10 great local restaurants that we recommend.

UNWIND HOTEL&BAR OTARU (Hokkaido) → Available from October 11th, 2022

Enjoy a unique European-style dining experience with seasonal fresh ingredients sourced locally. Choose from either a four-course dinner or high tea – both are accompanied by local wine as well. Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere at Unwind Otaru, which is spread out over three floors and features historical decor.

SLASH KAWASAKI (Kanagawa) → Available from October 11th, 2022

Watch live concerts, games and sports at slash Kawasaki, the hotel that never sleeps. With every room equipped with its own projector screen, you can transform your space into a private movie theater at your fingertips! Don’t miss the famous “Infinite Popcorn” plan, which allows you to enjoy as many popcorn refills as you like!

ESTINATE HOTEL NAHA (Okinawa) → Available from October 11th, 2022

Enjoy a relaxing stay at ESTINATE HOTEL NAHA, a lifestyle hotel where travelers can meet locals and exchange ideas & travel tips. The Ryukyu Modern Italian Dinner plan includes two meals from our extraordinary Italian fusion menu combined with traditional Okinawa ingredients.

THE MILLENNIALS KYOTO (Kyoto) → Available from October 11th, 2022

Experience the future of capsule hotels with The Millennials and its world-famous “SmartPod” concept, a 3㎡ space with an alarm function that wakes you up with lighting and bed reclining. Enjoy a simple but delicious original breakfast plan and all of this in an inspiring & creative design lounge.

HOTEL GRAPHY GRAPHY (Tokyo) → Available from October 11th, 2022

Take in the sights and sounds of local downtown Tokyo on a bicycle tour. Enjoy the scenery of Ueno and Asakusa, along with Yanesen and Nezu, as you bike around northeast Tokyo. You can capture your memories with the instant camera provided at check-in.

Enjoy Travel Within Japan With Great Deals of "National Travel Discount" Program Starting Oct.11!

This post is also available in: Indonesia

Get Your Luggage Packed!

“National Travel Discount” (or “National Travel Support”) is a new travel discount program that will be in place starting from October 11th, 2022, together with the “Event Discount” program that is starting on the same day when Japan will fully reopen the border to independent international tourists.

Breaking News! Japan to Fully Reopen the Borders Starting From Oct. 11!

These two programs are applicable nationally and are also applicable to foreign residents in Japan.

Hot springs with the view of autumn foliage

National Travel Discount

National Travel Discount offers a 40% discount on travel costs, up to a maximum of 8,000 yen/person per night for a trip using public transportation (train/subway, bus, airplane, etc) and 5,000 yen for a trip other than that (without using public transport or accommodation only), with local coupons that can be used at restaurants, souvenir shops, etc worth 3,000 yen on weekdays and 1,000 yen on weekends.

This means that a person could save travel costs up to a maximum of 11,000 yen and is planned to be valid until the end of December 2022.

Travel with public transportation will get a maximum of 11,000 yen discount

Event Discount

Event Discount offers a 20% discount on ticket fees, up to a maximum of 2,000 yen which can be used on amusement parks, music live, movies, sports events, aquariums, museums, etc.

There is still no official announcement yet whether amusement parks such as Tokyo Disney Resort and Universal Studio Japan Osaka will join the program, but many people are expecting the news.

The event is limited to people vaccinated three times or those who present negative PCR tests.

The event discount program is planned to be valid for events held from October 11th to January 31st, 2023.

Popular Travel Destination to Visit

National Travel Discount will allow people to go far and explore new places. The popular destination is expected to be Hokkaido and Okinawa, the two most popular travel destinations in these recent years.

Hokkaido is known for its extremely tasty foods and beautiful nature (especially snow scenery in winter!) and Okinawa is known for its exotic resorts and rich cultures. Two amazing destinations you should visit at least once in the life time.

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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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