Japanese Small Town Travel Packages Continue to Launch
Travel to small cities such as Okayama, Niigata, and Miyazaki is gaining popularity among the 2030 generation, surpassing major Japanese cities.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's aviation statistics on the 21st, the total number of passengers who used international flights operated by domestic and foreign airlines within Korea from January to June this year reached approximately 42.77 million (combined departures and arrivals). Among them, the number of passengers boarding flights to Japan increased the most, with 12.17 million traveling in the first half of this year, a 43.8% increase compared to 8.46 million in the first half of last year.
Lotte Tour Development has launched a travel package to small towns in Japan. [Photo by Lotte Tour Development]
This surge in travelers appears to be influenced by the yen depreciation phenomenon in Japan and the expansion of airline supply. Recently, the yen reached its lowest value against the dollar in 38 years, resulting in a 'super yen depreciation' phenomenon. There is also an interpretation that the increase in tourists wanting to experience small cities is due to low-cost carriers (LCCs) launching routes to these smaller cities.
In fact, Lotte Tour Development, Air Busan, and Korean Air are expanding their routes. Lotte Tour Development has launched special charter flight packages to small Japanese cities such as Okayama, Niigata, and Miyazaki in time for the upcoming Chuseok holiday. The Okayama and Niigata packages depart on September 14 and 15 respectively via Korean Air special charters, while the Miyazaki package departs on September 14 via an Asiana Airlines charter flight.
Korean Air will increase the frequency of the Incheon-Okayama route, which is emerging as a small city travel destination, from three to five times a week starting October 3, and the Incheon-Kagoshima route from three to five times a week starting September 2. Jin Air will newly operate the Takamatsu route seven times a week starting this month on the 18th, while maintaining the Miyakojima route at five times a week. Jeju Air has also expanded small city routes such as Hiroshima, Shizuoka, Matsuyama, and Oita in addition to its existing major routes. Norangpungseon recently launched a Kagoshima package to a Japanese small city that includes accommodation at a 5-star Sheraton hotel and breakfast.
Travel to small Japanese cities is known to be popular among people in their 20s and 30s. According to Kyowon Tour Travel Easy, the percentage of 20-30-year-olds who booked trips to small Japanese cities increased from 25.9% to 28.6% in the first and second quarters of this year. It is also expected that even more people in their 20s and 30s will visit small cities in the third quarter. Small Japanese cities have fewer Chinese group tourists and Koreans, which is favored by the younger generation.
Meanwhile, the popularity of Japanese alcohol is also on the rise domestically. According to customs import-export statistics, the import value of Japanese beer from January to May this year was $26.157 million (36.1 billion KRW), 2.3 times higher than the same period last year. Imported sake (January to May) increased by 16% compared to the same period last year, and imports of Japanese whiskey rose by 41%.
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