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J A P A N
Travel Trade News
May 2025 |
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【Mie Prefecture】A Getaway to One of Japan’s Least Visited Prefectures |
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Visited by less than 1% of overseas tourists (0.8% to be exact), Mie Prefecture lies on the eastern side of the Kii Peninsula and is steeped deeply in Japan’s mythology and legends. Easily accessible from Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and Wakayama, Mie is a great reason to extend one’s trip through the Kinki/Kansai region and learn more intimately of Japan’s people and folklore. Abundant with lush nature, delicious seafood particularly their oysters and of course renowned throughout the world for the rare and beautiful Mikimoto akoya pearls; Mie’s Ise Shima region lies on the peninsula facing the Pacific Ocean leading to the rich diversity of sea life available. Read more. |
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【Okinawa Main Island, Okinawa Prefecture】Junglia Okinawa opens on 25 July |
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JUNGLIA OKINAWA is an immersive, large-scale theme park in the overwhelming natural environment of Yambaru, which possesses a World Natural Heritage site in the northern part of Okinawa's main island. They offer an unprecedented Okinawa experience, including attractions, entertainment amid nature, and local delicacies. The Churaumi Aquarium, which is considered one of the biggest and best aquariums in the world, is only 30 minutes away by car, with tanks are massive enough to hold whale sharks. |
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【Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture】Okura River Gorge SUP Experience Tour |
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A one-day SUP (stand-up paddleboard) experience tour to enjoy the natural beauty of the Okura Valley during the fresh green season only in May and June. With a guide, even beginners can enjoy the exhilarating feeling of riding on the clear and calm surface of the water while learning basic techniques. During this season, the Okura Dam is full of water, so you can enjoy both the submerged forest and the Okura River valley to the fullest. The surrounding greenery and chirping birds will refresh your body and mind! Why not create special memories with friends and family? One person or more can participate. Let's start a new adventure in nature! Read more. |
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【Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture】Kagura Regular Performances 2025 |
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A regular Kagura performance with English subtitles is held in Hiroshima City every Wednesday at 7 p.m. until 24 December 2025. Kagura is a traditional performing art practised since ancient times to express gratitude for the daily blessings of the gods. It features dancing and acting before the gods, accompanied by traditional musical instruments. The influence of its stories, words, and other elements can still be seen today in various subcultures in Japan, such as manga and anime. The venue, the Hiroshima Prefectural Citizens’ Culture Centre, is just a 3-minute walk from the Atomic Bomb Dome. Read more. |
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【JR Shikoku】Launch of a New QR Code Train Ticket Service for Inbound Traveler |
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JR Shikoku and Klook Travel Technology have joined forces to introduce a QR code-based ticketing service for the “ALL SHIKOKU Rail Pass,” a special rail pass designed for inbound travellers. By offering a QR ticket service compatible with automatic ticket gates, international visitors can access transportation directly without needing to exchange their online purchases for a paper ticket. This initiative aims to improve convenience for travellers and attract more visitors to Shikoku. |
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【Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture】Ryokan Onomichi Nishiyama |
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Ryokan Onomichi Nishiyama is right by the water in the retro merchant town of Onomichi. A tea garden that welcomed wealthy merchants and their guests back when the town prospered as a port of call along the Kitamae shipping route, it has now been turned into a traditional-style Japanese inn. There are eight rooms in six detached buildings that feature Japanese architectural elements and warm wooden accents. Ryokan's restaurant is also not to be missed; its scrumptious dishes are made with locally produced ingredients in an open kitchen that offers dynamic entertainment during the dining experience. The ryokan is less than a 10-minute drive from Onomichi Station. |
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【Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka】MIMARU's Renewed 100 Pokémon Rooms |
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Cosmos Hotel Management Co., Ltd., which operates Apartment Hotel MIMARU, offering spacious rooms with kitchens for families and friends, is excited to announce the reopening of its popular' Pokémon Room' on 1 July 2025. With the relaunch, participating locations will expand to 10 across Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Reservations for the new Pokémon Room begin on 21 April. Read more. |
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【Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture】The Gate Hotel Fukuoka |
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The Gate Hotel Fukuoka by HULIC opened on 24 April 2025, on the upper floors of HULIC Square Fukuoka Tenjin, a new commercial hub directly connected to Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station. In the Lobby Lounge on the top floor, guests can kick back and relish the breeze on an outdoor terrace while marvelling at the Fukuoka cityscape. On the same floor is the all-day dining restaurant Anchor Grill Fukuoka, which serves grilled dishes using local ingredients. Guestrooms run from the 10th to 18th floors, with 6 types meeting the needs of different travellers. The suite room THE GATE offers incredible panoramas facing Hakata Bay and Tenjin, while the main guestrooms, named Classy and Essential, are themed around Fukuoka’s vibrant culture, drawing inspiration from its traditions along with its prosperity as an international trade hub and merchant city. |
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The Expo is on in Osaka until 13th October 2025. You can get to the site by direct train from JR Shin-Osaka Station on the Shinkansen line. For information on tickets and pavilions, check the official website.
For full package group tour arrangements for 15 or more people, including EXPO tickets, hotel, English-speaking guide and transportation, please contact DMC Japan by Knt (Kinki Nippon Tourist) or Hankyu Travel International Europe UK. |
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