Sunday, September 8, 2024
Rakuten Journey, Japan’s main on-line journey company, is leveraging its multilingual web site and complete journey guides to draw international vacationers to lesser-known locations throughout Japan. As each central and native governments search to advertise secondary locations, Rakuten Journey is positioning itself to cater to repeat guests searching for distinctive experiences past Japan’s well-known “Golden Route” of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Mt. Fuji.
Jeremy Bek, International Head of Rakuten Journey, highlighted the rising demand for exploring Japan’s hidden gems. “There are many more undiscovered treasures, and people will continue coming back to explore the deeper side of Japan,” Bek stated in a latest interview.
Deal with Multilingual Accessibility and Native Experiences
Rakuten Journey’s web site, out there in 9 languages, together with Chinese language, Korean, Vietnamese, and Indonesian, gives intensive sources akin to automobile rental guides and buyer assist companies. The platform additionally introduces varied kinds of conventional lodging like “ryokan” inns with multicourse “kaiseki” dinners, “machiya” historic townhouses, and “minshuku” family-run guesthouses, which supply an genuine and inexpensive lodging expertise.
Bek shared that about 30% of worldwide bookings on Rakuten Journey are for secondary locations, with many vacationers in search of nature-based experiences akin to mountaineering and mountaineering. “Immersive experiences like staying in a ryokan or attending a local festival are in high demand,” he stated.
Authorities and Business Assist for Rural Tourism
Japan’s Nationwide Tourism Group lately carried out a survey, revealing that over 80% of respondents from East and Southeast Asia expressed curiosity in visiting locations exterior Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. Rakuten Journey’s efforts align with the federal government’s purpose of revitalizing rural areas and decreasing the pressure on closely trafficked vacationer spots.
Consistent with this technique, corporations like Hokkaido Treasure Island Journey Inc. are providing tailored excursions that embody choices like canine sledding and ice fishing, making rural areas extra accessible and interesting to worldwide vacationers.
Increasing Japan’s Tourism Potential
By selling off-the-beaten-path locations and distinctive cultural experiences, Rakuten Journey and different tourism operators are serving to to diversify Japan’s tourism business. This initiative not solely advantages the nation’s rural economies but in addition enhances the journey expertise for international guests, providing them a chance to have interaction with Japan’s wealthy cultural heritage in a extra private means.
As Japan’s tourism sector continues to evolve, the deal with rural locations and immersive journey experiences will play a vital position in shaping the way forward for inbound tourism.
