Japanese Towns Where Foreign Tourists Have Exploded

Mar 12, 2024 | News On Japan

TOKYO - A ranking of popular Winter tourist spots in Japan among foreigners has been released. Although foreign tourists tend to choose winter sports destinations during the colder months, surprisingly, Inuyama City, which is not associated with snow, ranked first.

Why the Fourfold Increase in Tourists?

This winter, the number of foreign tourists in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, has quadrupled.

Aviation and travel analyst Kotaro Toriumi: "The reason for the popularity of Inuyama is that it can be seen as part of a travel route for foreigners."

If you head to Shirakawa-go, a famous tourist spot in Japan, from Chubu Airport, Inuyama is on the way. In other words, the perfect stopover spot for travelers tired from a long journey.

Japan's Oldest Castle Tower, a National Treasure: Inuyama Castle

Inuyama is popular for its castle town and tea rooms where you can enjoy matcha, offering a taste of Japan's historical atmosphere.

Akaigawa Village in Hokkaido Ranked Second

Next, the second-place tourist spot with an increase in foreign visitors is Akaigawa Village, located in the southwestern part of Hokkaido, an area with heavy snowfall.

Otari Village in Nagano Ranked Third

The third biggest increase in tourist numbers is Otari Village in the northwestern part of Nagano Prefecture, a popular spot for skiing.

The ranking of these tourist spots is based on the usage of apps by foreign tourists, comparing last winter and this winter.

Source: ANN

Record Rain Triggers Level 5 Warning in Fukui

Record rainfall caused 19 rivers to overflow across Fukui Prefecture, flooding roads and homes, triggering landslides and temporarily forcing authorities to issue the highest-level heavy rain emergency warning from early Sunday morning.

Drones Deliver Supplies to Residents Cut Off by Landslide

Drones were used to deliver food and daily necessities to an isolated mountain community in Himi City, Toyama Prefecture, on August 30 after torrential rain triggered a landslide that cut off road access, while volunteers continued flood recovery work in neighboring Ishikawa Prefecture.

Typhoon No. 23 Overtakes No. 22 East of Japan as Both Head North

Two typhoons east of Japan were moving northward on August 30, with Typhoon No. 23 (Banlan) overtaking Typhoon No. 22 (Artau), although neither storm is expected to have a direct impact on Japan.

Nine-Minute Drone Video Shows Scale of Aeon Mall Damage

A 9-minute, 13-second drone video filmed inside Aeon Mall Kumamoto two days after the deadly explosion has provided a detailed view of the destruction, showing collapsed ceilings, heavy dust and widespread damage that may have affected between one-third and nearly half of the shopping center.

Conditions Ease as Typhoon No. 18 Passes Okinawa

Strong Typhoon No. 18 was moving northwest through the East China Sea on the night of August 26, gradually pulling away from Okinawa and the Amami Islands as lingering rain, strong winds and high waves were expected to ease. As of 9 p.m. on August 26, the typhoon was over waters north-northwest of Kume Island and moving northwest.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Record Rain Pounds Hokuriku

Record-breaking rainfall continued across the Hokuriku region on Saturday, with Himi City in Toyama Prefecture receiving more than 500 millimeters over 72 hours, as authorities warned of further heavy rain, landslides and river flooding through August 30.

Severe Thunderstorms Strike Across Japan

Severe thunderstorms brought torrential rain, lightning, hail and a tornado to Hokkaido on August 28, disrupting rail and air travel and leaving some passengers stranded overnight at New Chitose Airport, as unstable atmospheric conditions triggered intense downpours across Japan.

Kyushu Shinkansen to Fully Reopen on September 18

JR Kyushu plans to restore full service on the Kyushu Shinkansen from the first train on September 18, nearly two months after the Kumamoto earthquake caused extensive damage to tracks and stations and forced the suspension of services on part of the line.

Beware of Bears as Mountain Food Runs Low in Summer

Bear sightings are increasing across Japan this summer as a shortage of food in the mountains drives the animals closer to areas where people live and visit, with authorities in Aomori Prefecture closing a lookout near Lake Towada after a foreign tourist was attacked.

United Airlines to Launch Direct Okinawa Flights From San Francisco

United Airlines announced on August 25 that it will launch direct flights between San Francisco and Okinawa from March 27, 2027, as the U.S. carrier seeks to capture growing demand for travel to Japan.

ANA-JAL Cooperation Signals Possible Shift in Japan's Airline Industry

ANA Holdings' All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines will begin coordinating departure times on the Haneda-Okayama route from October 25, an unusual move by Japan's two largest airline groups as weak business travel, a weaker yen and rising fuel and labor costs put increasing pressure on domestic operations.

Haneda Airport Unveils New Boarding Area With Wood-Finished Gates

Haneda Airport has unveiled a new boarding area at Terminal 1 that will begin operations in September, featuring extensive wood interiors and self-driving transportation within the facility.

220-Meter Skybridge Opens at Biwako Valley in Shiga

A new 220-meter pedestrian suspension bridge has been completed at Biwako Valley in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, offering visitors sweeping views of Lake Biwa from mountains about 1,100 meters above sea level.

< 2 3 4 5 >