Junglia Okinawa Gives Okinawa's Economy Huge Boost

Jun 11, 2026 | News On Japan

NAHA - The economic impact generated by Junglia Okinawa during its first six months of operation reached 32.2 billion yen, according to a report released by Ryugin Research Institute.

Junglia Okinawa, a theme park located in northern Okinawa's main island, opened in July 2025. The park's operator, Japan Entertainment, said approximately 650,000 people visited the attraction during the six-month period through January 2026.

According to a joint study conducted by Ryugin Research Institute and Okinawa Cellular Telephone, the park generated an economic ripple effect of 32.2 billion yen in its first six months. Of that total, 19.8 billion yen came from tourism-related spending, including hotel accommodations, dining, and other visitor expenditures in the surrounding area.

The report also noted that further tourism development in northern Okinawa will require improvements to transportation infrastructure and stronger promotion of the region both within and outside the prefecture.

It added that closer cooperation between Junglia Okinawa and local communities, combined with sustainable regional development, is expected to strengthen Okinawa's tourism industry as a whole.

Typhoon No. 9 Forms as Linear Rainbands Bring Disaster-Level Rain to Kyushu

Successive linear rainbands formed across five prefectures in Kyushu through the morning of July 2, bringing disaster-level rain that caused river flooding, landslides and inundated roads, while Typhoon No. 9 formed over waters far southeast of Japan.

Carlos Ghosn Says Nissan Needs Him as CEO

Former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn said the automaker is in a "state of emergency" and signaled he would be willing to return as chief executive officer, arguing that only a true decision-maker in the CEO role could rescue the company.

U.S. Military Returns Entire Negishi Housing Area to Japan After 79 Years

The entire Negishi Housing Area in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, has been returned to Japan for the first time in 79 years, ending its use as a residential district for U.S. military personnel and their families.

Strong Quakes Strike Japan 11 Times Since April

Strong earthquakes have continued to shake parts of Japan in recent weeks, with 11 temblors measuring lower 5 or above on the Japanese seismic intensity scale recorded across the country since April 2026.

First Train of the Day Derails at Kintetsu Kyoto Station

A Kintetsu Railway train derailed inside Kyoto Station on the morning of June 29, forcing partial suspensions on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line for the rest of the day and causing long delays that hit commuters, students and tourists.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Mount Fuji Climbing Season Begins

Mount Fuji’s Yoshida Route on the Yamanashi Prefecture side opened for the climbing season on July 1, with favorable weather at the 3,776-meter summit giving visitors a clear view of the sunrise at around 4:30 a.m. as sunlight broke through gaps in the clouds.

Bear Attack Near Tochigi Elementary School Raises Alarm

A man in his 70s was injured early on June 30 after being attacked by a bear near an elementary school in Tochigi Prefecture, as bear-related incidents continue to rise across Japan ahead of the full onset of summer heat in July.

Japan’s Digital Border Revolution: How QR-Based Entry Systems Are Transforming Travel in 2026

Japan’s tourism recovery has entered a new phase in 2026, marked not just by rising visitor numbers but by a deeper structural shift in how the country manages entry procedures.

Gion Festival Opens With Osendo Ritual

Kyoto’s Gion Festival, one of Japan’s three major festivals, began on July 1 with the Osendo ritual at Yasaka Shrine, where the child messenger and his attendants prayed for the safe completion of their major role in the monthlong event.

First Train of the Day Derails at Kintetsu Kyoto Station

Hikone Castle Stone Wall Collapses After Typhoon Deluge

A section of stone wall at Hikone Castle, one of Japan’s few surviving original Edo-period castles and a National Treasure whose main keep remains intact more than 400 years after its construction, collapsed after heavy rain caused by Typhoons No. 7 and No. 8, Hikone city officials said.

Okinawa Rainy Season Ends 22 Days Later Than Last Year

The Japan Meteorological Agency said at around 2 p.m. on June 29 that the rainy season appeared to have ended in Okinawa, marking a later-than-usual start to summer after an especially wet period.

Weather Agency Checks Seismic Meters After Yamanashi Quake

Japan’s weather agency carried out field inspections in Yamanashi Prefecture on June 28 after a powerful earthquake struck the Fuji Five Lakes area late on June 26, registering a lower 6 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale in Fujikawaguchiko and injuring six people.

< 2 3 4 5 >