Check out the fastest growing destination for Aussie travellers

On a sunny day on the Nakasendo trail, the pathway connecting Kyoto and Tokyo in Japan a travelling man is hiking with a backpack and embracing both the nature and culture of this beautiful Edo period rural environment.

By Alexandra Coulton

New passenger data from Skyscanner has revealed that Japan is the fastest growing destination for Aussie tourists so far in 2018.

Which seems pretty accurate, seeing as we ALL know somebody planning their Japan trip as we speak and probably have several friends visiting there at the moment making us SUPER jealous with all their beautiful Instagram posts. Maybe that’s just us?

The number of Aussies visiting Japan climbed a whopping 170 per cent over the last five years, with the total number of overall visitors surpassing 20 million in 2016.

More than 440,000 Aussies chose to visit Japan in 2017, which is a 12 per cent increase on 2016. This year has already seen a huge 35 per cent climb from the first half of last year so yes, we get it, you’re all SUPER keen on Japan right now.

Omoide-Yokocho in Shinjuku district of Tokyo

Anyway, in light of this new research, the travel app has launched a new Experience Japan microsite that lets Aussies in on all the land of the rising sun has to offer including city guides, money saving hacks, best airports and hidden gems.

“Sustained promotion by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) is one of the key drivers behind phenomenal growth in Australians travelling to Japan,” Kana Wakabayashi, Executive Director, Japan National Tourism Organization Sydney said.

“Japan’s strength and appeal as a travel destination lies in our difference – we can offer experiences that can’t be found anywhere else in the world, like eating yakitori in a lane-way bar and chatting with locals, soaking in a natural hot-spring with a view of Mt Fuji or even hiking along an ancient trail and visiting beautifully preserved post towns.”

With key global events like the 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Olympic Games, Japanese officials expect to hit a huge 40 million tourists in 2020, so it’s probably best to get in before it gets too crowded.

With Tokyo taking top spot as the most visited city, travellers are also encouraged to look elsewhere to experience countless other Japanese delights.

Modern port city Osaka offers an alternative nightlife and busy restaurant scene; Okinawa an island famous for its warm climate and pristine beaches; Aomori the northernmost prefecture of Japan that offers Aussies an off-the-beaten-track experience.

Captureo

Travellers can also save money by flying into Osaka, which offers an estimated saving of $97 on arrival into Tokyo, and the same flight departing from Brisbane could save holiday-makers an incredible $319.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

japan okinawa osaka skyscanner travel trends