Whereas Tokyo’s fashionable structure, neon lights, Michelin-starred eating places, and world-class museums are an enormous draw for worldwide guests, they’re removed from the one issues to see and do in Japan. From the champagne powder of Niseko’s ski slopes to the UNESCO World Heritage temples of Kyoto, it’s nicely price getting exterior the nation’s capital metropolis. And due to a brand new promotion, vacationers can now see extra of the nation for much less.
Japan Airways, also called JAL, simply introduced a deal the place these flying into the island nation on worldwide flights can catch inter-country flights to any of the 64 home airports the service serves—without cost.
This system is out there to vacationers coming from choose international locations, together with:
- United States, Canada, Mexico (as of September 10)
- Thailand (as of September 11)
- Singapore (beginning September 18)
- Australia, New Zealand (beginning September 19)
- Vietnam, Philippines (beginning September 25)
- Indonesia, India, China, Taiwan (beginning September 27)
The airline stated it plans so as to add extra international locations within the coming days. To qualify, prospects should ebook each a Japan Airways worldwide flight and a home flight on the identical reservation via JAL’s web site. The home connections include checked baggage, together with two free baggage as much as 50 kilos every in economic system and premium economic system and three baggage as much as 70 kilos every in enterprise and first-class.
For vacationers coming from the US, Canada, Mexico, and China, the traditional $100 stopover price will nonetheless apply in the event that they select to remain within the first Japanese airport they land in (usually Tokyo) for greater than 24 hours. Vacationers coming from the opposite international locations listed is not going to be charged a further price.
Japan Airways is persistently ranked among the many finest airways on the planet, partially as a result of service’s consideration to element. It’s additionally a favourite of Afar staffers and contributors. In enterprise class, for instance, Afar contributor Chris Dong says, “Anticipate extremely customized consideration from the crew, a well-stocked amenity package in collaboration with French model Maison Kitsuné, plush slippers, and better of all, an unimaginable meals and beverage choice.”
One good thing about providing complimentary flights to different areas is that it might entice vacationers to go to extra far-flung areas of the nation and assist fight overtourism in main metro areas, a difficulty the federal government highlighted in a 2024 white paper on tourism as a necessity.
“Ebook a world flight with JAL and obtain free home flights to discover extra of Japan,” the airline said in its announcement in regards to the new provide.
Japan has been within the midst of a tourism increase—the Land of the Rising Solar anticipates that it’ll welcome 35 million guests in 2024, surpassing the prepandemic peak of 31.88 million individuals in 2019. And though Japan has an bold purpose of attracting 60 million vacationers by 2030, some areas are already coping with the results of being too in style.
This spring, Kyoto’s Gion neighborhood, the place conventional geisha entertainers and their maiko (teenage apprentices) work, put up indicators warning overseas guests in opposition to getting into or threat a ten,000 yen fantastic (roughly US$70 with present conversion charges). Equally, as of July 1, 2024, Mount Fuji applied a every day customer cap of 4,000 individuals and began charging climbers 2,000 yen (about US$14) for the chance to make the trek to the highest of the 12,388-foot snowcapped stratovolcano. Moreover, within the close by city of Fujikawaguchiko, a barrier is being put in to dam the view of Mount Fuji as seen from a Lawson comfort retailer, as a result of swarm of vacationers overwhelming the world for an ideal snap.