Japan has been ranked the top country people most want to revisit for tourism, according to a survey released on August 25 by advertising giant Dentsu. The survey covered respondents in 20 countries and regions.
Japanese food and products were cited as the strongest motivations for a return visit. By contrast, regional tourism was seen as facing challenges such as poor internet connectivity and limited multilingual support. A Dentsu representative commented, “Regional tourism resources have great potential, but overcoming these issues is not easy.”
Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto. (©Jason Halayko)
Survey Results by Country
Among travelers who had visited multiple countries, 52.7% chose Japan as the destination they would most like to visit again. This placed Japan first among 52 countries and regions. South Korea ranked second at 20.0%, followed by the United States at 16.6%. Interest in Japanese food and favorable views of Japanese products outweighed the weak yen as reasons to return.
By prefecture, Tokyo, Hokkaido, Osaka, and Kyoto stood out for their strong recognition, past visitation, and intent to revisit. They were followed by Fukushima, Okinawa, and Hiroshima.
High Satisfaction in Regional Areas
The share of travelers who visited only regional destinations was relatively low. However, satisfaction levels were extremely high, with 96.2% expressing satisfaction and 93.4% saying they would like to revisit.
Rows of vermilion torii gates winding like a dragon — Takayama Inari Shrine in Tsugaru City, Aomori Prefecture.
The survey was conducted online between May and June. It collected responses from more than 10,000 residents of Asia, Europe, North America, the Middle East, and other regions.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
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