Maybe the biggest story in travel trends for Australians over the past three years has been the huge rise in popularity of Japan.
The number of Australians who travelled to Japan this year is expected to hit one million for the first time. They are Bali-type numbers. Something unheard of a few years ago.
Visitors are up around 20 per cent on 2024 and there looks to be no slowing down in traffic to the land of the rising sun as we head into 2026.
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There looks to be no slowing down in traffic to Japan as we head into 2026. (Adobe Stock Images)Why Japan
Historically, Japan has been a very expensive place for Australians to visit. Legendary stories about high prices kept a lid on numbers until very recently.
The boom in tourism started after Japan re-opened to foreign visitors after Covid. Due to a number of economic factors the yen dropped dramatically in value and the Aussie dollar now buys about 30 per cent more in Japan than it did five years ago.
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Solo travellers are flocking to this Asian city for one big reason
As well as that, very low inflation is also keeping prices low. But that’s not the only attraction.
Japan is clean, organised, easy to get around, incredibly modern but with beautifully preserved historic sites. Food is no longer a barrier with Australians consuming sushi and ramen as a take-away staple.
The big three places to visit are Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. (AP)The classic destinations
The big three places to visit are Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka closely followed by Hokkaido for skiing and snowboarding.
Tokyo, the frenetic capital, is the arrival point for most Aussies and an obvious must do on your itinerary. Nowhere blends the old, the new and the quirky quite like Tokyo with everything from the spectacular Imperial Palace to the world’s most famous pedestrian crossing in Shibuya to Harajuku the epicentre of goth, punk, vintage and cosplay fashion.
Kyoto is the ancient capital of Japan and maybe also the temple capital. It might be 450kms from Tokyo but the bullet train means it’s only 2.15hrs away.
Once you’re here you can settle into the slower pace from Tokyo. There are many beautiful gardens including the Philosopher’s Path which runs alongside a scenic canal. This is regarded as one of the best locations in Japan to witness cherry blossom season from late March to early April.
Osaka is serviced by the bullet train or Shinkansen and is around 2.5hrs from Tokyo. (Supplied)
Osaka is also serviced by the bullet train or Shinkansen. Around 2.5hrs from Tokyo.
Osaka is known as the “Kitchen of Japan” with everything from amazing street food through to high end culinary experiences. It’s also known for its great night life courtesy of Dotonbori, the over-the-top neon neighbourhood. For families it’s also home to Universal Studios Japan.
New destinations to visit
Australians aren’t the only ones discovering Japan in a big way so the government is trying to take the pressure off the big three destinations by making regional travel easier with improved transport and new regional rail passes.
So, if you are one of the growing number of people heading back to Japan for another visit or if you just like the idea of taking the road less travelled there are plenty of options.
Shikoku
Shikoku is the smallest of Japan’s four main islands. It’s known for its spectacular scenery, and slower pace of life. Because it’s off the radar for most visitors to Japan it is also far less impacted by tourism. One of the highlights here is the 88 Temple Pilgrimage Route, a 1200km loop around the island linking a series of Buddhist temples.
The island is also known for its therapeutic hot springs including the oldest hot springs in Japan, the Dogo Onsen which is believed to be about 3,000 years old. And if you like your Japanese noodles, Shikoku is also the birthplace of udon.
Shikoku is the smallest of Japan’s four main islands. (JNTO)
Okinawa
Okinawa is a natural paradise of beaches, coral reefs and spectacular marine life. It is Japan’s fifth largest island but only tiny even compared to Shikoku. The island is famous for its chilled lifestyle and long-living residents.
Okinawa has been named one of the world’s “Blue Zones” for having one of the highest numbers of people over the age of 100 thanks to a combination or largely plant-based diet, exercise and strong social networks.
Hokkaido (in summer)
Hokkaido is certainly not off the beaten path when it comes to winter sports with ski fields like Niseko and Rusutsu very popular with Australians but it’s a new destination when it comes to summer.
Cooler days, low humidity make it perfect for outdoor activities like hiking and cycling. The flower fields in Burano and Biei are a kaleidoscope of colours that look like something out of Wicked.
Hokkaido is already a winter hotspot but consider visiting in summer. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Things to know
The massive increase in tourist numbers is putting huge pressure on the infrastructure of Japan’s major tourist destination so the government wants to raise funds to improve tourist services and direct money to the regions to try and disperse tourists across the country.
The first big move came in July this year when dual ticket pricing was introduced for a lot of big tourist attractions charging overseas visitors up to double the price of locals.
The city of Kyoto confirmed it would charge an increased accommodation tax from March 2026. The city had been charging a hotel tax since 2018, which was capped at about $10 a night.
An increased tourist tax is being introduced in Kyoto. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
That amount will now increase, depending on the cost of your accommodation. Those staying in luxury hotels (above $1000 a night) will pay the most – ¥10,000 ($100) per night.
Rooms costing between $500 and $1,000 per night will incur roughly $40 tax each night, while those paying between $200 and $500 will pay around $10 per night.
Next up, the exit fee from Japan is going to increase. Currently, everyone leaving Japan, even locals, have to pay a 1000 yen (about $10) departure fee which is automatically added to your ticket. This is likely to double or triple in 2026 although no date has been set yet.
Then on November 1, 2026 the tax free status on shopping for overseas visitors will change. You still won’t have to pay the tax but it will be a more cumbersome process.
Currently, the 10 per cent GST is currently waived at the register if you show your passport. After the change you will have to keep all your receipts and submit them to customs for a refund.
There are plenty of flight options to get to Japan. (Getty)Getting there
It’s never been easier to fly to Japan. It seems nearly every week there is an announcement about new routes or frequency of flights.
In October, Japan Airlines (JAL) increased its flights from Melbourne to Tokyo from three times a week to daily for the high demand season and so will All Nippon (ANA) from Perth from December 1.
Qantas is starting direct flights to Sapporo, Hokkaido for snow enthusiasts starting December 15 and going through to March 28, 2026.
All the places we saw vending machines in Japan
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