The Japanese aren’t going to know what hits them when their sensible, wildly creative and inspiring Land of the Rising Sun is invaded by a group of rowdy and curious Aussie high-school graduates.
Yep, schoolies is expanding its annual soirée into North Asia with the launch of the ‘Japan Grad Trip’.
Created by Unleashed Travel, the trip is designed to tap into the young generation’s desire to get in touch with new cultures, try out the best regions and learn local skills. That’s why the nine-night itinerary features activities such as skiing in Hakuba, taking part in sushi-making classes and exploring the bustling Tokyo.
According to Unleashed Travel’s CEO, Jot Lynas, the new wave of school-leavers are keen to gain culturally enriching experiences, which can be found in newer schoolies destinations such as Fiji, Cambodia and now Japan.
“As more School-leavers see the benefits of overseas travel, they are willing to take up the costs themselves.”
Jot Lynas, Unleashed Travel CEO
“They understand a grad trip is a once in a lifetime experience and it’s important to make it count.”
The new addition is also in line with Aussie outbound tourism trends, which saw Japan attract five percent more Australians over the 2015/16 year.
Overall, Japan’s tourism industry spiked in 2016, with latest figures revealed the destination welcomed a record number of 24.04 million arrivals.
New figures issued by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) show that over the last three years the destination’s inbound market has grown by 2.4 times and it’s on track to meet its 40 million target by 2020.