Japan – as a whole – is rather like one of those 24-hour convenience stores you’ll find all across the country: No matter what the time, it’s always open for business, and by business we mean tourism.
Yep, the Land of the Rising Sun is a year-round destination, with so much to offer no matter what time of year your clients are planning a holiday.
To help you get started selling Japan all year round, here’s a brief guide on what your clients can do during summer, autumn, winter and spring.
Read until the end, and you’ll also learn about a pretty exciting famil opportunity for 20 agents to Japan, courtesy of JNTO.
Summer – June to August
Summer in Japan, across most of the country, is apt to be hot and humid.
Therefore it’s no surprise that this time of year is perfect for all types of water sports – from surfing, kayaking, diving, jet skiing to kite surfing.
Whisk your clients down to Okinawa (Japan’s most southerly island) for some of the clearest water and best water sport action in the country.
The summer months are also the only time to hike to the top of Mount Fuji, as it is closed to climbers the rest of the year. It’s a 6-hour climb to the top of Japan’s iconic mountain, and just a few hours from Tokyo proper.
Many of Japan’s top festivals are also held between July and August, such as the Akita Kanto Festival (where revellers hang traditional lanterns on bamboo poles up to 12-metres in the air) and the Aomori Nebuta Festival (where large lanterns on floats are paraded down the street accompanied by swirling dancers).
These festivals (and many others) are perfect for clients seeking a dose of traditional culture on their trip to Japan.
Last but not least, summer is also the best time to head up to Hokkaido to check out the gorgeous panoramic flower fields of lavender, poppies, sunflowers, and lupins. Make sure you pack your camera – these vistas are stunning!
Autumn – September to November
These months in Japan are awash with colour, as autumn leaves – known as koyo in Japanese – paint the country in beautiful shades of yellow, red and orange. In the reverse of the blooming cherry blossoms, the autumn leaves change first in the north and make their way down south later in the year.
In Tokyo, suggest a brisk stroll through the grounds of the Imperial Palace to admire the stunning autumn colours.
Further north, in Iwate Prefecture, September through to November is the perfect time for a hike around Hachimantai – just make sure you pack comfortable hiking shoes. This area is also peppered with traditional Japanese hot springs, called onsen, which is a soothing end to a day spent taking in the autumn colours.
Speaking of onsen, not far from Tokyo, Kinugawa Onsen, a hotspring resort town in Tochigi, is an ideal place to soak for a while surrounded by autumn foliage.
Further south, autumn is also the best time weather-wise for more active travellers to explore Japan’s most scenic waterway, the Seto Inland Sea, on a bike. Cyclists can ride all the way from Honshu to Shikoku, thanks to the Shimanami-Kaido – a series of ten bridges that connects the islands over a 80 kilometre dedicated cycling lane.
Winter – December to February
Japan is a world-class skiing and snowboarding destination during the colder months of December through February.
Send your clients north to Niseko in Hokkaido for some of the best powder in the country.
In Nagano (the site of the 1998 Winter Olympics), Hakuba, Shiga Kogen & Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort are prime resorts that offer exceptional skiing and snowboarding.
Finally, throughout Tohoku, Zao Hot Springs Ski Resort, APPI and Hakkoda are renowned in Japan for its excellent powder snow and backcountry trails.
Spring – March to May
Spring in Japan is all about the cherry blossoms, or sakura, as they’re known in Japanese.
Head to Ueno Park in Tokyo to admire the cherry blossoms whilst having a picnic with a few friendly locals.
Ka-jo Castle Park in Yamagata is also an excellent spot to admire the blooming.
Further south in Kyoto, spend a couple of hours at Maruyama Park – definitely the best spot for cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto. Try and coincide your visit just as the sun sets, as the park’s star attraction – a weeping cherry tree – is lit up at night.
Win a place on a Japan famil
JNTO are giving twenty Travel Agents the chance to WIN a place on two famils to Japan later this year to explore the unique country first hand.
Both famils will see the Travel Agents explore both Tokyo and Kyoto with the first famil running between 16th – 22nd October, 2016 and the second famil running between 23rd – 28th October, 2016.
For your chance to be in the draw for a spot on either of these famils please visit https://elearning.jnto.org.au and complete the e-learning program.
The competition ends on the 15th August, 2016.
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