With winter in full swing, many Australians are looking to far away shores for rest, relaxation and, most importantly, sunshine.
Bali had long been a favourite for Aussie travellers and sun worshippers alike, but new statistics released by booking site Skyscanner reveal Indonesia’s island paradise has been tipped from pole position.
The number one destination for Australian holidaymakers in 2018 may come as a surprise, with an exponential increase in numbers flocking to Japan.
The number one destination for Australian holidaymakers in 2018 is the Land of the Rising Sun: Japan (pictured is the Sensoji Buddhist Temple and Shrine in Tokyo’s Asakusa district)
Japan boasts a plethora of varied and interesting activities, from skiing to temple exploration and even sea side resorts like the island of Ishigaki (pictured)
Travel agents across Australia report more bookings to the Land of the Rising Sun than long-time Aussie favourites, Bali or Thailand.
Recent research from Japan’s National Tourism Organisation showed a staggering 170 per cent growth in trips to Japan since 2013, with more wanderlust enthusiasts flocking to the Land of the Cherry Blossom than historic favourites like Thailand, Fiji and Indonesia.
Those figures were corroborated by Skyscanner Australia, which declared a 35 per cent increase in bookings to Japan over the past twelve months.
More than 440,000 Australians visited Japan in 2017 to enjoy diverse sights and attractions including temple exploration, the annual cherry blossom season and seaside resorts like the island of Ishigaki.
Speaking to Escape online, Senior Travel Consultant at Helloworld Blackworld Cassandra Oates said Japan is their hottest destination at the moment – and she believes this is thanks to global current affairs and the varied experiences Japan has to offer.
Japan’s Tourism Organisation Kana Wakabayashi said the country’s appeal lies in its difference
Irish model and travel enthusiast Daniella Moyles (left) and Singaporean ‘Instagram Queen’ Jamie Chua (right) takes in the beauty of Japan’s annual cherry blossom season
‘It’s such a safe destination…the volcanic action in Bali can put people off so they are trying somewhere different,’ she said.
‘Skiing is also very popular and it’s easy to get around on the train system.’
Sydney-based Executive Director of Japan’s Tourism Organisation Kana Wakabayashi said the country’s appeal lies in its difference.
‘We offer experiences that can’t be found anywhere else in the world, like eating yakitori in a laneway bar and chatting with locals, soaking in a natural hot-spring with a view of Mt Fuji or even hiking along an ancient trail and visiting beautifully preserved post-towns.’
Japan offers experiences that can’t be found anywhere else in the world, like eating yakitori in a lane way bar and chatting with locals
‘It’s such a safe destination…the volcanic action in Bali can put people off so they are trying somewhere different’ – travel agents believe current affairs and global geographical events are contributing to the surge in demand for Japan (sunrise over Mount Fuji, pictured)
Australian tourist reviews praise the culture-rich nation for being clean, diverse and cheaper to travel to with newly released direct flights.
And the trend looks set to grow even further over the coming years with the 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Olympic Games slated to be held in the birthplace of sushi.
To enable visitors to tailor make their adventure to the Land of the Rising Sun, Skyscanner recently launched Experience Japan, a platform providing informative city guides, money-saving tricks and tips to uncover the hidden treasures of bustling metropolises like Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo.