Tokyo, Japan, May 5, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has launched a new Insider Guide to Japan, celebrating the country’s many traditions, innovations, natural wonders, and off-the-beaten-track adventures.
JNTO’s “Experiences in Japan,” is a website that showcases activities based on Seven Passions (nature, outdoors, tradition, cuisine, relaxation, art and cities). This collection of curated experiences offers a window into the heart and soul of Japan, a series of exciting – and largely unknown – activities and destinations.
While preparing these attractions in anticipation of inbound travel resuming once again, JNTO is also taking a number of COVID-19 measures to ensure absolute peace of mind for international visitors. These new initiatives are available on our website. Steps include multilingual pictograms to summarize information on the country’s precautions against COVID-19 infection as well as emergency response contacts and procedures.
Japan is an archipelago of around 6,852 islands; a country that not only offers breath-taking scenery, great wildlife, a rich cultural heritage, fast-paced city life, world-class cuisine, a reputation for warm hospitality, but – crucially in this time – also has a long-standing tradition of wellness, cleanliness and hygiene. Japan has one of the healthiest populations in the world, ranking second globally in terms of life expectancy (Source: United Nations, “World Population Prospects 2019″).
It is no coincidence that the Japanese word for clean (kirei) also means beautiful: a notion so deeply ingrained in the national psyche that it permeates every aspect of everyday life from greeting one another with a respectful bow to leaving shoes on the doorstep. Japan ranks as the fifth largest “wellcation” destination in the world (Source: Global Wellness Institute, “Global Wellness Tourism Economy Report” November 2018): a land of tranquil temples and shrines, inspiring landscapes, delicious healthy food and of course the time-honored tradition of onsen (hot springs).
And so for those excited to travel again in the future, Japan offers the perfect balance of adventure, freedom, solitude, and intrigue: an opportunity to finally tick off that bucket-list destination and immerse yourself in another culture, comfortable in the knowledge that Japan has gone above and beyond in terms of due diligence for visitor safety.
2021 is a landmark year for Japan – as the country gears-up to host the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games – and it is anticipated that Japan will be one of the top travel destinations after international travel resumes.