Japan will offer 10,000 foreigners free airfares to visit the country next year, in an attempt to boost the tourism industry which has been hit by the ongoing nuclear disaster, a report said Monday. The Japan Tourism Agency plans to ask would-be travellers to submit online applications for the free flights, detailing which areas of the country they would like to visit, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said. The agency will select the successful entrants and ask them to write a report about their trip which will be published on the Internet. Tourism authorities hope that positive reports from travellers about their experiences in Japan will help ease international worries about visiting the country, the newspaper said. The programme, which will require travellers to cover other costs such as accommodation, is expected to start from next April, subject to government budgetary approval. The number of foreign tourists to Japan fell more than 50 percent year-on-year during the three months after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that triggered meltdowns and explosions at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The sharp drop began to ease somewhat in the summer. In June and July, tourist figures were down 36 percent from a year ago, easing to 32 percent in August as the country worked to reassure foreign tourism markets. The government has said Japan is safe except for the immediate vicinity of the crippled plant, where work crews are still trying to bring the facility to a cold shutdown. Source:- http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/73675/japan-offers-10000-free-trips-to-foreigners—report
Yeah, I have always wanted to go there also. Not going there before has left a "hole", so to speak. I was working in Asia for years and heard how expensive it was by friends who had Japanese wives. Some people told me that if you travel in the countryside, it would be cheaper. I had a phase of reading Yukio Mishima and watching many films by Akira Kurosawa and had an on-going fascination. The more Japanese people I met (particularly on dive boats) left me feeling more perplexed as they didn't seem to be like any peoples I had experienced before. I am still fascinated, but the onset of a very busy family here has probably scuppered my chances, especially as our children will need to see their Filipino family every two years or less.
Like any other big city anywhere in the world, city-life can be expensive. We lived and worked in Yokohama for many years and I can truthfully say that my cost of living was considerable lower than here in UK in our 'one horse English town'. On top of that, the like for like salaries, in Japan are very much higher with taxes much lower.
I think the Japanese Government has said no to this Japan is on my wish list of places to see and would love to of put my name in the hat for a free ticket
Great place visited a couple off years back and stayed in Tokyo. Loved every day off it. Great people, loads to see.
Heya,one of the main reasons I'm coming back to Japan is to visit Tokyo, didn't make it last time. Any places you suggest that I shouldnt miss?
The best thing I can think off is to get the JR Yamanote train it just travels around in a loop around the city. Just get off at every stop and see what there is to see. I stayed in Shinjuku its about a 15 min walk to the station. My hotel was opposite the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings its FREE to travel the elevator to the top and if Mt Fuji is obliging you can see it from here. (usually shrouded in cloud) Takashima is one of the best dept stores, and Tokyo has its own tech centre, cameras, phones etc etc Theres the famous dog statue at one off the stations (name escapes me) and the famous pedestrian crossing. So much to see.... so much to do.
