The last couple of years have seen a travel boom like never before, and 2024 has been no different so far. As we head into the second half of the year the travel trends are evolving, and travellers today have a wide range of unique opportunities and meaningful experiences to choose from when planning their next trip.
Here are just a few of the trends that are shaping the global travel industry for the second half of 2024 and beyond. Will any of these trends influence your plans for your next trip to Japan? To find out, read on!
Off-the-grid holidays to get away from it all – Photo by Uriel Mont on Pexels
Off-the-Grid Adventurers
Even though technology has taken over almost all aspects of our daily lives, more and more people are looking at travelling as a break from their fast-paced, gadget-dependant, modern life. People are seeking out secluded destinations, where they can take a relaxed, slow-paced holiday, and spend more time connecting with themselves, rather than highlighting their day-to-day activities on social media. The things to do on an adventure like this are only limited by your imagination! If the idea of not being constantly ‘available’ online or you’d rather opt for an AirB&B or a secluded cabin in the countryside, rather than a swanky hotel in the city centre, you should definitely give this kind of experience a try this year!
Exploring a region in a camper van can be an exciting way to go off-grid and not be dependent on hotel reservations. Japan has some amazing travel routes where you can hire a campervan and set off on a 3-4 day road trip to discover the country. If this sounds like something that excites you, do check out our recommendations for camper van holidays in Japan.
Immerse yourself in a ‘tea-cation’ – Photo by Teddy Yang on Pexels
Immersive Explorers
Immersive travel focuses more on authentic cultural experiences, rather than visiting only famous tourist sights, and is gaining a lot of popularity. It’s all about learning various aspects of the local culture and becoming a participant rather than a spectator. It gives you a chance to participate in local cultural activities, experience traditional festivals, learn about the regional food culture, or even attend art classes and workshops to appreciate unique art forms. You can have experiences that you would never get to do normally in everyday life.
Imagine you are visiting Japan, and instead of focusing on the Golden Route, you do something different. Maybe have a holiday focussed around tea, where you not only learn how tea is cultivated but even participate in its creation by helping local farmers take care of their tea fields, using traditional techniques. After all your help, you can relax and enjoy a cup of the lovely green tea produced from the farm, before heading out for the evening to explore the local nightlife. If tea is not your thing, maybe you could try visiting sake breweries, or even learn about soba noodle making. Such experience-based travel can help you understand a region and its culture so much better than just reading numbers and statistics in a travel book.
Head to a Yoga Retreat – Photo by Prasanth Inturi on Pexels
Wellness Enthusiasts
One of the key factors that is shaping the travel choices of people across the world is wellness. Health-focused travel itineraries are some of the fastest-rising trends across all age groups. Consider going on a yoga retreat or a wellness cruise, take a hike in some scenic mountains, and find yourself in the middle of nature. Or, maybe seek inner peace by visiting the many lovely temples and Zen gardens found across the country. Another thing Japan is famous for is its many natural hot springs or onsens. Spending some time immersed in these hot thermal springs can heal injuries and improve your overall health, by rejuvenating the mind, body and soul. After all, that’s what great holidays are supposed to do, isn’t it?
If you want to learn a little more about what it means to visit a Japanese Onsen, check out our incredible guide here!
Food Tourism
People have always enjoyed experimenting with new food when they travel to faraway places, but a growing trend for food tourism has emerged over the past couple of years. It’s one kind of immersive travelling where you visit a new destination, not only to catch the local sights but also to dive head first into the local food. Food enthusiasts love to engage in activities such as cooking with the locals, personalized wine-tasting events, curated coffee brewing sessions, and even street food tours with local experts. If you are somebody who loves great food, this is one tasty trend you won’t want to miss out on! So when you’re on your next culinary adventure in Japan, do join us on one of our several food tours, like the Classic Tsukiji Breakfast Tour, led by local experts right at the beginning of your travels. Not only will this ensure that you don’t start your holiday with any unpleasant food experiences, but you will also get a lot of essential tips from our guides, which will help you for the rest of your trip around the country.
Influencer Followers
Influencers, as the name suggests, have started influencing various aspects of our lives, and travel is no different. Today, the choice of places to visit, restaurants to dine in and even holiday activities to participate in are heavily inspired by travel influencers on social media. And that’s not surprising, given that most people want their holiday pics to be something they can flaunt on social media. We have all seen the videos of that swing at the end of the world, or that glass bridge miles above a canyon, and put it on our bucket list, haven’t we? There is nothing wrong with following in the footsteps of your favourite social media celebrity.
Stress-free Travel is the Best – Photo by Kripesh Adwani on Pexels
Improvisors
Rather than plan every aspect of your holiday down to every detail, throw caution to the wind and set off without the worry of restrictions. This is how many travellers are choosing a more stress-free approach to holiday making. To help this, specialised agencies offer travellers an opportunity to get lost in an environment of their choice, based on just a few preferences. The agencies create a customised itinerary, day to day activity plan, and give you all sorts of online support, to help you have a perfect holiday, wherever you land. It is perfectly suited for digital nomads, and those who appreciate spontaneity, and are ever ready to head off for an adventure at the drop of a hat!
With personalisation and immersive travel experiences reshaping the way we explore the world around us, you can rest assured that whatever your preferred style of travel, you will find the right option for you. So, pack your bags, book your tickets, and set off on an adventure. And if your adventure leads you to Japan, allow us to help make your trip memorable. We have over 40 tours across 5 different regions in Japan, catering to different types of travellers. Check out all our tours here, for more details.
Need help with your next trip to Japan? Book a Personal Travel Consulting Call with one of our experts.
Feature photo credit: Evgeny Tchebotarev on Pexels
