Shopping in Japan? Hurry up！ Travel industry forecasts: Hotel room prices in Japan will rise in April

Reported and photographed by Yu T-Ru / Taipei

The ITF Taipei International Travel Fair kicked off today (7th). The Japan section of this international travel fair saw strong sales on the first day, with industry insiders estimating a 20% increase in sales compared to previous years. Travel agencies predict that due to the depreciation of the Japanese yen, travelers planning to visit Japan should take advantage of the discounted airfares and tour packages at the travel fair and head to Japan before next April to enjoy the last round of deals before the price hikes.


▲ Liang Jianlong (second from left), manager of the Japan line at Kuo Kuang Travel Service; Tang Guizhen (third from left), CEO of Tang Guizhen International Travel Service; Hong Xuanbiao (second from right), international marketing director of Hoshino Aomoriya.'

Impacted by the depreciation of the Japanese yen, the Japan section of the travel fair achieved strong sales on its first day. Liang Jianlong, manager of the Japan line at Kuo Kuang Travel Service, estimated that first-day sales were 20% higher than last year’s, “Japanese winter itineraries received the most inquiries from travelers.” Focusing on winter activities such as skiing and ice-breaking, Hokkaido was the most inquired-about destination in the Japan section of the fair. Osaka also saw a buying surge thanks to Universal Studios Japan launching its Harry Potter theme park, in addition to Tokyo Disneyland, which has always been popular. The top-selling Japan itineraries are Hokkaido, Osaka, and Tokyo.

Regarding the impact of the yen’s depreciation, Tang Guizhen, CEO of Tang Guizhen International Travel Service, said that due to domestic and international supply and demand dynamics, many Japanese people are choosing domestic travel options because of the weaker yen. He estimates that hotels, restaurants, and retail prices across Japan will rise in April (2015). Independent travelers will clearly notice these increases. He suggests that travelers who enjoy shopping in Japan should take advantage of the winter and winter holiday/Spring Festival periods to visit, “When it comes to purchasing cosmetics and toiletries, the weaker yen is like an immediate 20% discount.”

As for future increases in Japan tour package prices, Tang Guizhen pointed out that tour package price hikes will remain relatively conservative, without any significant differences. Tang Guizhen International Travel Service has also launched Japan itineraries combining Tokyo with Hoshino Aomoriya and Oirase Gorge in the Tohoku and Tokyo regions, tailored to the travel habits of Taiwanese visitors. Interested travelers may want to check them out.