Taiwan is Japanese travelers' top overseas destination this summer; Taipei is no longer their only choice

By reporter Tsai Wen-jun / Staff writer

Taipei is no longer the sole destination for Japanese tourists visiting Taiwan — "island-hopping tours" are the new trend. Ahead of the summer holiday season, the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) conducted another survey at the end of June on the most popular domestic and international travel destinations during the break. Following theGolden Week holiday survey, Taiwan has once again topped the list as the No. 1 "overseas travel destination"!

▲ A spiritual symbol of the Japanese people — Mount Fuji. (Photo / From the official Mount Fuji summit fan page)

With its convenient transportation and a wide array of authentic and classic desserts and cuisines, Taipei has long been the top choice for most Japanese tourists visiting Taiwan. However, this time they are eager to explore more diverse facets of the island. As a result, “island-hopping tours in Taiwan,” which combine gourmet experiences with sightseeing, have become the preferred choice for many Japanese this summer. Additionally, the sweltering summer heat has become unbearable for many, and Switzerland—with its currently cool weather—is an ideal summer escape, hence also securing a spot on the list.

The ranking of the most popular "overseas travel destinations" for Japanese travelers this summer is as follows:

1) Taiwan
2) Hawaii
3) Singapore
4) Guam
5) Italy
6) Vietnam
7) France
8) Mainland United States
9) Hong Kong
10) Switzerland

Besides traveling abroad, domestic travel options in Japan have also diversified. With the upcoming opening of the Harry Potter theme park at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka on the 15th, a variety of new sleeper train tours are being introduced across the country. The rankings of the most popular domestic travel destinations in Japan have also been reshuffled, with "Hokkaido," where car rental tourism is booming, taking the top spot. It is followed by Okinawa, Osaka, Tokyo, and Kyushu.