New Travel Proposal to Japan: Top 10 Hottest Japanese Destinations in 2016

▲The famous giant pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama on Naoshima Island. (Photo / Annie)

Reporter Tsai Wen-jun / Comprehensive report

Japan has always been a top choice for Taiwanese travelers. Where do you plan to go in Japan in the new year? According to statistics from the Rakuten Travel booking website, the hottest travel destinations in Japan in 2016 were not Tokyo, Kyoto, or Hokkaido, but rather Takamatsu, Sanuki, and eastern Kagawa in Kagawa Prefecture, Okayama City in Okayama Prefecture, and Fukuoka City (Tenjin) in Fukuoka Prefecture, which gained popularity due to the "Setouchi Triennale."

The triennial Setouchi Triennale was held last year in Kagawa Prefecture and Naoshima, among other places, resulting in a staggering 241.6% growth in the number of visitors compared to the same period in previous years. Additionally, the number of travelers visiting for the "Shikoku Pilgrimage" has been steadily increasing, making this region the most popular travel destination of 2016.

▲Okayama Jeans Street. (Photo / Reporter You...)

Tigerair Taiwan launched a new route to Okayama in 2016, and with strong promotional efforts, successfully boosted tourism. This led to nearly a fourfold increase in both the number of Taiwanese travelers visiting Okayama and their length of stay. Coupled with its geographical proximity to the Kansai region, Okayama ranked second on the list of popular Japanese travel destinations with a growth rate of 200%.

Data released by Rakuten Travel also shows that areas surrounding major popular tourist spots such as Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka—but not part of the typical golden routes—made up half of the rankings. This indicates a growing trend among tourists seeking unique and personalized travel experiences. For those looking to explore a different side of Japan, this ranking can serve as a great reference for travel planning in the new year.

Top 10 hottest and fastest-growing travel destinations in Japan for foreign visitors in 2016

No. 1 Kagawa Prefecture: Takamatsu, Sanuki, and eastern Kagawa
No. 2 Okayama Prefecture: Okayama City
No. 3 Fukuoka Prefecture: Fukuoka City (Tenjin)
No. 4 Tokyo: Tokyo Station, Ginza, Nihonbashi, Akihabara
No. 5 Fukuoka Prefecture: Fukuoka City (Hakata, Ohori Park, Marine Messe), Dazaifu, Nichinan
No. 6 Tokyo: Shinagawa, Kamata, Haneda Airport
No. 7 Hokkaido: Otaru, Yoichi, Shakotan, Kiroro
No. 8 Kanagawa Prefecture: Hakone
No. 9 Wakayama Prefecture: Nanki-Shirahama, Ryujin
No. 10 Osaka Prefecture: Southern Osaka (X:, Kishiwada, Kansai Airport)