Popular second-tier Japanese tourist cities    Kumamoto sees 227% growth rate thanks to Kumamon

Reported by You T-Ru / Taipei

Taiwanese travelers love visiting Japan. Having grown tired of popular cities like Tokyo and Osaka, second-tier cities have gradually come into the spotlight. According to a survey by an international hotel booking website, Kumamoto in Japan has seen the highest growth rate in search popularity as a travel destination, thanks to Kumamon the bear. Takayama and Kanazawa rank second and third, respectively, followed closely by Nagoya, Karuizawa, Naha, and Fukuoka.


▲ Office of the Kumamoto Mayor. (Photo / Reported by You T-Ru)

Among the popular hotel and travel destinations searched by Taiwanese travelers, Kumamoto, which has gained immense popularity in recent years thanks to its mascot “Kumamon,” has a large fan base in Taiwan. The Mayor’s Office located in Kumamon Square attracts large crowds of visitors coming to pay homage, achieving the highest growth rate in search popularity. Takayama, located in Gifu Prefecture and serving as the ancient capital of the Hida region, is a quaint city known as the “Little Kyoto of the Hida Mountains,” ranking second. Kanazawa takes the third spot.

Nagoya in central Japan preserves many relics from the Edo period and skillfully blends the spirit of Japan’s Warring States era. Other destinations on the list include Karuizawa, a favorite leisure spot for refined scholars and literati, Naha with its rich southern island charm, and Fukuoka, the most culturally profound city in Kyushu. This shows that Taiwanese travelers, besides the major cities of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto in Japan, are also beginning to seek out diverse and distinctive landscapes.


▲ Travel destinations with the highest growth rate in searches. (Photo / Provided by hotels.com)