Japan’s New Year Holiday Expenditure Jumps 4.9%, Setting A New Record – Travel And Tour World

Domestic travel spending per person in Japan during the upcoming New Year holiday is forecasted to increase by 4.9% compared to last year, reaching a new high of 43,000 yen ($290). This surge in spending is attributed to higher accommodation costs, according to a report released by a travel agency on Thursday.

The projected rise in spending reflects an additional 2,000 yen compared to the 2023/2024 holiday period. The increase is partly driven by the extended holiday, with key travel dates falling on weekends—December 28 and 29, as well as January 4 and 5, JTB Corp. noted.

The leading Japanese travel agency forecasts that the number of domestic travelers during the New Year period will hold steady at 28 million, matching last year’s figures. However, this is about 4% lower than the pre-pandemic level seen in the 2019/2020 holiday season.

Meanwhile, the number of Japanese travelers heading abroad is expected to increase by 60,000, reaching 520,000. Despite this growth, the figure remains roughly 37% lower than it was in the 2019/2020 period.

JTB’s yearly New Year travel projection is derived from surveys and hotel booking data.