Restrictions due to Covid-19 have been eased, and domestic travel in Japan seems to have recovered to
pre-Covid levels this December. Bustling tourists from both Japan and abroad are visiting sightseeing
spots that were once empty, bringing them back to life.
As a college student, I conducted a survey on popular travel destinations in Japan among Japanese
university students. Below are 5 prefectures that were particularly popular with them.
1. Hokkaido
Hokkaido, which has been voted by far among college students, is located in the northernmost part of
Japan and is a popular destination all year round that can be reached within 2 hours by plane from
Tokyo. You can experience the vast land and rich nature, and anyone can enjoy a wide range of
activities, from popular winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding to searching for delicious food.
In my research, I found one reason Hokkaido is so popular is because of its delicious food. Many people
said that they want to eat melon (Yubari melon,) miso ramen, and Jingisukan (grilled mutton/lamb,) but
Kaisen don (seafood rice bowls) was the most popular.
Also, spots with beautiful scenery such as Mt. Hakodate Observatory and Otaru Canal are very popular.
2. Okinawa
In contrast to Hokkaido, Okinawa, located in the southernmost part of Japan, is a popular resort area that can be reached in about 3 hours by plane from Tokyo. The year-round mild climate and beautiful emerald green sea attract huge numbers of tourists every year. Marine sports such as snorkeling and scuba diving are popular, and you can see beautiful coral reefs and tropical fish. Also, Ishigaki Island and Miyako Island around the main island of Okinawa have become people’s favorite destinations in recent years.
In the survey, in addition to such activities, I found that college students want to enjoy traditional Okinawa cuisine and try on traditional costumes.
3. Kagoshima
Kagoshima, located in the Kyushu region near Okinawa, is a prefecture that attracts attention both domestically and internationally and can be reached in 2 hours by plane or 7 hours by Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo. Kagoshima is famous for its active volcano Sakurajima, and the surrounding hot spring areas such as Kirishima and Ibusuki Onsen are popular with tourists.
This survey showed that some students especially want to visit Amami Oshima, a World Heritage Island, and Yakushima, which is said to be the setting for the Studio Ghibli movie “Princess Mononoke.”
4. Kyoto
A popular plan for college students was to wear a kimono and visit famous places like Kiyomizu Temple and Fushimi Inari Taisha. Also, many people look forward to eating matcha sweets and Wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) when they visit Kyoto.
A popular plan for college students was to wear a kimono and visit famous places like Kiyomizu Temple and Fushimi Inari Taisha. Also, many people look forward to eating matcha sweets and Wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) when they visit Kyoto.
5. Fukuoka
Fukuoka, which is located in the north part of the Kyushu region like Kagoshima, is an attractive prefecture where history and modernity fuse. It takes about 2 hours by plane and 5 hours by Shinkansen from Tokyo.
In this survey, Dazaifu Tenmangu (Shinto shrine,) where Sugawara no Michizane, famous as the “god of learning,” is enshrined, was a popular place for college students. Also, I found that the Nakasu Yatai (food stalls) Street, where people can enjoy Fukuoka’s famous Hakata ramen (tonkotsu ramen) and Motsunabe, attracts a lot of tourists.
This time, I introduced 5 popular travel destinations that attract Japanese university students. You can see that even within Japan, each prefecture has its own unique characteristics.
Were there any prefectures that caught your interest?
