Yukata
Photo: Cosmin Georgian/Unsplash

Go To Travel campaign won’t resume before June 2021

The domestic travel subsidy, which offers discounts up to 50 precent, has been temporarily suspended since December 2020

Emma Steen
Written by
Emma Steen
Advertising

Even though Japan is no longer in a state of emergency, the government remains on high alert lest another Covid-19 wave should arise. Bars and restaurants are still required to operate on shortened business hours until 9pm and border restrictions remain tightly in place. In addition, residents have been urged to continue avoiding large gatherings, especially over the cherry blossom season. 

Because the coronavirus situation remains volatile, government officials have also decided that it is too soon to resume the nationwide Go To Travel campaign, which has been suspended since December last year. Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency Atsumi Gamo declared on March 25 that it wouldn’t be possible to restart the campaign before the Golden Week holidays in May (the longest stretch of national holidays in Japan). Government officials later followed up to confirm that campaign wouldn't begin again until after June 2021. 

While the Budget Committee officials are working on boosting the number of PCR tests to promote safer domestic travel, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Kazuyoshi Akaba said that infection rate must subside further in order for Japan to consider boosting domestic tourism again.

This article was originally published on March 25 and updated on March 26.

More from Time Out 

Take our Time Out Index survey and tell us what life is like in Tokyo

Foreign residents are now eligible for discounted JR Kyushu passes

JR East passes will be available to foreign residents starting April 2021

The new ‘floating’ toilet near Tokyo's Olympic stadium is stunning

Can you – and should you – go see the cherry blossoms in Tokyo this year?

Want to be the first to know what’s cool in Tokyo? Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates from Tokyo and Japan.

You may also like
You may also like
Advertising