March coincides with the beginning of cherry blossom season in Japan, which makes this one of the most expensive times of year to travel. With a new government travel initiative, however, you can still holiday on a budget this spring while supporting the communities affected by the January 1 Noto Earthquake.
Set to launch on March 12, the Hokuriku Support Discount campaign will offer significant travel and accommodation discounts for certain areas in Toyama, Niigata and Fukui, with reservations available from March 8. Discounts for Ishikawa prefecture will follow, with bookings to be accepted from March 12. The campaign discounts are valid for travels between March 16 and April 26.
NHK reported that after the Noto Peninsula earthquake, there were approximately 170,000 cancellations for travel accommodations in the region's four prefectures. The Hokuriku Support Discount campaign therefore aims to encourage travellers to visit the towns that haven't seen significant damage. This will help revitalise the economy for local communities.
With these discounts, both Japan residents and foreign visitors are entitled to a maximum of 50 percent discount on accommodation and travel packages. However, there’s a cap of ¥20,000 discount for single night stays and ¥30,000 for multiple nights’ stays. For multi-destination trips covering more than two prefectures, the subsidy increases to ¥35,000. It's worth mentioning that the campaign will end once the budgetary limit is reached, so book early to take advantage of this amazing deal.
For more information about the Hokuriku Support Discount, check the website (in Japanese only). However, as each of the prefectures – Toyama, Niigata, Fukui and Ishikawa – are offering different campaigns and deals tailored to their region, you should also check the respective destination pages for the most up-to-date information.
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