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Dear ,
Welcome to the April and May edition of the Japan Travel Trade Newsletter for 2026.
April marks the start of the new Japanese financial and school year. JNTO has been busy finalising our plans for the next year and are pleased to say that we have a lot of exciting projects planned for Australia and New Zealand trade this coming year!
Starting with our attendance at several ski travel consumer events coming up in May: Travel & Co. Snow Holiday Expos in Auckland and Christchurch, followed by the Melbourne and Sydney Snow Travel Expos.
We will also be changing our distribution of the B2B newsletter to a bi-monthly basis. Our next newsletter will be scheduled for 12 June. Separate to our newsletter, we will send important EDMs about our upcoming webinars and JNTO Roadshows throughout the year. Make sure that you and your colleagues are on our mailing list here.
Read on for new JNTO pamphlets, a tattoo-friendly hot spring destination, spring highlights, and more!
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Harriett Bougher
Business Development & Senior Assistant Marketing Manager
JNTO Sydney Office
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Tourist Information Call Centre for International Visitors to Japan
JNTO provides multilingual information to ensure international visitors can enjoy traveling safely and comfortably throughout Japan. FromApril 1, 2026, JNTO has launched a nationwide telephone tourist information service under the new name “JNTO TIC Call Center.”
[Overview]
■Name: JNTO TIC Call Center (*TIC stands for Tourist Information Center)
■Supported languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese
■Phone number: +81 (0)50-3416-0010
■Service hours: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM (JST) open every day
■Main services: Provides tourist information throughout Japan, travel itinerary suggestions
＊Please note, due to the change in JNTO TIC's operation from an in-person counter to a call center starting April 1, the current JNTO TIC phone number (+81 (0)3-3201-3331） will be available only until 5:00 PM (JST) on Tuesday, March 31.
JNTO also operates the "Japan Visitor Hotline", which provides support for international visitors in emergencies such as illness or natural disasters during their stay in Japan. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. It also supports general tourist information outside the regular service hours of JNTO TIC Call Center.
The phone number is +81 (0)50-3816-2787.
More information can be found here.
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Training & Trade Resources
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JNTO June Webinar-Save the date!
The first webinar for our new financial year will be Wednesday June 3rd 2026!
Make sure you are subscribed to our JNTO trade mailing list for more updates and registration.
Recordings of our popular Japan 101 webinar series can be found here. |
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New JNTO e-brochures!
New digital brochures are here!
Sustainable travel experiences in Japan
A brand-new guide on sustainable travel experiences including nature and outdoors, heritage and tradition, wellness, and other experiences and activities.
Information on Japanese Ports
A comprehensive 148-page brochure on each of Japan's 86 cruise ports, including access information and key sightseeing spots near the ports.
You can find these digital brochures and more from our library here. |
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Travel Inspiration & Updates
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JR East pass updates
JR East will introduce new and expanded rail passes from 14 March 2026, including one that replaces the separate Tohoku and Nagano/Niigata passes. Other passes, such as the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass and Hokuriku Arch Pass, will also have expanded service areas. See the press release for more information.
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More spring blooms to love
Inspire your clients to explore captivating seasonal blooms beyond sakura.
Places to see wisteria
Grand Wisteria image © Fukuoka Prefecture Tourism Association
Places to see azaleas
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Festivals to catch this April and May
If your clients are seeking traditional celebrations during their travels, here are some festivals to consider this spring.
• Witness Dontaku, one of Japan’s largest festivals, unfold in Fukuoka Prefecture (3-4 May)
• The Hamamatsu Festival in Shizuoka Prefecture offers spectacular kite battles and illuminated float parades (3-5 May)
• The Sendai Aoba Festival fills streets with vibrant dances and parades in Miyagi Prefecture (16-17 May)
Sendai Aoba Festival Photo provided by: Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Strategy Division
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Partner Updates and Offers
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Ninja WiFi pocket Wi-Fi keeps travellers connected across Japan with reliable high-speed internet. Your clients can conveniently pick up and return the device at major airports, share it with multiple devices and choose from flexible plans that fit their trip.
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Responsible Travel Guide
Help your clients deepen their understanding of local tradition, customs and travel etiquette in Japan. Our responsible travel guide contains useful tips on respectful photography, proper rubbish disposal, hands-free travel, as well as thoughtful actions and simple gestures of respect that create positive and memorable encounters.
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Travel Trade Resources
Find e-learning programmes and webinars by JNTO & our partners, a Japan photo and video library portal, digital maps and posters, inbound travel suppliers and more!
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Advise your clients to complete their immigration and customs forms on ‘Visit Japan Web’ prior to departure to streamline their entry into Japan. |
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Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Call for tourist information, if you need assistance in case of emergencies (accidents or sickness) or for support during natural disasters.
Ph: +81 (0)50-3816-2787
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Copyright © 2026 Japan National Tourism Organization | All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Japan National Tourism Organization
Suite 1, Level 4, 56 Clarence Street
Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
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