If you are dreaming up a trip to Japan, you are not alone, the country has increased air capacity, one of the best exchange rates  in years, and a swathe of new hotels and attractions ready for your Japan hit list!

Here’s our guide to the latest and greatest offerings in Japan:

New airline routes take flight

Virgin Australia will launch Cairns to Tokyo Haneda from 28 June 2023, adding over 2,000 seats per week to Japan. Qantas is also boosting its Queensland connections, recently launching direct Brisbane to Haneda (Tokyo) service, the flight is the first direct connection between Brisbane and Tokyo.

For West Australians, All Nippon Airways (ANA) will restart its direct service between Perth and Narita (Tokyo) from 29 October 2023. ANA will also increase flight capacity between Sydney and Haneda from March 26, increasing flights to twice daily, giving the carrier 14 weekly flights from Sydney.

New hotels and experience

The Ritz-Carlton Fukuoka is set to open in early 2023, the seventh in Japan. Located in the buzzing Tenjin district of Kyushu island’s Fukuoka, the property will offer sweeping views of the city as well as six restaurants and bars – all topped off with an indoor pool, gym, and signature Ritz-Carlton Spa.

Following the successful launch of The Tokyo EDITION Toranomon, Tokyo EDITION Ginza is slated to open in mid-2023. Situated just off Chuo Street, one of Ginza’s most upscale entertainment and shopping destinations, the property will have three food and beverage destinations and a rooftop bar. 

Luxury digs meet motorsports with the Fuji Speedway Hotel opening at Shizuoka Prefecture’s historic Fuji Speedway. The luxury of a boutique hotel, the excitement of an in-house motorsport museum overlooking the iconic racetrack, and the tranquil scenes of nearby Mount Fuji all come together for a truly unique stay.

Hotel Indigo is set to open its doors in one of Tokyo’s most eclectic neighbourhoods in late 2023. Sitting atop the Dogenzaka complex, the property sits perfectly between the buzz of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing and the calm, residential Shoto area – an ideal location to enjoy every aspect of Shibuya. The hotel’s 272 guest rooms will have upper floors showcasing panoramic views extending to Mt Fuji, as well as a neighbourhood café and bar with an outdoor terrace.

The new voco Osaka Central will launch in May 2023 in central Osaka’s Kyomachibori neighbourhood, surrounded by boutique shops and the lush greenery of Utsubo Park. An inspired design, the property includes reclaimed elements from the historical Kyomachi Building and nods to the surrounds through the hotel’s grill and bar.

Food, tours and exhibitions to get your culture fix

Built as part of the reconstruction effort of the Great East Japan Earthquake, Aquaignis Sendai is a restaurant, agriculture and hot spring complex that has opened in the coastal city of Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture. The complex’s restaurants utilise a wide variety of local Tohoku and Miyagi ingredients prepared by some of Japan’s leading chefs. And if you’re not dining in, the bustling food market provides visitors with plenty of local morsels to explore and sample.

Photography and music festival takes over Kyoto – Kyoto’s international photography festival, KYOTOGRAPHIE, returns from April 15 to May 14 2023, bringing over 14 exhibitions to the city. Recognised as one of the world’s leading photographic events, works of international artists are staged in both traditional and contemporary settings across the city.

In addition to its photography exhibitions, this year’s festival will bring the first-ever edition of KYOTOPHONIE – a music festival organised in conjunction with KYOTOGRAPIE. The event will host performances scheduled at the famous Komyoji Temple and the Kongo Noh Theatre. The theme for this year’s event is ‘border’, touching on the country’s recent reopening.

Don’t forget to buy a rail pass

With Japan now open to explore again, the country’s revered Japan Rail Pass is back on the radar of savvy travellers. Pre-buying a Japan Rail Pass will save you time and money, offering unlimited rides on your Japan trip with passes available for consecutive 7, 14 or 21-day periods.

You can buy a Japan Rail Pass in Australia through authorised travel agents and online travel agents. The Japan Rail Pass must be booked and purchased before you leave Australia, so be sure to plan before you intend to travel to Japan.