Japan Wins Tourism Awards

12th October 2011

The Japanese maple trees, with their small delicate leaves, are making their autumnal pilgrimage. They pass through the hues of the sunset in a final firework show before casting themselves into the wind. They surround the quiet, incense-heavy temples and decorate them in deep yellows, dusky oranges and finally a vivid, rusty red. Before the last one falls, it is likely that they will be smothered with the first heavy snowfalls of winter. The seasons of Japan are played out in stark, bright tones and the changing colours, ‘Koyo’, have once again returned to the main conversation of the Japanese people.

Yes, normality has returned to the vast majority of Japan  in all but one sense – the lack of tourists. As Japan  scoops up more prestigious tourism awards and with a warmer than ever welcome, surely there is no better time to visit this ever-exotic destination.

Yesterday marked seven months since the earthquake and tsunami in March devastated parts of north-eastern Japan. The clean-up progress on this less-visited coast is progressing well. Radiation worries have abated as the Fukushima reactors are now below 100C and complete cold-shutdown is forecast to happen before the end of this year. The Japanese population have once-again demonstrated their incredible resolve in the face of terrible tragedy and are now keen to return to normal life.

Tokyo, Kyoto and all tourist sites that we visit were unaffected and recently past travellers have been expressing their love of the country by giving it numerous accolades. In last week’s Guardian Traveller’s awards, it won Favourite Long Haul Country, whilst Tokyo picked up (for the second year running) Favourite Overseas City. Conde Nast travellers have also been pouring on the praise and awarded Kyoto “Best Asian City”.

Japan remains one of the world’s “must-see” destinations in any season. If it has been in your wish-list for a while, with fewer visitors at the sites presently, we suggest that you book to go soon!

By Exodus Senior Product Manager, Dan Cockburn.