The Japan Travel Awards, an annual Japan-based competition that highlights outstanding travel destinations around the country, recently announced this year’s winners. Selected from over 160 applications and 18 finalists, the winners this year are champions of diversity, inclusion, sustainability, and creativity in travel.
Read about the winners below, or visit the official awards page to learn more about each award.
Zerogravity (Kagoshima) — A marine activity provider and accommodation focusing on universal marine sports and wheelchair diving.
Zerogravity sets groundbreaking standards creating an accessible marine sports facility that everyone, regardless of physical abilities, can enjoy. The Grand Prize recognizes their achievement of establishing a one-of-a-kind destination in Japan that is not only open to all, but also sets groundbreaking accessibility standards.
Naniwa Issui (Shimane): A long-standing traditional inn with multiple universal rooms and unique accessible travel policies and stay plans.
Naniwa Issui, founded in 1918, first introduced an accessible room in 2006 and did not expect to receive the positive feedback it did from both guests and staff. From then on, they continued improving room after room, service after service, essentially changing their corporate policy to make their services more accessible for all.
Hotel Palm Royal NAHA Kokusai Street (Okinawa) — A family-run hotel that openly celebrates diversity.
This hotel is dedicated to establishing a safer, welcoming, and engaging place for everyone in the LGBTQ+ community.
Okinawa Diving Service Lagoon (Okinawa) — An educational diving experience contributing to environmental protection through coral conservation activities.
From making coral seedlings to planting the coral while snorkeling and diving, tourists can explore the Okinawan seas while simultaneously contributing to environmental protection.
Temple Stay Kakurinbo (Yamanashi) — A Buddhist temple stay facility that offers unique, foreigner-friendly stays and cultural programs.
This long-standing shukubo (temple inn) has succesfully transformed a truly authentic Japanese experience into a foreign-friendly destination, without sacrificing the needs of the local communities.
Ama Hut Satoumian (Mie) — A restaurant where visitors can dine with traditional “ama” divers, female freedivers who are an integral part of Japan’s seaside communities.
Ama Hut Satoumian is a restaurant and a cultural experience where tourists can dine with “ama” divers, traditional freedivers who played a crucial part in the development of Japanese coastal communities.
Mori no Kuni Valley (Ehime) — An eco-village with various educational stay options and outdoor experiences for children and families.
This initiative aims to create an eco-system that teaches children, our future, of the importance of co-existing, understanding and valuing nature and our surroundings.
INOW (Tokushima) — An educational program providing guests with sustainable stay experiences in Kamikatsu, Japan’s first zero-waste town.
This program equips travelers with a deep understanding of the logic and cultural aspect behind Japan’s first ‘zero-waste town’ local policies and how we can all learn from it to address the climate change emergency.
Tautasya (Kyoto) — An eco-village offering accommodations, a restaurant, and farming experiences, all centered around sustainable efforts.
Tautasya is a fully self-sustainable eco-village that offers guests multiple lodgings, a restaurant, and outdoor and farming experiences that present the essence of self-sustainable living.
Togakushi Universal Tourism Desk (Nagano) — A regional bureau that promotes accessible tourism in a popular ancient pilgrim town.
Since its establishment, the Togakushi Universal Tourism Desk has supported dozens of travelers with mobility disabilities in visiting and exploring the wonders of Togakushi.
Naniwa Issui (Shimane) — A long-standing elegant traditional inn breaking physical, social, and dietary barriers to provide remarkable hospitality and comfort to all travelers.
This ryokan has demonstrated unparalleled attention to detail and hospitality, from creating gorgeous guestrooms to accessible communal baths and diverse, accessible services.
Congratulations to all winners for the work they do to promote memorable travel to travelers from all walks of life.
🏆 Visit the winners page to learn more about each award, and information about applying for next year’s competition.
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Hi, I'm Ally, the co-founder of the Japan Travel Awards. We are overjoyed to share the news of this year's winners! They are all inspiring travel operators doing amazing work to promote accessible, sustainable, and inclusive travel in Japan, and we are so grateful to have discovered them. They are also genuinely wonderful places to travel to, so we hope you'll put some of those on your itinerary the next time you visit Japan. :)
A huge thank you also goes to Ian from Travel Massive, who was one of the Awards' honorary judges this year. Thank you, Ian, for all the hard work in helping us award these amazing places! :)
Hi Ally, congrats on announcing the awards!
I'm so glad to see a few of my personal favourites made the list, incuding Zerogravity (accesible diving) and INOW (Japan’s first zero-waste town).
Also thanks for inviting me to be a judge in this year's awards. For everyone else reading — the level of detail and research that Ally and her team go to, to make these awards happen is incredible. They conduct site visits and share detailed notes of their experiences with the judges. These awards are authentic and I'm extremely proud to have contributed to the process, and learn more about these amazing tourism initiatives in Japan. Bravo!
Thank you for your kind words, Ian. This means so much to us! 🤩
Congratulations to all of the winners!
Thank you, Josh, for being the Awards' rock since year 1!
Outdoors + accessibility, so brilliant to see Zerogravity on this list!
Great to see these amazing examples of tourism in Japan championing diversity, inclusion, sustainability, and creativity!
Here's a glimpse of the Japan Travel Awards 2024 Award Ceremony in Tokyo! Over 100 participants from across Japan, including winners, finalists, and members of the media, attended the ceremony, and it was a great success! We look forward to discovering amazing destinations in Japan that are setting high standards in inclusion, diversity, and sustainable travel in 2025 again!
Japan is generally a welcoming and accessible destination for disabled travelers, but there are some important considerations to keep in mind. Major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto are equipped with accessible public transportation, including trains and buses with ramps and designated seating. Many tourist attractions, hotels, and restaurants also offer facilities for those with mobility challenges, including elevators, ramps, and accessible restrooms.You can follow this guide for more : www.japanfortwo.travel/exploring-japan-on-wheels-a-disabled-travelers-experience/
Hi Oliver, could you disclose who you work for? Please complete your profile as well.