Japan Airlines’ new offer aims to encourage international visitors to see more of the country than just the go-to tourist hotspots. Olivia Palamountain
Japan Airlines has unveiled an enticing offer for international travellers: free domestic flights within Japan.
This initiative aims to encourage visitors to explore beyond the well-trodden tourist paths of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, and celebrate the country’s lesser-known regions.
The deal is currently available to passengers from select countries, including the US, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, India, China and Taiwan. Japan Airlines plans to expand this list in the future. 
To qualify, travellers must book an international flight with Japan Airlines and a corresponding domestic flight in the same reservation.
A stopover fee of US$100 or ¥300 applies to visitors from the US, Canada, Mexico and China if they stay in their first Japanese destination for over 24 hours. No additional charges apply to passengers from other eligible countries.
The offer is being rolled out gradually throughout September, with different start dates for various countries.
Japan Airlines is promoting this deal as a way for visitors to create a more comprehensive Japanese experience. For instance, a traveller from Singapore could fly into Tokyo and then jet off to Sapporo in northern Japan at no extra cost.
The airline suggests several off-the-beaten-path destinations to add to a Japanese itinerary, including Hokkaido, which is known for its national parks and ski resorts and Wakayama, home to the vast temple complex of Koyasan and Japan’s tallest waterfall, Nachi Falls.
While the UK is not currently included in the offer, Japan Airlines has indicated plans to expand the list of eligible countries in the future.
This innovative promotion not only benefits travellers but also aligns with efforts to disperse tourism more evenly across Japan, potentially easing the strain on popular destinations while boosting local economies in less-visited areas.
For more on “overtourism” and to discover where in the world actually needs and wants more tourists, check out Intrepid Travel’s “Not Hot List 2025“, produced in association with Globetrender and available to download here.