Japanese airlines offer discounted fares to international tourists
When you're planning a trip to Japan, you might find yourself umming and ahhing over whether or not to purchase the Japan Rail Pass, which used to be a great deal for exploring the country by train… before they raised the prices. But did you know that travelling around the country by plane might be a better option? Not a lot of people are aware of it, but the top two Japanese airlines, JAL and ANA, have special deals exclusively for foreign visitors that are designed to save you time and money, and give you better access to off-the-beaten path destinations in Japan.
Both deals require your permanent residence to be outside of Japan and you must possess an international airline ticket to and from Japan. Only flights during your stay qualify for the special offer and you'll need to show your passport at check-in. If you meet those requirements, then read on to find out how you can start exploring Japan on a discount, starting with the offer from ANA, which is called the ANA Discover Japan Fare.
The ANA deal is only available until 28 March 2026, with new bookings closing on 18 May, and you can purchase it up to 355 days before boarding. It must be booked and purchased at least three days before departure, via the ANA website or through ANA offices or travel agents outside Japan, with no refunds or changes after purchase.
The JAL deal, called the JAL Japan Explorer Pass, has no end-date as of yet, and it too, must be purchased at least three days before departure, with no refunds or changes after purchase. Unlike the ANA deal, however, the JAL Explorer Pass can only be purchased from JAL websites outside of Japan, using English or local-language sites only.
In addition to having less purchase options than ANA, the JAL offer has two other main drawbacks, although they may not be major dealbreakers for international visitors. Firstly, the JAL Japan Explorer Pass is exclusively for foreign passport holders, while the ANA offer can also be purchased by Japanese passport holders with international airline tickets and permanent residency outside Japan. Secondly, ANA serves more domestic airports than JAL, and because codeshare flights operated by partner airlines aren't included in the deal, you'll have your choice of roughly 50 airports nationwide with ANA, compared to roughly 30 with JAL.
As for prices, however, both offer substantial discounts, with the same three fare tiers — 5,500 yen (US$37.44), 7,700 yen, or 11,000 yen per segment, depending on distance. While fares are displayed at the time of booking, an example of a return trip from Tokyo to Osaka shows how much you can save, as it'll cost you 7,700 yen each way, totaling 15,400 yen for a round trip compared to 29,000 yen for regular-priced airfares during standard seasons and over 42,000 yen during peak seasons. Even comparing it to the bullet train shows there are savings to be had, as the JAL and ANA deals will cost you roughly half the price of a return trip from Tokyo to Osaka on the Hikari Shinkansen, which generally costs 28,800 yen.
Flying even further afield, say to Hokkaido or Okinawa, will give you even more savings, both in money and time. Travelling from Tokyo to the tonkotsu ramen paradise of Hakata in Fukuoka, for example, will only take you an hour and 40 minutes by plane, compared to roughly five-and-a-half hours on the Shinkansen.
If you're worried about luggage, don't be — the deals allow for two pieces of free check-in baggage, up to 23 kilograms (50 pounds) per item, which is more generous than the standard domestic baggage allowance on regular domestic fares, which is typically one piece up to 20 kilograms. You can also accrue mileage points on these deals, making them even more tempting for frequent travellers.
So whether you're thinking about exploring the abandoned railway that runs through a bamboo forest in Tottori Prefecture or the mysterious octagonal tunnel hidden in the mountains of Kyushu, these deals are well worth looking into. They'll help to expand your options when travelling and allow you to pack even more into your Japan itinerary, so you can discover more than you ever thought possible.
Sources: ANA Discover Japan Fare, JAL Explorer Pass
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert images: Pakutaso (1, 2)
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Plushies are the VIP guests at this cafe, complete with tiny menus and mini desserts. Scrolling through your social media feed, you might stumble across an image of a beautiful vista that has a stuffed animal thrust into the frame. Searching further you might discover that the person who took that photo is sure to include their stuffed animal in every single shot from their vacation. This is just one example of the hobby nuikatsu, taken from nuigurumi (stuffed toy) and katsu (activity). The hobby isn't limited to travel photos at famous sightseeing spots, though. It's also about snapshots of partner plushies living their everyday lives to the fullest. A common activity is to go out for a simple meal together, showing off their plushie pals alongside delicious food and drink. 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Dressing up in her favorite outfit, Luu-chan set out to explore this amazing cafe for plushies and their guardians. Arriving at the time of her reservation, she immediately noticed that the entrance had a photo spot opportunity, and couldn't resist striking a pose. Walking through the door, she was greeted by the fox manager and pastry chef, Lou-san. ▼ Luu-chan 'I've been looking forward to my first cafe visit!' Upon giving her name, she was directed to her seat, which had her own name written there. ▼ Luu-chan 'My name is here. Such amazing hospitality!' The cafe even provided a plushie-sized menu, while including an enlarged version for their guardians to peruse at the same time. It's such a warm and considerate establishment, where the guardians can feel like their plushies are truly valued. After all, they are important friends and family members. Looking through the menu, Luu-chan opted for the two sweets and one drink set for 2,300 yen (US$15.67), plus an extra 200 yen to upgrade to an ice cream float. Thinking about her beloved partner, Luu-chan selected Mariko's personal favorites of pudding, banana cake, and a melon soda float. When the plate arrived, Luu-chan was impressed once again. Not only did they include a guardian-sized portion for Mariko, but they were sure to add in a plushie-sized portion for herself, both of which were entirely edible. Sitting next to the melon soda float, Luu-chan looked down at her light green tutu and cherry-patterned bib, and remarked that she looked like a melon soda float fairy. Luu-chan was having a great time at the cafe, and was thrilled to be spending some valuable time with her guardian. Photos taken care of, she turned her attention to the food. She already rated them highly just based on the appearance, but the taste? Well, they were absolutely delicious. The firm pudding was especially amazing. The scent of egg and the gentle sweetness made them both reminisce on their time together as children. Fully immersed in a world full of kindness, cuteness, and deliciousness, the two of them couldn't wipe the smiles off of their faces. Being in such an atmosphere, it made striking up conversation with other patrons very easy. Another visitor was a rabbit named Nana-chan, who came all the way to Tokyo from the island of Shikoku with her guardian. Luu-chan could tell that they too had built a relationship full of love. They decided to take a commemorative photo together, to mark their meeting, creating a very special memory. Within the cafe, there also happened to be a little shop selling stuffed animal clothes and accessories, from tiny sizes to large. They even had a mirror just for the plushies, so they could check out how they looked. Luu-chan couldn't resist herself and tried on straw hats, sailor hats, and little purses. Everything was just too cute, but she eventually whittled the selection down to her favorite items and made her purchases. ▼ She chose a mint-colored sailor hat and a little pouch. She even decided to pick up some souvenirs for her friends waiting back at home. There was also an event where the guardians could write a message to their plush pals, which when folded form a bouquet. ▼ 'To Luu-chan, thank you for always being with me. From Mariko.' Finally, Luu-chan managed to squeeze in an interview with Lou-san, the fox patissier and creator of this wonderful cafe. Luu-chan: This cafe is so lovely. When did you start it? Lou: We started the stuffed animal cafe in 2022. Since it operates as a pop-up, it's only open a few days at a time, but recently we've been running it about two to three days a month. However, we can sometimes get so many reservations that we often have to use a lottery system to determine who can visit. Luu-chan: Wow, it's so popular! 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So, for Luu-chan, this outing was very special for her, becoming an irreplaceable memory. In every photo, she's looking straight at the camera, posing perfectly, and radiating happiness. Luu-chan hopes that she and Mariko will continue to share beautiful memories together for many years to come. She also didn't forget to brag about her trip out to her friends when she got home. ▼ 'I went to a cafe!' Little Lou's Cafe is a pop-up store that opens irregularly, so if you and your beloved plushies want to visit, you will need to check out the next event dates on their social media accounts. However, it is reservation only, so unfortunately you can't walk in if you happen to pass by. The store will next open on August 12, 13 and 17 at Una Camera Livera in Tokyo. Even if you don't get a chance to visit the cafe, it shouldn't stop you from creating wonderful memories with your own childhood friends. Sure it might feel a little awkward at first, but remember that even the Japanese ambassador to the UK is getting in on the nuikatsu action, so you should relax and treasure the time you have with someone you have spent so many years loving deeply. Shop information Little Lou's Cafe Address and opening times are non-fixed. Refer to the shop's social media pages: Instagram; Twitter Reservations are open for a 24-hour period that will be announced on the Instagram page. Reservations for August are finished. Website Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
