With the year-end holidays upon us and the allure of a visa-free trip to Japan, Malaysians are packing their bags for the winter holiday of dreams in the Land of the Rising Sun. According to a recent Airbnb survey, 85 percent of Malaysians polled intend to travel to Japan when they are able to, with 2 in 3 looking to visit a destination outside of the country’s major cities.*
Airbnb has further revealed the top searched destinations in Japan by global travelers on the platform:**
- Osaka
- Tokyo
- Shinjuku
- Shibuya
- Fukuoka
- Kyoto
- Taito
- Sapporo
- Okinawa
- Niseko
From skiing adventures in the tranquil woods of Nagano, to stylish buildings amidst the bustling streets of Tokyo, or even quintessential heritage homes amidst cherry trees and temples in Honshu — Japan is often a top destination on international travelers’ bucket lists.
Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s General Manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan, said, “We greatly welcome the lifting of Japan’s travel restrictions, as it is an extremely popular destination on Malaysians’ bucket lists, and we know that many are excitedly gearing up to plan holidays for the end-of-year festive season and next year.”
Whether you fancy long soaks in a hot tub with a stunning view of Lake Nojiri or a manga lover’s dream stay in the heart of Kyoto, Airbnb has put together the perfect list of the top 10 most globally wishlisted stays in Japan to help you kickstart the planning for your perfect holiday this December and beyond. ***
For a winter wonderland in the outdoors
- Elegant, secluded cabin for couples & families (Nagano)
- Enjoy the superb view of Lake Nojiri, a detached house with private sauna Anoie (Nagano)
For those seeking traditions of old
- [Inn house] Yanagi-dori west wing Asakusa A modern Japanese-style luxury house with an open-air bath limited to two people (Tokyo)
- [Private room] An old folk house guest house with a goat! Equipped with Wi-Fi – Matakitai (Iwate)
For the minimalist at heart
- 4beds in Tokyo/3min. from the station : Studio B (Tokyo)
- YANAKA SOW STANDARD TWIN (Tokyo)
- 【Ginza/Tokyo area】 Junior Suite (Free Wi-Fi) (Tokyo)
- [Shinagawa Oimachi] Good access to the airport and Shinkansen! A stylish designer hotel that can be used for both business and travel (Tokyo)
For fulfilling childhood fantasies
- MANGA design, all-you-can-read comics, 1 bed, free snacks included, free WIFI [Hotel Tavinos Kyoto] (Kyoto)
- Handmade strawbale house Tida House (Hokkaido)
With the end-of-year holidays in full swing, Airbnb has also announced an exciting new partnership with MUJI Japan to renovate empty homes, shopfronts and government-owned real estate to drive new and creative types of travel accommodation in towns across the country. To start, both parties are converting accommodation owned by Shimizu-cho, Hokkaido into unique stays for travelers – with two MUJI-designed and styled homes now bookable exclusively on Airbnb here and here. Both feature local Hokkaido timber furniture and MUJI-branded tableware, cooking utensils, and home appliances.
