What is Japan’s New ‘Go To Travel’ Campaign – the ‘National Travel Discount’?
PLEASE NOTE: The Go to Travel Campaign is over, and as such the information on this page is outdated. However, Snow Monkey Resorts is still dedicated to offering you the best price on a number of entertaining tours throughout Nagano. For more information, please see here.
In response to the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on tourism, the Japanese government has announced a series of measures, beginning with the national ‘Go To Travel’ campaign and now replaced by the ‘National Travel Discount’ – aimed at stimulating travel within Japan and boosting local economies. On this page you will find the following information:
— Best Tours and Charters in Nagano
— Japan Rail Deals inc. Discounted Shinkansen Tickets
As of October 11 2022, the ‘National Discount Program’ has replaced the long-suspended ‘Go To Travel’ campaign. Under the new program, discounts of up to JPY5000 per person, per day are available for accommodation bookings while and up to JPY8000 for package tours that include the use of public transport. Vouchers of up to JPY3000 per person, per day are available for persons booking weekday travel, reduced to JPY1000 on weekends. In order to be eligible, travellers must be able to provide evidence of at least three COVID-19 vaccination or provide a negative PCR test within three days of their intended travel.
While the new National Discount Program is now underway, details of exactly how it works remain unclear. As a result, we are not yet participating in it and are yet to fully update this page. We will update this page as further information becomes available with an intention to then start offer deals through our website.
LATEST NEWS & UPDATES
The following recent developments and announcements may be of interest:
October 13 2022: Japan’s new ‘National Discount Program’ is now underway, replacing the long-standing but long-suspending ‘Go To Travel’ campaign. The new campaign is nationally funded but locally administered, resulting in some early confusion with exactly how it works. Since activation of the program on October 11, many hotels in Japan are reporting online issues as websites and booking systems are overburdened with traffic. In principle, the program provides eligible travellers with discounts of up to JPY5000 per person, per day are available for accommodation bookings while and up to JPY8000 for package tours that include the use of public transport. Vouchers of up to JPY3000 per person, per day are available for persons booking weekday travel, reduced to JPY1000 on weekends. In order to be eligible, travellers must be able to provide evidence of at least three COVID-19 vaccination or provide a negative PCR test within three days of their intended travel.
While we intend to participate in this program, we are waiting for clarification of all details and are yet to fully update this page. We will do so as soon as possible.
September 26 2022: it has been announced that as of October 11 2022 by the ‘National Travel Discount’ program. Specific details of how this program will work and who will be eligible to take advantage of it are yet to be confirmed. We will update this page once more information is available.
June 20 2022: it is being reported that the government is considering restarting and expanding the national ‘Go To Travel’ campaign from July 1 onward. The ongoing ‘kenminwari’ campaign, which provides substantial discounts to local residents traveling in their own or in some cases also surrounding prefectures, is set to finish at the end of June however it is also being reported it will be extended. Once more information is available, we will update this page.
March 15 2022: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has stated that the government is preparing to restart the ‘Go To Travel’ campaign ‘when the appropriate time comes’. Kishida explained that the government is examining the COVID-19 infection situation and consulting with experts in determining when to restart the campaign. Once an announcement is made, we will update this page.
January 10 2022: the government has announced that due to the increasing spread of COVID-19 across japan, including the new ‘Omicron’ variant, the ‘Go To Travel’ campaign will not be reactivated in January. It had been hoped that the campaign might return as early as the end of this month but the announcement means that Go To will not be returning in the short-term. With the Omicron variant spreading rapidly around Japan, it would appear the campaign will not be returning in early 2022.
December 9 2021: while there is no official announcement yet, there are indications that ‘Go To Travel’ may restart in February 2022. The incentive program is likely to operate as detailed in the post below however is unlikely to cover the spring holiday period in March and April, nor is it likely to cover Golden Week in late-April / early-May.
HOW IT WORKS
PLEASE NOTE: as of October 11 2022, ‘Go To Travel’ was replaced by the ‘National Travel Discount’ program. At this time, Snow Monkey Resorts is not participating in the program however discounted accommodation can be booked via Booking.com. Please note, the discounted rate is only available to Japanese citizens and residents. You will be required to provide evidence of your status in Japan upon check-in.
From July 22nd 2020, the government will support up to half of the price of accommodation and travel expenses for 1-day trips up to a maximum of JPY10,000 per person, and 2. overnight trips up to maximum of JPY20,000 per person. Trips of up to a maximum of 7 days can be covered. For an overnight trip, the amount you are eligible for is based on the cost of your accommodation, with a maximum claim of JPY20,000 per person. Of that support:
— 70% will be delivered through discounted accommodation
— 30% will be available through use of ‘common coupons’
The campaign discount applies to accommodation up to a maximum cost of JPY40,000 per person, per night i.e. a 50% discount = a maximum JPY20,000. Accommodation costing more than JPY40,000 per night will still be discounted, however that discount maxes-out at JPY20,000 and will not be applied to the cost above that point. Let’s break that down further:
DISCOUNTED ACCOMMODATION
As stated above, 70% of your total saving will be accounted for through discounted accommodation. As an example, if your full accommodation cost for 1 night would normally be JPY20,000, your payment will be subsidised (at time of booking) at a rate of 70% of half the accommodation price i.e. 50% of JPY20,000 is JPY10,000 and 70% of JPY10,000 is JPY7,000. That amount – JPY7,000 – will be subtracted from the original accommodation price of JPY20,000, meaning that you pay JPY13,000 or a saving of 35% of the usual accommodation cost.
Prior to the availability of coupons, or if you don’t use them, your saving on accommodation alone would be 35% of the original cost (remembering that the campaign has a maximum of JPY20,000 per person, per day). It’s easiest therefore to think of the ‘Go To Travel’ campaign as an assured 35% discount of your original accommodation cost, with the potential to add-up to 50% through use of coupons.
As the graphic above shows, 35% of your total travel cost is accounted for by discounted accommodation; the other 15% will be accounted for by use of ‘common coupons’ – see below for details – totalling a maximum overall saving of 50%. It is important to note that in order to be eligible for this subsidy, hotels and guesthouses must register to be part of the ‘Go To’ campaign. For accommodation that is registered with the campaign, the advertised room price will already include the subsidy i.e. there is no further discount or refund at a later time. The hotel will need to see proof of your eligibility in the form of ID with your address.
For foreign residents, make sure to have your ‘外国登録証明’ (gaikkoku toroku shomei) or ‘gaijin card’ with you as proof of eligibility and your address. Just remember, without use of ‘common coupons’, which will not be available until October, the maximum subsidy will be 35% of your travel cost.
COMMON COUPONS
Since the beginning of October, coupons of JPY1000 are available to domestic travellers, valid for use at participating stores, restaurants, transport and other venues between the dates of your intended travel. In the equation above, your total possible is saving is JPY10,000 (half of the original cost of JPY20,000). The calculation also shows that JPY7000 has already been accounted for through discounted accommodation. The remaining JPY3000 of your total possible saving of JPY10,000 is provided in the form of coupons.
Common coupons can therefore be said to 1. account for 30% of your total possible saving – in this case, a maximum saving of JPY10,000 – or 2. cover 15% of the original travel cost – in this case, the original cost would have been JPY20,000.
To be eligible, participating stores and restaurants will need to register with the campaign and will have some form of identification or logo on display, allowing travellers to know where they can use the coupons.
HOW WILL I RECEIVE & USE MY COUPONS
The issuance of coupons started from October. Following on from the calculation above, you would be eligible for JPY3000 worth of coupons. You will be issued as 3 × JPY1000 coupons. Coupons can be issued in both paper or digital form. Which one you receive depends on the hotel/travel agent you book:
PAPER COUPONS
At time of booking, the hotel calculates your total total value of coupons – in this case, 3 × JPY1000 = JPY3000. Upon check-in at your hotel, you will be asked to show identification with your name and address (for groups claiming discounts under the ‘Go To Campaign’, all members of the group will need to prove their eligibility). Having proven your eligibility, you will be given your coupons at your hotel to be spent at any participating venue within the prefecture. The coupons will have the prefecture they can be used in and dates of validity marked on them.
For guest that booked a trip through a travel agent. Depending on the travel agent you will receive the coupons by post or digitally. More information about digital coupons can be found below.
DIGITAL COUPONS
When booking through a travel agent, it is likely you will be provided with a digital rather than physical coupon. At time of booking, you will receive an email with a reservation number which will be needed to use the coupons. On the day you wish to use your coupon, you will need to log into a website – yet to be made public – and input your reservation number and the name of the travel agent you booked with. You will then see the total amount you have available for use.
Much like physical coupons, digital coupons will only be available for use in increments of JPY1000. Participating venues will have a QR Code for you to scan, which will deduct the coupons from your account. Just remember, both physical and digital coupons will only be valid for use in the designated prefecture and on the designated dates of travel.
If you do not use them, they cannot be refunded or exchanged for money at a later time. It is also worth noting that change will not be given i.e. if you want to make payment for JPY1700 worth of goods or services, you can choose to use JPY2000 however will not receive any change. This applies to both physical and digital coupons. You could also choose to only use one voucher of JPY1000 and pay the JPY700 in cash – as discussed in the FAQs below.
MAKING USE OF THE CAMPAIGN
Discounts and support offered through ‘Go To Travel’ is the first component of what is expected to be a large-scale campaign that includes ‘Go To Eat’ targeting restaurants and cafes, ‘Go To Event’ subsidising ticketing for registered events, and ‘Go To Shotengai’ promoting local shopping. Having commenced on July 22nd 2020, the ‘Go To Travel’ campaign was original expected to run until spring 2021. However, the suspension of the campaign for an extended period and talk of its likely return toward the end of 2021 means that now appears likely to be restarted and run into 2022. To take advantage of the subsidised prices, you will need to book directly with the participating accommodation or travel agent, and this is where we come in…
BEST TOURS AND CHARTERS IN NAGANO
We want to make your time in Nagano the best it can be, so you go home with great memories and maybe even decide to return some day. For that reason, our friendly and experienced guides are always ready and eager to show new travelers around this wonderful prefecture. With so many tours on offer, it can be hard to choose but luckily we have compiled a list of the best tours in Nagano, complete with detailed descriptions. Take a look at it before you decide what your next move is!
If you prefer you transport a little more private, we also offer private charter services. We can pick you up right outside your accommodation or the train station and whisk you off to your next destination. With clean vehicles and certified drivers, you can rest easy knowing you will arrive safely and well rested. For more information, please see here.
‘GO TO’ CAMPAIGN FAQs
The following are some of the most common questions when it comes to understanding the campaign and how it works:
Is the campaign currently operating?
Japan’s old ‘Go To Travel’ campaign was replaced by the ‘National Travel Discount’ on October 11 2022. The new campaign is nationally funded but locally administered, resulting in some early confusion with exactly how it works. Since activation of the program on October 11, many hotels in Japan are reporting online issues as websites and booking systems are overburdened with traffic. In principle, the program provides eligible travellers with discounts of up to JPY5000 per person, per day are available for accommodation bookings while and up to JPY8000 for package tours that include the use of public transport. Vouchers of up to JPY3000 per person, per day are available for persons booking weekday travel, reduced to JPY1000 on weekends. In order to be eligible, travellers must be able to provide evidence of at least three COVID-19 vaccination or provide a negative PCR test within three days of their intended travel. While we intend to participate in this program, we are waiting for clarification of all details and are yet to fully update this page. All further questions and answers are related to the previous ‘Go To Travel’ campaign and may no longer be accurate. We will update this page as soon as possible.
Does the campaign mean I will only pay 50% of my total travel expenses?
Not necessarily. The campaign potentially covers up to half your travel cost but is capped at JPY10,000 per person for day-trips and JPY20,000 per person for overnight trips. As explained above, the support will be broken into 70% accommodation discounts and 30% coupons. Prior to the availability of coupons, or if you do not choose to use them, your saving on accommodation alone would be a maximum of 35% – refer to the information above for details. It’s easiest to think of the ‘Go To Travel’ campaign as an assured 35% discount of your original accommodation cost, with the potential to add-up to 50% through use of coupons.
Who is eligible?
At this time, Japanese citizens and foreign residents in Japan can take advantage of the campaign.
How will anyone know if I am eligible?
Participating venues such as hotels and guesthouses will be required to confirm your eligibility by checking appropriate identification. For foreign residents, you will be required to show your ‘外国登録証明’ (gaikkoku toroku shomei) or ‘gaijin card’. For people travelling as groups, every member claiming discounts under the campaign will be required to provide proof of eligibility.
Do I have to personally register for the campaign?
No. Only participating accommodation, businesses and travel agents needs to register. If you are a Japanese citizen or foreign resident living outside of Tokyo, you can take advantage of the campaign simply by choosing to use accommodation and businesses participating in the campaign.
Will the campaign be extended to international travelers/non-residents?
While possible, the government has not expressed an intention to extend the campaign to overseas visitors in future. Should this change, we will update this page.
Are children and infants covered?
Yes. Children and infants are considered to be one person and therefore eligible to claim support i.e. if parents are traveling with two children this would count as 4 people, each entitled to claim.
Do discounted prices include tax and other charges, such as onsen tax?
The advertised price of discounted accommodation will include tax. Additional charges such as onsen tax should also be included but that is up to the individual guesthouse. Please check directly with your accommodation re additional charges.
In addition to the initial accommodation price, will any further charges upon check-out be subsidized?
No. The subsidy only applies to the initial accommodation charge. Any later or additional fees must be paid directly to the accommodation.
Does the campaign support international flights?
No. The campaign is intended to stimulate local economies and tourism and only applies to domestic travel.
When/how will I receive coupons for my travel?
Physical coupons will be handed to guests upon check-in or will be send to your provide address prior to your travel. For guests booking through travel agents, it is likely you will be issued with digital coupons.
Please do note that coupons will only be distributed to trips which the original travel price is equal or more than JPY3334.
Coupons will be issued in the amount of JPY1000. Can I use coupons to purchase things greater than the coupon value i.e. use three coupons totalling JPY3000 to pay for a product or service costing JPY4500?
Yes. Coupons can be used like most other vouchers to cover the full price or part of the cost. If the total cost exceeds the value of your vouchers, you can make-up the difference by paying the business directly.
If I don’t use a coupon/s during my travel, can I have them paid-out in cash or refunded?
No. Unused coupons cannot be exchanged for cash and are not eligible for refunds.
Are rental cars covered by this campaign?
The campaign does not cover rental cars unless they are included in a package such as a combination of accommodation and a rental car.
Before the campaign was launched on July 22nd, I booked an upcoming trip. Can I still get support?
Yes. You are still eligible as long as 1. the product i.e. your accommodation, is covered by the campaign, and 2. the travel agency or accommodation that sold the product is participating in the campaign. If that is the case, you should be eligible for a partial refund. For further information, please contact the travel agency or accommodation through which you purchased the product to request a refund.
Many prefectures and local governments are running travel campaigns and promotions of their own. Can I combine these with support available through the ‘Go To’ campaign?
It depends on the conditions of the local campaign. Please check with the specific promotion to check whether they can be combined.
How will the amount of support be calculated in the case of trips including different accommodation?
It depends. If the accommodation is booked separately i.e. each hotel is booked directly, the support will be capped at JPY20,000 per person, per day. If however you have booked accommodation through a travel agent, the support will be calculated on the total booking price over multiple days.
What happens if I cancel my booking?
When you book through ‘Go To Travel’, your booking will be subject to the cancellation policy of the supplier so it’s important to check the specific details including the time at which cancellation charges start from. Should you be subject to a cancellation fee, it is important to note that the cancellation fee will be calculated as a percentage of the original / pre-discounted booking price, not the Go To Travel price. This policy has been set by the government.
JAPAN RAIL DEALS INC. DISCOUNTED SHINKANSEN TICKETS
With great deals on offer through Go To Travel, Japan Rail has also come to the party and are offering big discounts on many shinkansen services and a new 3-day pass, only available to foreign passport-holders. Our ‘Discount Shinkansen Tickets: How to Buy Online’ page has a step-by-step guide of how to by discounted shinkansen tickets – up to savings of 50% – online! All this means that you can use the shinkansen much cheaper right now – the perfect time to combine your discounted fare or 3-day pass with a travel package with us in Nagano!
