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Month: December 2023

CategoriesAccessible tourism

Does Decreasing Travel Frequency Mean Seniors Don’t Want to Travel Anymore?: An Analysis of the “Travel Divide” (4)

By ninjakotan

Does Decreasing Travel Frequency Mean Seniors Don’t Want to Travel Anymore?: An Analysis of the “Travel Divide” (4)   Continuing our exploration of the ‘Travel Divide,’ we delve deeper into its causes. In our second and third installments, we verified that the reasons behind the ‘Travel Divide’ are not a lack of money or time but rather the possibility of ‘heavy luggage.’ This time, we explore why it is crucial to address the ‘Travel Divide.’ After all, if no one is troubled by its existence, then perhaps it is not a problem. Again, we consider the decline in travel frequency among seniors. According to the Cabinet Office, “72.6% of at-home physically disabled individuals are over 65,” indicating a close connection between seniors and people with disabilities. Furthermore, considering the global trend of an aging population, examining travel frequency among seniors is essential. ソニー生命の「シニアの生活意識調査2023」の調査で「現在の楽しみ」というアンケート調査があります。この調査は日本の50歳～79歳の男女1,000名に対する調査です。「現在の楽しみ」の1位は「旅行（39.9％）」でした。以下、2位が「テレビ/ドラマ（38.4%)」、3位が「グルメ（27.1％）」でした。2017年から「現在の楽しみ」という調査項目がありますが、旅行は7年全てで1位でした。従って、シニア（高齢者）は「旅行」に強く行きたいと思っていると言っていいでしょう。「旅行に行きたい」のに、「旅行に行けない（旅行回数が減少する）」ということは「トラベル・ディバイド」を解消すべき理由の一つです。 Sony Life’s ‘Senior Living Consciousness Survey 2023’ included a questionnaire about ‘Current Enjoyments.’ This survey, which involved 1,000 Japanese men and women aged 50-79, found that ‘Travel (39.9%)’ ranked first as the current enjoyment. This was followed by ‘TV/Drama (38.4%)’ and ‘Gourmet (27.1%).’ Since 2017, travel has consistently ranked first in this survey category every year. Therefore,read moreDoes Decreasing Travel Frequency Mean Seniors Don’t Want to Travel Anymore?: An Analysis of the “Travel Divide” (4)

Jump
CategoriesAccessible tourism Activities Itinerary Ideas itinerary in Japan Others Sustainable travel

Travel Industry Registration: Stepping into a New Era

By ninjakotan

Travel Agency Registration: Stepping into a New Era Our company, EDO KAGURA Corporation, proudly announces a new beginning as a regional travel agency (Tokyo Metropolitan Governor’s Travel Business Registration, Area – No. 8490) as of December 28, 2023. Our initial focus is on promoting the Shinjuku district and its surrounding areas. We aim to spread the allure of Japan worldwide by designing travel products tailored for international tourists. Furthermore, we seek to facilitate tourist flow to regions like Hokkaido, using Shinjuku, especially Kagurazaka, as a hub for travel and transportation information. This new registration in the travel industry presents an excellent opportunity to introduce Japan’s traditional crafts and culture to visitors. We intend to incorporate various traditional craft experiences from Shinjuku and other Tokyo areas into our tours, bringing Japan’s rich culture and history closer to travelers. We are also eager to share the unique values of Japanese spiritual culture, like Zen philosophy, and our simple way of life with the world. Integrating a clothing rental service into our travel products will reduce the baggage burden for travelers, offering a more comfortable travel experience. This innovative approach in the travel industry is a first in the world and aims toread moreTravel Industry Registration: Stepping into a New Era

clown
CategoriesAccessible tourism

The Surprising Reason for Decreasing Travel Frequency?: An Analysis of the “Travel Divide” (3)

By ninjakotan

The Surprising Reason for Decreasing Travel Frequency?: An Analysis of the “Travel Divide” (3)   Continuing our exploration of the ‘Travel Divide,’ we seek to understand its underlying causes. In our previous article, we verified that the decrease in travel frequency among the elderly is not due to ‘money’ or ‘time.’ Surprisingly, it showed an inverse correlation. According to the ‘Travel and Tourism Consumption Trends Survey‘ published by the Japan Tourism Agency in 2018, the top reasons for not undertaking domestic overnight trips (for tourism and recreation) were ‘unable to take vacation due to work or other reasons’ (29.3%), followed by ‘financial constraints’ (26.4%), and ‘holidays not aligning with family or friends’ (21.0%). These top three reasons all relate to time and money. However, the fourth reason was ‘personal health reasons’ (18.1%). Therefore, this article aims to investigate the relationship between travel frequency and ‘physical fitness tests.’   Source: Japan Tourism Agency ‘Travel and Tourism Consumption Trend Survey, Q1 2018 Based on the ‘2022 Physical Fitness and Exercise Capability Survey‘ by the Japan Sports Agency, we calculated a ‘Physical Fitness Test Index’ using the age-specific scores of universally conducted tests: ‘grip strength,’ ‘sit-ups,’ and ‘sit and reach,’ for all ageread moreThe Surprising Reason for Decreasing Travel Frequency?: An Analysis of the “Travel Divide” (3)

No Time
CategoriesAccessible tourism

Is Money or Time the Reason for Decreasing Travel Frequency?: An Analysis of the “Travel Divide” (2)

By ninjakotan

Is Money or Time the Reason for Decreasing Travel Frequency?: An Analysis of the “Travel Divide” (2)   Continuing our analysis of the ‘Travel Divide,’ I aim to delve into its causes, particularly the decline in travel frequency among the elderly. According to the Cabinet Office, ‘72.6% of at-home physically disabled individuals are over the age of 65,’ highlighting a close connection between the elderly and the disabled. Additionally, given the global trend towards an aging population, examining the travel habits of the elderly is of paramount importance. The ‘Market Research for Future Demand Stimulation – Survey Results on Tourism’ published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in 2014 presents a fascinating study. In this survey, the predominant belief amongst travelers (those who travel at least once) and non-travelers (those who do not travel at all) was that ‘travel is something one does when there is both time and money’—50.5% of travelers and 43.7% of non-travelers shared this view. Furthermore, the ‘Travel and Tourism Consumption Trends Survey‘ released by the Japan Tourism Agency in 2018 investigated the reasons why people did not engage in domestic overnight trips (for tourism and recreation purposes). The top reason for notread moreIs Money or Time the Reason for Decreasing Travel Frequency?: An Analysis of the “Travel Divide” (2)

elderly
CategoriesAccessible tourism

How to Travel When You’re 100: An Analysis of the “Travel Divide” (1)

By ninjakotan

How to Travel When You’re 100: An Analysis of the “Travel Divide” (1) I am a huge fan of traveling. I have traveled over 200 times, both domestically and internationally. It’s safe to say that traveling is my favorite activity. I believe many others like me love to travel. My life goal is to continue traveling even when I’m 100 years old. However, it’s clear that the frequency of travel decreases for the elderly. Not just the elderly but also people with disabilities and families with infants and young children travel less frequently compared to the average. Is this a natural occurrence? I refer to the significant reduction in travel frequency among certain age groups and other demographics as the ‘Travel Divide.’ This term defines the disparity between those who can and cannot travel. It is a term inspired by the ‘Digital Divide,’ which refers to the disparity between those who have and do not have access to information and communication technologies like the internet.   Sources: JTB Travel Annual Report 2020, Tourism Academy, Wheelchair Travel   In the year 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the decline in the average number of trips was evident: 34% for domestic trips byread moreHow to Travel When You’re 100: An Analysis of the “Travel Divide” (1)

Effective Ways to Avoid Long Taxi Wait Times in Japan
CategoriesAccessible tourism Itinerary Ideas itinerary in Japan Sustainable travel

Effective Ways to Avoid Long Taxi Wait Times in Japan

By ninjakotan

Effective Ways to Avoid Long Taxi Wait Times in Japan Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a noticeable increase in foreign tourists to Japan, leading to long queues for taxi rides at many locations. This taxi shortage is especially prevalent at airports and tourist spots, where wait times can sometimes extend to several hours. A significant cause of this issue is the aging population of taxi drivers, compounded by a decrease in their numbers. From 2004 to 2022, the number of taxi drivers in Japan decreased by 31%, with the average age rising to 59 years. This age is significantly higher than the average age of 44.5 years across all industries in Japan, highlighting the severity of the aging issue among taxi drivers.   Source: National Federation of Auto Transport Workers Unions   Source: National Federation of Taxi and Hire Taxi Associations   Additionally, with the implementation of the “Work Style Reform Bill” in April 2024, which limits drivers’ working hours, the shortage of taxi drivers is likely to become even more acute. Although there is active discussion around alternative solutions like ridesharing, a definitive resolution has yet to be reached. In response, our company proposesread moreEffective Ways to Avoid Long Taxi Wait Times in Japan

climate change
CategoriesSustainable travel

Endorsing Carbon Pricing Proposals

By ninjakotan

Endorsing Carbon Pricing Proposals   Table of Contents 1: Endorsing Carbon Pricing Proposals 2: The Content of the Proposals 3: Recognizing the Significance of CO2 Emissions During Travel   1: Endorsing Carbon Pricing Proposals On December 5, 2023, the Japan Climate Initiative released the proposal “Carbon Pricing Proposals by the Members of the Japan Climate Initiative: Toward Simultaneous Achievement of 2030 GHG Emission Reduction Targets and Enhanced International Competitiveness.” As one of the 186 organizations (including 140 corporations, 9 municipalities, and 37 organizations & NGOs), our company has endorsed these proposals. Major corporations such as 61 companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime and cities like Omi-Hachiman, Kawasaki, Kyoto, Sapporo, Setagaya, Tokyo, Toyonaka, Hamamatsu, and Musashino have also expressed their support. 2: The Content of the Proposals This proposal aims to introduce carbon pricing able to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 in Japan, paving the way for its internationally competitive economy. To this end, this proposal calls for six principles including the following that should be fulfilled in the future design of the system, improving the current government proposal. ・Bringing the schedule of the introduction forward to around 2025 ・Aiming sufficient carbon price in 2030 such as USDread moreEndorsing Carbon Pricing Proposals

airplane
CategoriesSustainable travel

Do you know the biggest CO2 emitter when traveling?

By ninjakotan

Do you know the biggest CO2 emitter when traveling? Do foreign tourists know what activity contributes the most to CO2 emissions while traveling in Japan? It’s air travel. While it’s not surprising that airplanes emit a lot of CO2, it often goes unnoticed that luggage (20kg) can contribute to emissions four times higher than an entire week’s stay in Japan. For example, a round trip from Narita Airport to New York, Singapore, and Taipei produces CO2 emissions of 942kg, 594kg, and 147kg for a passenger. The average for these three cities is 612kg. In contrast, the CO2 emissions for luggage (20kg) for these cities are 244kg for New York, 114kg for Singapore, and 55kg for Taipei, making up 18-26% of the total emissions from passengers (data sourced from ICAO’s “CARBON EMISSIONS CALCULATOR”). The average for these cities’ luggage emissions is 138kg.   Source: ICAO’s “CARBON EMISSIONS CALCULATOR,” National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan   On the other hand, the CO2 emissions for a 7-day stay in Japan are only 34kg. This figure is calculated based on the average household CO2 emissions of 4.9kg per day by the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan. The average luggage emission of 138kg forread moreDo you know the biggest CO2 emitter when traveling?