The Growth of Japan’s Faith-based Tourism Market in 2022-32

In 2022, the market for religious travel in Japan will be worth more than $447 million dollars. The analysis estimates revenue growth of 10.5% annually over the forecast period. Japan generated almost 2-5% of the world’s faith-based tourism market.

Spirituality is seen as an eclectic “journey of self-discovery and introspection” in today’s society.  The social setting influences the administration or promotion of tourism’s sacred sites, and the motivations of tourists.

An increasing number of people are coming to Japan to travel. It should be noted that this growth is visible in both urban and rural locations. So, there has been a flurry of new research on Japanese culture, history, and society.

Festivals and Matsuri

During the whole year, Japan welcomes visitors to its many festivals and matsuri. Traditional Japanese festivals, or matsuri, involve the procession of the mikoshi, or floats, from one shrine or temple to another. The vibrant ambiance and great street food activities at these events routinely attract thousands of tourists every summer.

There are about 80,000 temples and shrines in Japan, some of which have been around for over a thousand years. Entering a Buddhist temple or Zen garden is one of the best ways to experience the beauty and peace of these ethereal locations.

Most Japanese people are familiar with the Inari Shrine (or “o-inari-san”), a type of Shinto Temple. Thousands of them can be found in various locations across the nation. One of the most famous shrines to Inari, the Shinto rice god, is Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari and Torii gates in vermilion color are major tourist attractions.

Halal tourism is also on the upswing in Japan. The Government of Japan is serious about promoting Muslim-friendly tourism and Halal travel. The phenomenon of Islam’s rapid expansion over the globe is the source of this weight.

“The presence of various tour providers in Japan that offer experience-based packaged tours along with rising investments in travel-based start-ups to incorporate digitization in the tourism sector will fuel the growth of the market over the assessment period,” says an FMI analyst.

Key Takeaways:

• The international visitor segment is expected to account for 45% of the total market share.
• Internet booking is poised to maintain its profitability through 2032.
• Demand in the 46-55 age group segment will increase until 2032.
• The domestic tourism segment will remain attractive during the forecast period.

Competition Landscape

The leading companies operating in the Japan faith-based tourism market are Japan Travel KK, Japan Private Tour Co., Ltd., Across No.1 Travel Shinjuku, EXO Travel Japan, A Touch of Japan, City Travel & Tour Co. Ltd., The Japan Travel Compan, Deeper Japan, Saiyu Travel, Rakuten Travel Experience, Japan Holiday, Hitotoki, Hokkaido Treasure Island Travel, Hidden Japan, Green Tomato Co., Ltd, Travel Pal Co., Ltd., The Art of Travel, I Love Japan Tours Co. Ltd. and Ayabexetc.

Japan’s Faith-Based Tourism Market by Category

Tourism Type: 

• Day Trips & Local Gateways
• Museums
• Pilgrimages
• Religious and Heritage Tours
• Others

Booking Channel:

• Phone Booking
• Online Booking
• In Person Booking

Tourist Type: 

• Domestic
• International

Age Group: 

• 15-25 Years
• 26-35 Years
• 36-45 Years
• 46-55 Years
• 66-75 Years

Consumer Orientation:

• Men
• Women
• Children

Tour Type:

• Independent Travellers
• Tour Groups
• Package Travellers