Ep 37: Olympics 2021, Space Tourism & Harry Potter: What's The Future of Travel in Japan?

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22 Sep 2020 • 29m00s

This week, Gary and Hannah take a virtual trip to Japan - Land of the Rising Sun and, pre-pandemic, an increasingly popular destination for travellers from across South East Asia. Having started the year expecting the biggest ever Sakura festival in history followed by the Tokyo Olympics, 2020 has been particularly unkind to Japan.

A so-called “Plague Ship” in Yokohama harbour catalysed a year of uncertainty that saw the Olympics shelved for 12 months, and hopes dashed of welcoming 10 million Chinese arrivals and 40 million visitors overall.

The economy is deep in recession and COVID-19 isn’t yet under control. Ever a pragmatic nation, though, Japan has plenty of plans for its tourism future. These range from the rescheduled Olympics in 2021 to space trips for super-rich tourists, casino resorts and new theme park dedicated to the hero of Hogwarts.

« Next Episode The Friday Rewind 6: KLIA Transit Troubles, Positive Vibes in Vietnam & Tourist Trash Returns to Sender Previous Episode » Ep 36: Q4 2020: What's the Best South East Asia Travel Can Hope For?

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Ep 37: Olympics 2021, Space Tourism & Harry Potter: What's The Future of Travel in Japan?

About This Episode

Latest Episodes Catch up with the pods you may have missed

Ep 276: Visa-easing Tricks, Tariff Turmoil, Vietnam's Breakout Year & What Happened to the ASEAN Tourism Visa?: 2025 in Review

Ep 275: Indonesia's Biometric Airport Corridor, Hotel Taxes in Malaysia & What Happens Next Between China & Japan?: November 2025 in Review

Hannah Pearson

Gary Bowerman