Japan is the rising star in the bucket lists of people looking for authentic, deeper travel experiences – this is the message from online travel company Responsible Travel, which has seen a huge surge in enquiries and bookings to the country this year.

Since the start of 2016 Responsible Travel has seen a huge 97% increase in enquiries to Japan, compared to last year, and a staggering 195% increase over the last three years.  A recent survey on holiday dreams completed by almost 200 of its customers has also revealed Japan as the third most sought-after holiday destination, after New Zealand and Australia, for people interested in authentic tourism experiences.

Responsible Travel managing director Justin Francis is not surprised by this trend, “We are seeing a huge soar in people enquiring about and booking holidays to Japan, but I don't find this surprising.

“Japan is a country rooted in culture, with ritual and tradition a stark contrast to, but as important as ultra-modern technology; It is a beguiling mix for travellers looking to immerse themselves in authentic experiences a world away from their own.

“We stand for diversity in tourism, and the diversity of what Japan offers in terms of heritage, culture and landscape – from ancient to modern, traditional to cutting- edge - is a big draw.

“And with the strength of the pound against the Yen, it is more affordable to visit now than it ever has been”.

An 8 day tailor-made tour the country offering stays in traditional Japanese inns, as well as cultural excursions in Kyoto and Tokyo is now the 8th most booked holiday on the Responsible Travel site – which offers over 4,700 tours from 380 of the world's best small holiday companies.

Responsible Travel's guide to more authentic and responsible tourism in Japan can be found at: http://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/japan/travel-guide/

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Notes to editors:

At Responsible Travel we help travellers live their dreams through authentic and life-enriching adventures, ensuring local people and wildlife benefit and being a catalyst for change in the industry.

Responsible Travel is now the world's largest platform for ethical tour providers (with a rigorous system (link to relevant page on the site) in place to ensure each company fits the guidelines to be represented in the site). The company is growing by 40% each year with its profits dependent on an 'Honesty Box' where tour providers voluntarily declaring their commission. 

'At £100M, I think we might have the biggest honesty box in the world. By showing our partners trust, we've foraged fantastic relationships.' Justin Francis CEO

- Our holiday collection includes tours from almost 400 small, specialist and ethical tour operators

- Our collective operates in 190+ countries

- In 15 years, we've helped over 100,000 people live their travel dreams

At Responsible Travel, we also create and aggregate content about:

- Inspirational people, NGOs and brands

- Environmental and animal rights campaigns

- Travel guides and tips

- The World Responsible Tourism Awards (founded by us in 2004) 

CEO Justin Francis been included in Courvoisiers The Future 500, Thames and Hudsons 60 Innovators Shaping Our Creative Future and taken his place on the Advisory Board of The International Centre for Responsible Tourism.