Easia Travel in Japan: First Look and New Kyushu Itineraries

Six months after the launch in Japan, what is your initial assessment?

Emma Alliot : « The assessment is positive. We are glad to see our Tokyo team expanding and to record our first bookings, both for bespoke individual trips and for groups and for series departures.

These first months have also been a period of learning and adaptation. Japan has its own codes and a way of working different from what we know on our other destinations. It teaches us patience: relationships with our local partners are built gradually, and we take the time to establish them on solid foundations. This is a crucial step in developing the destination. »

Emma Alliot : « This first familiarisation trip allowed us to revisit the classics with a fresh perspective. Japan is evolving, notably with the rise in international travelers. We must therefore continue to rethink certain itineraries, explore alternatives, and adapt our proposals.

On the French market, expectations are clear: our partners are seeking programs that can make a difference, while keeping prices as competitive as possible. Japan remains a relatively expensive destination. Our job is to craft offerings that stand out, without losing sight of travelers’ budgets. »

Emma Alliot : « With Easia Active, we aim to offer more dynamic ways to discover the country. Beyond cycling tours, we want to develop hiking, boat trips, or experiences around martial arts, not limited to sumo. We are particularly targeting a younger audience seeking an active trip without necessarily identifying with the world of manga or pop culture. Nature, sport, and traditions provide other gateways into Japanese culture.

With Easia Exclusive, we are working on a more intimate discovery of the destination: characterful accommodations, private experiences, places that are difficult to access on your own. The idea is not simply to offer more luxury, but to create distinctive moments: a meeting with a craftsman, a special dining setting, a cultural discovery in a small group. The service mindset, the quality of hospitality, and the richness of Japanese know-how lend themselves particularly well to this approach. It is this notion of privileged access, combined with travel personalization, that we want to place at the heart of the offer. »

Emma Alliot : « Japan is already widely offered in self-guided formats. The cost of certain services, especially that of guides, is noticeably higher than in other Asian destinations. It is therefore natural to design trips that grant travelers more autonomy.

We are developing an application that will help them retrieve the steps of their itinerary and view the main points of interest around the places they visit.

But the application does not replace human support. The itinerary remains planned in advance by our teams, and travelers receive our assistance when needed. They thus retain the freedom to organize their days at their own pace, while staying guided. This is the balance we want to bring to independent travel in Japan. »