Group photo with winners, judges and organizers.
🧵19/ The #JapanTravelAwards proved interesting & valuable for a 5th time 👍🏻 The 206 applicants lacked #Aomori & #Tottori prefectures so I'll contact officials/pros there… Next: Email the pros met, inform colleagues, and consider collaborating (I already discussed with a client to target 2027 awards).
Julie Baud beside an artistic wall.
🧵18/ Julie Baud's "Secrets d'Artisans Japonais" won the 2026 Best Inbound Travel award for ceramic/pottery tours in #Aichi with behind-the-scenes access, in English & French 🏺 Unable to attend the #JapanTravelAwards ceremony. We met; #Japan is lucky to have her 🙂 www.secretsdartisansjaponais.com/en
Klook Japan general manager Wataru Masuda (left) and Kinosaki E-Transport Tours delegates (centre & right) holding the award certificate.
🧵17/ The General Manager of gold sponsor Klook Japan handed the #JapanTravelAwards 2026 Klook award to Kinosaki E-Transport Tours 🛵 You can use e-bikes, scooters or even tuk-tuks! May this service in #Hyogo inspire other hot spring towns all over Japan ♨️ tavizo.jp/puchitabi
Judge Naoya Shimizu (left) and Ozu Castle Stay delegates (centre & right) holding the award certificate.
Ozu castle and locals in armour, etc. ready for the luxury welcome parade.
🧵16/ #JapanTravelAwards judge Naoya Shimizu gave the 2026 Best Tourism Development award to Ozu Castle Stay 🏯 As a consultant on a revitalization project in #Ehime, I helped polish this authentic luxury stay. It's #Japan first restored wooden castle you can stay in 🌌 castlestay.ozucastle.com/en/home
Judge Lang Hao (left) and Traditional Cultural Experience Villa Tsutaya delegate (right) holding his award certificate.
🧵15/ #JapanTravelAwards judge Lang Hao handed the 2026 Best Cultural Travel award to Traditional Cultural Experience Villa Tsutaya. Feel at home in #Nagano at this 110 y.o. house turned inn where the owner was raised. Hearth & kamado cook, weave, dye… like/with the locals. uchiyamatsutaya.com/en/
Judge Seiya Hongo (left) and Kita-Karuizawa Sweet Grass delegate (right) holding his award certificate.
🧵14/ #JapanTravelAwards judge Seiya Hongo handed the 2026 Best Family Travel award to Kita-Karuizawa Sweet Grass 👨👩👧👦 This year-round outdoor accommodation with camping site, treehouse, and cottage features nature-based activities for families in #Gunma 🏕️ sweetgrass.jp
Judge Lara Horin (left) and the Futaba Area Tourism Research Association team, holding their award certificate.
🧵13/ #JapanTravelAwards judge Lara Horin handed the 2026 Best Social Impact award to Futaba Area Tourism Research Association 👥 #Indian & #Japanese leaders crafted tours with locals to reshape how #Fukushima is understood and to revitalise its economy & society… Unique worldwide! f-discover.com
Judge Jake Dolosa (left) and Miyakojima Dugong Research Tour delegate (right) holding her award certificate.
🧵12/ #JapanTravelAwards judge Jake Dolosa gave the 2026 Best Educational Travel award to Miyakojima Dugong Research Tour in #Okinawa 🧜♀️ Participants join experts on boats to survey, contributing to conservation research. True investigative #ecotourism! www.manateelab.jp/tour
Judge Joy Jarman-Walsh on the left, with two delegates of Ento (centre & right) holding their award certificate.
Sea & land seen through the giant window of a room at Ento.
🧵11/ #JapanTravelAwards judge @jjwalsh.bsky.social handed the 2026 Best Sustainable Travel award to Ento 🌿 It's #Japan first geopark-based facility where you can sleep, a “geo-hotel” in #Shimane. I’m very curious, and interested in learning more about breadth & depth on site… ento-oki.jp/en/
InKimono won both the 2026 Best Accessible Travel and Best LGBTQ+ Travel awards.
Photo of a lesbian couple in colourful kimono and of a gay couple in subdued kimono on the left. Positive comments from social networks on the right.
🧵10/ Double win! InKimono also wins Best #LGBTQ Travel at 2026 #JapanTravelAwards, via judge Georgie Ichikawa 🏳️🌈👘 #Japan is safe & welcoming, and I loved guiding lesbians on honeymoon here. So glad that InKimono photos of gay/lesbian couples also get the love they deserve!
Judge Josh Grisdale (left), InKimono CEO Stasia Matsumoto (centre), and judge Georgie Ichikawa (right).
Wheelchair client in kimono on the left, and diverse praises from social networks on the right.
🧵9/ #JapanTravelAwards judge @joshgrisdale.bsky.social handed the 2026 Best Accessible Travel award to InKimono ♿👘 This personalised kimono rental/styling in #Tokyo may be #Japan only such wheelchair-aware service. The Polish owner strives to ensure fun without diluting the culture 👍🏻 inkimono.com
Judge Ally Hongo (left) and the delegate of Ryokan Ohana (right), holding her Grand Prix certificate.
🧵8/ #JapanTravelAwards judge Ally Hongo handed the 2026 Grand Prix to Ryokan Ohana 🏆 This inn in #Fukuoka is #Japan only nationally designated place of scenic beauty where you can sleep ✨ The family keeps considering how to ensure this 400 y.o. building remains in 100 years! ohana.co.jp/en/
Organizer Seiya Hongo crying, beside organizer Ally Hongo.
Delegate of Futaba Area Tourism Research Association on the verge of tears.
🧵6/ The #JapanTravelAwards ceremony was moving & powerful, with organizers, judges, and winners crying or on the verge of tears 🥹 Sitting in the front, I could feel the raw emotion in the room!
MC and program of the event
🧵1/ Great vibes at 2026 #JapanTravel Forum! Now at #Tokyo American Club for panels, awards, networking… Grateful to Shiitake Creative for the invite as #JapanTravelAwards press to celebrate inclusive, sustainable, and remarkable tourism 🗾
Power purple 💜 looking forward to seeing everyone at the 2026 Japan Travel Awards event today in Tokyo 🗼
I'll be giving out the Best Sustainable Travel Award - it's always such an honor to be a judge and take part in this inspiring Japan travel event #japantravelawards #tourism
#sustainable #travel
Great chat this morning with the fabulous Ally Hongo who's originally from Bulgaria but has lived, worked & studied here in Japan since high school Ally is director of the annual #japantravelawards doing great work to create sustainable tourism industry across Japan www.youtube.com/live/VoZJJXf...
Full list of 2025 #JapanTravelAwards winners at japantravelawards.com/2025-winners... 🔖 See you in 2026 🙂
Judge and winner (right) in each other's arms
Six delegates with the award certificate
A joint venture between a 300 y.o. brewery and an accomodation lets you be a #sake brewer for a day in Nagano. A powerful #WomenEmpowerment background led to an emotional moment between the winner and an organizer. 2025 #JapanTravelAwards Grand Prix 🏆 kurabitostay.com/en/ #RiceWine #Wine
