THE surge in Indonesian tourists to Japan is predicted to peak in the period March to April 2026. This is driven by the momentum of the Eid holiday which is close to the cherry blossom season, or what is known as the hanami season.
Japan Airlines (JAL) Sales Manager, Benny Herlian, reminded Indonesian tourists to pay attention to the choice of departure time.
According to him, this year has unique characteristics because of the meeting between the homecoming flow of Japanese expatriates and the long holiday in Indonesia.
“Because Eid this year may be March 20, this is a bit unique, because on average Japanese expatriates will also return to Japan,” said Benny in a press conference, quoted Friday (16/1).
Guide to Enjoying Sakura and Snow
For tourists who are aiming for the beauty of cherry blossoms, Benny recommends visiting from late March to mid-April for popular areas such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima.
However, for those who prefer the northern atmosphere, cherry blossom season comes a little later. In the Tohoku and Hokkaido regions, flowers usually don’t bloom until mid-April to early May.
Meanwhile, for tourists who still want to experience the sensation of winter and see snow, the visiting period is still available from December to mid-March.
Anticipate Price and Ticket Surge
The meeting of the Eid holiday and cherry blossom season risks triggering limited airplane seats. Benny emphasized the importance of careful planning so that tourists are not trapped by skyrocketing ticket prices due to massive demand.
“Don’t miss out on getting a ticket in early April or around April 5-6 for flight prices that can be considered,” stressed Benny.
The increasing demand for flight services was not only triggered by local tourists, but was also driven by the pattern of returning Japanese citizens residing in Indonesia to their home countries in the same period.
Visitation Trends Continue to Increase
Based on data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Japan’s attractiveness to the Indonesian people continues to strengthen. From January to November 2025, it was recorded that 558,900 Indonesian tourists had visited ‘Sakura Country’.
This figure shows significant growth of 26.3% compared to the same period in the previous year.
With this positive growth trend, prospective travelers are expected to book tickets and accommodation early to ensure comfort during their holiday during this busy period. (Ant/Z-1)
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