Travel Awards Japan 2022: Outstanding Destinations Proving Diversity and Inclusion
Dude, there are some wicked awesome, off-the-beat-path places in Japan that you totally gotta check out, fam! These hidden gems might not get much attention, but they're friggin' incredible and give you a real taste of Japan. How do these places get the word out? The Japan Travel Awards, mate! It's like an award-winning party for these sick destinations! Let's dive into the 2022 awards, winners, and all the amazing, under-the-radar places you should hit up when you're in Japan.
What's the deal with the Japan Travel Awards, bro?
According to their website, "The Japan Travel Awards are an initiative that recognizes and celebrates the great destinations in Japan which are making efforts to promote diversity, inclusiveness, and transformative travel experiences through tourism." These awards are run by Shiitake Creative Inc. and they do an awesome job of shining a light on some lesser-known, but totally awesome places in Japan.
The selection process for the awards is pretty intense. A crew of judges checks out each place, inspecting it on-site and judging it based on their category expertise. As a media partner for the Japan Travel Awards, we're beyond stoked to have been a part of it. It's been a rad experience getting to know all the cool spots in Japan and even having the chance to pick our own winner for one of the Media Popularity Awards. Kudos to all the finalists and, of course, the winners of each category! Let's check out the trophy winners.
The 2022 Winners
The awards had a bunch of entries this year, so they had to narrow it down to 28 finalists judged across six categories, plus the grand prix. The grand prix is for a place that has got it all, plus some extra awesomeness.
- Grand Prix:
- Winner: Fukushima Barrier-Free Tour Center - This center is mad cool because it's all about making travel easier for physically challenged people, plus they've got killer multilingual support. These folks are totally committed to inclusively making the world a better place, and other tourism organizations should defo take note of their efforts. Check them out in Fukushima prefecture!
- Most Accessible:
- Winner: Fukushima Barrier-Free Tour Center - Did I mention how awesome this place is? They've got lots of information about accessible travel, and they're doing a bang-up job of spreading the word. They even employ people with disabilities and are working to boost the whole region.
- Media Popularity: Accessible Japan Winner: Fukushima Barrier-Free Tour Center - This place is a fan favorite, winning three awards in total. If you're ever in Fukushima, you gotta check it out.
- Best LGBTQ+ Friendly:
- Winner: W Osaka - Based in Osaka prefecture, this hotel is all about inclusiveness. They've got a welcoming vibe, making travel a breeze for LGBTQ+ travellers. They even have a "Queer Me Out" project to boost their service for this awesome community.
- Best Sustainable (Two Winners):
- Winners: Hotel Why / Nishiawa Region - Based in Tokushima Prefecture, Hotel Why is a "Zero Waste" program hotel that gives guests a chance to rethink waste. They work closely with the community to make fun, sustainable products and use the wood for agriculture.
- Nishiawa Region - This off-the-beaten-path area in Tokushima prefecture has some mad potential. They're a triple certified zone, which means they're a tourism destination, a scenic area of agriculture and food, and a world agricultural heritage site. They've got a strong bond with the surrounding nature and are working with businesses to create sustainable tourism options.
- Best Hospitality:
- Winner: Fufu Kawaguchiko - This private forest resort in Yamanashi prefecture is the ultimate getaway. You can chill out and enjoy the view of Mt. Fuji from your room or directly from the restaurant. There's no shortage of fun activities, too, like horseback riding and swimming. Their service is spectacular without being too over-the-top.
- Best Family Friendly:
- Winner: Happy Raft - This company in Kochi prefecture offers an all-around epic outdoor experience. They've got rafting on the Yoshino River, family tours, and tons of fun activities for everyone. Most of the staff speak multiple languages, making it super easy to bond with guides who've traveled all over.
- Best Luxury:
- Establishment/Service Winner: Hoshinoya Okinawa - You can't beat this spectacular resort in Okinawa prefecture when it comes to luxury facilities and service. They've got loads of amazing activities like learning Ryukyu karate, and their facilities and overall experience are unmatched.
- Experience Winner: Iwami Kagura Private Performance - Get ready for an exclusive and unique experience. Iwami Kagura from Shimane prefecture will come to your event for a private Kagura performance. Their members range in age from teens to 80+! This group is working hard to keep traditional performing arts alive.
- Special Recognitions
- Best Community
- Winner: Niyodo Penguins - This place is all about community. They offer Airbnb accommodations along the Niyodo River, providing a chill vibe for guests to unwind and make new friends. They work closely with locals, making travel feel more like a family reunion.
- Most Unexpected Discovery (Two Winners)
- Winners: Wasou Kajiura / Jiyucho - Wasou Kajiura in Nagoya offers a unique take on traditional Japanese fashion, making it more gender-neutral and inclusive. Jiyucho is a mysterious shop in Tokyo where you can send a letter to your future self to reflect on your life head-on. Both places are barrier-free and provide a truly unique experience.
- Media Popularity Awards
- Wanderlust Winner: Niyodo Penguins - This place is drawing a lot of attention, so it's no surprise that Wanderlust picked it as a winner. Keep it up, Niyodo Penguins, you're doing a great job in terms of sustainability!
- Best Community
That's it for this year's awards, dude! If you wanna be a part of the 2023 Japan Travel Awards, head over to their website for more info on how to enter. If you know anyone in Japan who might be interested or know of a place that should enter, spread the word. The Japan Travel Awards take all entries into consideration during the judging process for the finalists. These awards are all about promoting the best of Japan, so make sure to check out the finalists if you're ever in Japan. Happy travels, party people!
[1] Statistics on visitors to Japan - Japan Tourism Agency[2] Music Awards Japan - Official website[3] Japan International Manga Award - Official website[4] The Bamboo Lounge Team – Japan Travel Awards Finalists 2022[5] Arts & Culture – Embassy of Japan in the USA[6] Japan National Tourism Organisation: https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/japan-travel-awards/[7] TripAdvisor Article: https://blog.tripadvisor.co.uk/2022/05/22/japan-travel-awards/
- The Japan Travel Awards are an initiative that focuses on promoting diversity, inclusiveness, and transformative travel experiences through tourism.
- The awards are run by Shiitake Creative Inc and recognize great destinations in Japan making efforts towards these aspects.
- In the selection process for these awards, judges check out each place on-site and judge based on their category expertise.
- The 2022 Japan Travel Awards had 28 finalists judged across six categories, including the grand prix for a place with an overall exceptional appeal.
- Notable winners from the 2022 awards include Fukushima Barrier-Free Tour Center, which won three awards, and W Osaka, which was recognized as the best LGBTQ+ friendly destination.
- Other winners included Hotel Why in Tokushima Prefecture, Nishiawa Region, Fufu Kawaguchiko in Yamanashi prefecture, Happy Raft in Kochi prefecture, Hoshinoya Okinawa, Iwami Kagura Private Performance, Niyodo Penguins, Wasou Kajiura, and Jiyucho.
- Entries for the 2023 Japan Travel Awards are open, and anyone interested is encouraged to check the awards' website for more information. The awards aim to promote the best of Japan and its various experiences, events, culture, and destinations.
