Annual growth. A later monthly fall. Two views of China–Japan travel.

Support programmes in Japan: applicants, conditions and dates

These published schemes concern inbound tour products or the work involved in developing them. They are not automatic discounts for individual visitors. An advertised application period does not establish that money remains available, that an application will be accepted, or that a grant has been awarded.

Fukushima: the applicant company's location determines the category

The scheme covers qualifying pre-arranged or tailor-made tours planned and sold by a foreign-incorporated travel business. The categories below refer to the applicant business's location, not simply to a traveller's nationality or the language of this article. Japanese-incorporated travel companies and businesses providing only land arrangements are excluded.福島県観光物産交流協会 — 福島インバウンド割 福島インバウンド割 — 実施要領

This is a contribution towards tour-development expenses, capped at JPY 1 million per tour and, in principle, JPY 10 million per company cumulatively. Guides, tour staff and Japanese-national participants do not count towards the subsidised headcount. The rules include dining venues, activity providers, roadside stations and souvenir shops within the definition of tourism facilities. Counting a hotel as both accommodation and a tourism visit requires a clearly separate qualifying service.福島インバウンド割 — 実施要領

Phase two covers departures from 1 November 2026 and trips returning by 28 February 2027. Applications are scheduled for 23 October 2026–19 February 2027. A confirmed tour is normally submitted 35–7 days before departure, excluding departure day; starting before grant approval is among the exclusions. The programme may close when its budget is exhausted. Payment follows the completion check and confirmation of the award, rather than an advance.福島県観光物産交流協会 — 福島インバウンド割 福島インバウンド割 — 実施要領

The published completion-report deadlines disagree: the grant guidelines specify the earlier of 14 days after completion and 10 March, while the implementation rules specify the earlier of 14 days and 28 February. This discrepancy remains unresolved; neither date is presented here as the definitive deadline.福島インバウンド割 — 実施要領 福島インバウンド割 — 交付要綱

Iwaki: a contribution calculated per person-night

The Iwaki scheme concerns travel businesses planning, selling and operating inbound products recruited overseas that include accommodation in the city. Its basic conditions are four or more travellers, at least one city overnight and one tourism facility; an additional overnight requires an additional visit. The fixed contribution is JPY 2,000 per eligible person-night, capped at JPY 100,000 per tour and JPY 200,000 per company in the financial year. Providing Japanese ground arrangements alone does not establish eligibility.いわき — 訪日旅行商品造成支援金 いわき — 支援金交付要綱

Eligible trips depart from 11 May 2026 and return by 28 February 2027. The application window is 1 May 2026–18 February 2027. Applications follow confirmation of operation and are due by the tenth day counted backwards from the day before departure, using the scheme's counting rule. The programme is budget-limited. Reports submitted from October normally lead to payment in March 2027. The city allows combination with the Fukushima programme, but the applicant, trip and procedural requirements of each scheme remain separate.いわき — 訪日旅行商品造成支援金 いわき — 支援金交付要綱

Okayama: group overnight stays, including applications by overseas agencies and Japanese land operators

A qualifying inbound group has at least ten travellers, excluding tour leaders, guides and drivers, all staying at least one night in Okayama. School and other educational trips are excluded. The contribution is JPY 2,000 per traveller for one night, or JPY 4,000 per traveller for two or more nights. The latter is a total, not an amount added each night. Caps are JPY 40,000 or 80,000 per tour, and JPY 1.2 million cumulatively per business.岡山県 — 訪日団体ツアー造成助成金 岡山県 — 令和8年度交付要綱

Eligible stays run from 1 April 2026 to 28 February 2027. The normal application deadline is 30 days after the tour ends; February stays have a 10 March 2027 deadline. Funding ends when the budget is reached. The rules do not preclude combination with municipal support within the prefecture, without waiving the other programme's requirements.岡山県 — 訪日団体ツアー造成助成金 岡山県 — 令和8年度交付要綱

Oki Islands: assistance for inbound product-development inspections

Registered Japanese or overseas travel businesses outside Oki may qualify, subject to conditions including experience developing and operating Japan products. The inspection must lead to a publicly marketed package including an Oki overnight, developed and sold within one year, with advance plan-sharing and a meeting with the local team.隠岐 — インバウンド向け下見支援 隠岐 — 下見支援助成金交付要綱

Support covers up to two-thirds of eligible expenditure, capped at JPY 100,000 per application. Eligible categories include travel from the final departure point within Japan to Oki, transport on the islands, accommodation, admissions, guides and activities. It does not cover the entire international journey to Japan. The eligible accommodation-cost ceiling is JPY 20,000 per person per night; drinks and certain other expenses are excluded. Inspections are covered from 1 April to 30 November 2026, normally with an application at least ten days beforehand. Conditions also concern use of the scheme in the current and preceding financial years. Remaining funds have not been confirmed.隠岐 — インバウンド向け下見支援 隠岐 — 下見支援助成金交付要綱