2023 January 9
When planning a trip, the other thing to consider besides the destination is when to travel.Accommodation and transportation costs vary depending on the season, even for the same destination.In order to travel as cheaply as possible, many of you may be wondering, ``When is the cheapest time to travel?'' and ``Are there any other ways to reduce travel costs other than seasonal travel?''In this article, we will introduce when is the cheapest time to travel domestically, as well as ways to keep your travel costs low other than choosing the season.
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Even when traveling to the same destination, the prices of accommodation, airline tickets, bullet trains, limited express tickets, rental cars, etc. can be higher or lower depending on the season.In particular, the number of travelers has an impact on travel prices.
When there are many tourists, this is called the "on season" or "busy season," and accommodation and transportation costs are higher.This is because even if the price is raised a little, demand is high, and many reservations can be expected for hotel rooms, airplane seats, and train seats.
Periods when there are relatively few tourists are called the "off season" or "low season," and travel prices are lower.During the off-season, hotel rooms, airplane seats, and Shinkansen seats tend to be vacant.For services such as hotels, airline tickets, and Shinkansen trains where rooms and seats are limited, profit margins will decline if there are empty rooms or seats.Even if you lower the price, it is better to reduce the availability of rooms and seats, so tours and room rates are often cheaper during the off-season.
There are two reasons why domestic travel prices become more expensive: ``times when there are many people on vacation'' and ``seasonal/regional characteristics.''First of all, travel prices tend to be higher during long holidays and long vacation seasons when there are many people on vacation, as shown below.
The number of travelers also changes depending on the following seasonal and regional characteristics.During special seasons and regions, the number of travelers increases and travel costs become higher.
The times when domestic travel prices are cheaper are when there are few holidays or when it is difficult to travel.Generally speaking, travel tends to be cheaper during the following periods:
Mid-January to early February is the time when people start work and school after the year-end and New Year holidays and winter vacation.Few people are able to take time off from work or school, and as it is the coldest time of the year, fewer people travel.
In March, the travel industry (hotels, travel agencies, airlines) reaches its fiscal year-end.Therefore, from February to March before spring break, we may offer low prices or closing sales in order to increase sales even a little.In particular, package tours from travel agencies are more likely to be available at bargain prices compared to the off-season.
The period from mid-April to before Golden Week is the time when the new semester and school year begin.Many people are starting a new life, and it is difficult to take time off, so the number of tourists decreases.
The period from mid-May to late June is the period after Golden Week and before summer vacation, when demand for travel is particularly high.Furthermore, this is also the season when more and more areas of Japan are entering the rainy season, so the number of tourists decreases.Hotels and travel agencies tend to offer discount campaigns and plans based on the number of reservations.
Early December is the end of the autumn foliage season.It is also a busy period towards the end of the year, so travel demand will decrease and prices will become cheaper for a while.
We have summarized the trends in travel costs by area that is popular for domestic travel.
Hokkaido is a popular summer resort and a popular spot for winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding in the winter.December to early February, excluding the year-end and New Year holidays, is generally the off-season for travel, but in Hokkaido it is the on-season, so be careful.
If your destination is Hokkaido, the cheapest times are from late March to late April, from the end of spring break until Golden Week, from early May to June, and from late October to November, after the autumn leaves season and before the snow starts falling. is.The particularly recommended time is June.Hokkaido does not have a rainy season, so the weather is stable even in June.It is also attractive that it is easy to be active outdoors.
Okinawa is a popular resort destination, so prices tend to be high during long vacations.Prices are especially high in the summer when many people enjoy marine leisure activities such as swimming in the sea.
The cheapest times to travel to Okinawa are after the New Year holidays in January, after Golden Week in May, through June, and from October to November. May is the start of the rainy season, so there is a lot of rain, and October is typhoon season.Also, because it gets cold in November and you can't do marine sports, there are fewer tourists and prices are lower.Early June is especially recommended as the rainy season has ended and the climate is stable.The great thing about this area is that you can enjoy marine sports earlier than other areas.
Kyoto is a popular tourist destination not only for domestic tourists but also for foreign tourists.In addition to the general high season, mid-November to early December is the best time to see the autumn leaves, and special viewings and nighttime illumination events are often held, making travel prices higher.
The cheapest times to travel to Kyoto are from early January to February, from mid-May to June, and from December 1th to 2th when there are fewer events.
Osaka is a tourist destination that is popular with people of all ages throughout the year.Changes in travel costs also correspond to typical on-season and off-season periods.Even in the off-season, mid-January to early February is a great opportunity for college students who have a long spring break to travel cheaply. The climate is stable from the end of Silver Week in late September until October, making it easy to go sightseeing.
There are many people who want to enjoy overseas travel as cheaply as possible, rather than domestic travel.The on-season and off-season periods for overseas travel are basically the same as for domestic travel.However, please note that prices tend to be higher during off-season periods, such as holidays and consecutive holidays in foreign countries that do not exist in Japan, and times when large events are held.Also check the calendar of the place you are planning to stay and know the on-season and off-season in advance.
We have compiled a list of the peak seasons for popular overseas travel destinations.Please refer to it.
During these times, many people from all over the world flock to the United States, so airfares and hotel prices are expensive.
*In addition to China's Spring Festival, Lunar New Year is also celebrated in countries such as Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Around the Lunar New Year, more people take long vacations, so there are many people moving around the country and traveling.Be aware that lodging, plane tickets, train and bus tickets will be more expensive, and it will be harder to make reservations.Please keep in mind that the dates of Lunar New Year differ between the lunar calendar and the new solar calendar, so the exact dates will change depending on the year.
Generally, the off-season in Europe is winter.However, regions at higher latitudes experience shorter daylight hours in winter.Please be aware that the time you can be active outdoors will be shorter.
So far, we have explained that it is important to choose an off-season trip in order to save on travel costs.On the other hand, it can be difficult to take time off from work or school, making it difficult to travel during the off-season.From here, we will introduce ways to keep your travel costs as low as possible, even when traveling during the off-season.
An effective way to reduce transportation costs is to reserve tickets early.In some cases, airlines offer an "early purchase discount service" where you can get cheaper fares if you book 75 or 55 days in advance.Even on Shinkansen and limited express trains, early bird discounts may be available for a limited number of seats, so be sure to keep that in mind.
Air ticket prices vary depending on the day of the week.Generally speaking, prices tend to be cheaper from Monday to Thursday.Even if it is difficult to take a large amount of time off, you can save a little money even during the high season by using just one paid day and setting your departure and return dates on weekdays.
LCCs (low-cost carriers) usually sell cheap airline tickets, but they sometimes hold sales that make them even cheaper.The discount rate and timing of the sale will vary depending on the company, but you should be able to reduce your transportation costs more than usual.Many sales are limited-time or 24-hour-only.It will be easier to get information if you follow and register on the airline's SNS, email newsletter, and apps on a daily basis.
The reason travel prices are cheaper in the off-season is because there are fewer tourists.On the other hand, it is also an unpopular time when it is difficult for tourists to gather.Here are some things to keep in mind when booking travel plans and accommodation during the off-season.
The off-season is also the time when bad weather is likely to occur, such as the rainy season, typhoons, and snowfall.Please be aware that transportation may be delayed or canceled, and events may be cancelled.
Even in the off-season, from mid-January to early February, the temperature is low, so be aware that the climate makes it difficult to travel for anything other than winter sports.Due to snowfall and snow accumulation, there is a high probability that planes and trains will be canceled or delayed, and accidents will occur on expressways.
During the typhoon season from August to October, flights and ferries are often canceled.Unfortunately, your return flight may be canceled and you may end up spending the night at the airport.If you're considering traveling during this season, be sure to check the latest information on local weather and transportation.
Depending on the destination and time of year, travel prices may not be much cheaper even during the off-season.For example, during the off-season from mid-April to Golden Week, the temperature is high and the weather is stable, making it easy to travel.Therefore, even in the same off-season, prices tend to be higher compared to mid-January to early February.Also, depending on the location, the best time to see cherry blossoms may continue into mid-April.Travel destinations and accommodations with popular cherry blossom viewing spots may have higher prices or may be fully booked and difficult to book.
It is often during the high season that you can enjoy the natural scenery unique to each season, such as autumn leaves and cherry blossoms.If you're traveling during the off-season, these pleasures may be limited.
Also, during the rainy season, there is a lot of rain, so outdoor activities may not be possible.In winter and summer, you will need to take precautions against the cold and heat, and the ways you can enjoy your trip will be limited depending on the time of year you travel.
On the other hand, the winter off-season is also the season when food becomes more delicious.We recommend planning your trip for off-season activities such as gourmet food, winter sports, and hot springs.
Glamping is recommended when you are unsure of where to go during the off-season when travel costs are low.Glamping is an all-weather room with air conditioning and heating, so the appeal of glamping is that you can enjoy it regardless of the season.Another advantage of spending time in an environment close to nature is that you can enjoy spectacular views of nature even in the off-season when it is difficult to go out.
Depending on the glamping facility, there are plenty of services and facilities that even beginners can easily enjoy, such as activities such as barbecues, hot springs, saunas, and game rentals.You can freely choose your stay style, so you can have a fulfilling time even in the off-season.In addition to family trips and trips for three generations, it is also recommended for girls' gatherings and anniversary trips.
Some people may be thinking, ``I want to go glamping, but isn't it expensive?'' or ``Is there a way to go glamping as cheaply as possible?''
In general, many glamping facilities offer cheaper accommodation prices during the off-season.Some facilities offer discount plans depending on the day of the week or time of year you stay, such as weekdays or seasonal discounts.Be sure to check out the websites of glamping facilities that interest you.
This article explains in detail how to use glamping cheaply.
▼Introducing how to use glamping cheaply and facilities with cheap plans▼
https://www.resort-glamping.com/article/article_006/
▼How to stay cheaply at a glamping facility? ▼
https://www.resort-glamping.com/article/article_069/
This time, we introduced ways to reduce travel costs based on explanations about the seasons.Choosing an off-season trip can reduce accommodation and transportation costs, but it also has its pros and cons, such as reducing the enjoyment of the trip and making it more dependent on the weather.Also, depending on your travel destination, prices may not be so low even in the off-season.After considering the purpose of your trip and how you want to enjoy it, try taking advantage of off-season reservations and other ways to reduce travel costs if necessary.
*This column was created based on information as of April 2023, 8.Please check the official website for the latest information on each facility and each prefecture campaign.
glamping column