Hakodate among Japan's rising spots for international visitors

I visited Hakodate several years ago, and was surprised that such a cool city with plenty to do wasn't that well known with people outside Japan. It seems like that's changing, though!

Goryokaku, a star-shaped fort I visited on a trip to Hakodate several years ago.

According to Skyscanner's newly released Travel Trends Report 2027, searches for flights to Hakodate from South Korea increased by 443% compared with the same period last year, making it one of six Japanese destinations experiencing a significant rise in international interest.

Searches for Sendai from Thailand increased by 254%, and interest in Fukuoka from Malaysia rose by 140%. South Korean travelers are also searching for Omitama in Ibaraki Prefecture (+199%) and Komatsu in Ishikawa (+104%). Osaka also made the list, albeit not really being as under the radar as others, with searches from Mexico increasing by 103%.

I think it's super encouraging to see travelers looking further afield and discovering some of the places that make Japan so interesting beyond the big-name cities. Probably a good reminder for those of us living here, too, that there's plenty to do just about anywhere you visit!