Japan offers free domestic flights to passengers from the UK and the EU: a new boost for regional tourism
Japan launched one of most attractive tourist campaigns this winter. The Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO), in collaboration with All Nippon Airways (ANA), is offering passengers from the United Kingdom and the European Union two free domestic flights during their stay in Japan.
How does an offer work?
The programme has been active since 24 November 2025 to 31 January 2026., and allows passengers to book complementary flights within ANA's extensive domestic network, which covers more than 40 airports across the country.
- The maps are free
- Passengers continue to pay taxes and airport charges.
- The number of available seats is limited
- It is possible to combine multiple destinations into one trip
The offer is part of ANA's initiative “Stopover & Add-on Free Fare”, designed to allow international travellers to easily add domestic flights at no extra fare.
What does Japan want to achieve?
The campaign aims to encourage travellers to venture outside of classic destinations such as Tokyo and Kyoto, to reveal regions that generally receive less tourist attention — Tohoku, Kyushu, Shikoku, Okinawa, and others.
Time to:
- reduces pressure on the most visited cities
- promotes sustainable tourism development
- ensures a more even distribution of tourist consumption
- Strengthen local economies in less developed areas
Global trend: free domestic flights as a lure for guests
Japan isn't the only one to use such incentives. Thailand between September and November 2025, ran a similar scheme, offering free return domestic flights for 200,000 foreign visitors as part of the government's plan to boost tourism and support local communities.
This campaign represents a smart move by Japanese tourism: it offers travellers value, while bringing a more sustainable and balanced flow of guests to the country. For European travellers, this is an ideal opportunity to discover Japan beyond the usual routes — and at a price that's hard to ignore.
