There Are Free Trips To Japan Up For Grabs — Here’s What To Do To Get An All Expenses Paid Trip To Hokkaido & Other Parts Of Japan

It’s no secret that Singaporeans love holidaying in Tokyo, but what about exploring other parts of Japan — and for free, too?

No, this is not a drill. The Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) in Singapore is giving away all-expenses paid trips to Hokkaido, Hiroshima and San’in that will take place later this year. Air tickets, accommodation, transport, and meals will be fully paid for. Selected travellers will even get to design their own tour itineraries.

The theme of the travel campaign sponsored by Japan by Japan (or JbyJ), a community website by JNTO Singapore, is to design a trip to celebrate a birthday for a loved one in Japan. As such, successful participants will have to plan their itinerary based on the theme.

One thing to note: Successful applicants and their companions on the trip must also agree to have their pictures and videos taken by accompanying JbyJ staff during the trip, and this content will be used for promotional purposes on social media and ads, among others.

Who can apply?

Singapore residents are eligible, and at least one member of the travelling party must be a Singapore citizen. Applicants must also be a member of the JbyJ website, which is free to sign up.

Now, not all trips are made equal. These are the different criteria for each trip that you have to know before you apply.

Hokkaido: This tour will take place from Sep 3-8, 2023, so make sure you can travel during this period. For this itinerary, JNTO is looking for a family with children — that is, two adults and up to two kids, and children have to be 11 or older by end of 2023.

The family will get to explore the idyllic eastern Hokkaido, including locations such as Kushiro, Furano, Sapporo and Chitose. Activities include nature and outdoors-themed ones like canoeing and mountain biking, and of course, feasting on Hokkaido’s fresh produce is also on the agenda.

Hiroshima-San’in:  While dates have not been announced yet, this trip encompasses a five-night stay in November, and it’s designed for a couple.

The tour will take the couple through a historical and cultural exploration of Hiroshima and San’in (including Shimane and Tottori). A range of activities will be included, where participants can create rings at one of Japan’s most sacred spots for marriage, soak in the sights of the Seto Inland Sea, and island hop on a boat which includes a visit to Okunoshima, an island renowned for its rabbit residents.

Applications are currently open until June 18. To apply, you need to fill up the forms on this site, as well as create a three-minute video in English. The video should include whose birthday you wish to celebrate on the trip, why you think Japan is the best destination for this, and what you’d like to do on the trip. If you get shortlisted, you will still have to undergo a round of interviews.