If a trip to Japan is on the cards for you in 2025, then it would be incomplete without these award-winning travel experiences. The Japan Travel Awards for 2025 recognised 11 outstanding attractions in the country that promote tourism through diversity, inclusion, sustainability and hospitality. The winners were chosen by a panel of industry experts and if you want to experience the country like never before then keep scrolling and add these experiences to your itinerary.
11 Travel Experiences Recommended By Japan Travel Awards
1. 2025 Grand Prix: Kurabito Stay
Kurabito means a ‘sake brewer’ and you can become one at Kurabito Stay in Saku, Nagano Prefecture. Saku is a popular sake brewing region in Japan and this stay has been awarded for providing people with a “comprehensive travel experience that promotes slow, immersive cultural exploration” and is beneficial for domestic and international travellers, as well as the local community.
2. Best Accessible Travel: Barrier-Free Outdoor Support
This outdoor tour operator located on Lake Biwa provides accessible stand-up paddleboards (SUP), kayaks, canoes, and fishing experiences.
3. Best LGBTQ+ Travel: Ace Hotel Kyoto
Ace Hotel Kyoto standardises diversity in Japan’s hospitality sector through a range of annual events, campaigns, and collaborations. They were awarded for creating an engaging environment for all guests and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
4. Best Sustainable Travel: Natural Indigo Dye Studio AiAii
This natural indigo dyeing studio in Sumoto grows and ferments its own indigo plants. They were awarded for successfully creating a sustainability-focused travel experience that is educational, entertaining, and fulfilling.
5. Best Inbound Travel: Samurai Trip–Kendo Experience Tour
According to the Japan Travel Awards, Samurai Trips are held in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, and Sapporo and are especially popular among foreign travellers. As many as 3,000 participants indulge in these trips per year.
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6. Best Family Travel: Iganosato Mokumoku Tezukuri Farm
Iganosato Mokumoku Tezukuri Farm was awarded for its efforts to create an ecosystem that teaches children the importance of understanding and valuing natural surroundings. Furthermore, they were appreciated for their various hands-on family activities and experiences.
7. Best Destination Development: Hakko House Nagaoka
This guesthouse in Nagaoka allows its guests to participate in various activities that showcase the practices of local farms and businesses that are integral to the region’s culinary heritage.
8. Best Cultural Travel: Templestay Zenso
In some special recognition awards, Templestay Zenso was recognised for blending tradition and modernity, comfort and excitement in a refreshing and well-rounded cultural experience.
9. Best Luxury Experience: Treeful Treehouse Sustainable Resort
Located in the Yanbaru Forest in Okinawa Prefecture, the resort is Japan’s first and only treehouse hotel. They were awarded for introducing guests to an exclusive experience of coexisting with nature.
10. Best Social Impact Award: Ume, Yamazoe
This modern inn is renovated from an old private house that operates under the concept of being “a slightly inconvenient hotel” and “a people-friendly place” for all.
11. Best Accommodation: Hakone Honbako
This hot spring retreat in Kanagawa Prefecture is known for its unique historical gastronomic experience and an internal library that houses over 12,000 books! It was awarded for providing guests with a unique relaxation experience that serves as a complete retreat for both the mind and body.
So, which of these experiences would you like to add to your Japan itinerary? Let us know in the comments.
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons & website/japantravelawards