Japan has initiated significant travel promotions in Kyushu after a catastrophic earthquake that led to numerous cancellations by tourists and damage to properties. The government-subsidized scheme first started in Kumamoto and Nagasaki on September 15, 2026, giving discounts of up to 60 percent on qualifying accommodation and travel packages. Other five regions in Kyushu are also set to implement the same kind of program successively.
The scheme is being launched after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit the region on July 28, which caused many travelers to cancel their hotel bookings while the destination kept accepting guests.
Accommodations and tours are offered with up to 60-percent discounts in Kumamoto and Kagoshima. Other involved regions will provide discounts between 40 and 50 percent depending on the nature of the trip and accommodation used.
The scheme also imposes restrictions on how much discount travelers can get. For trips that involve a one-night stay, the maximum discount is 20000 yen for every traveler. For those who stay for two nights or more, one can benefit 30000 yen in discounts.
Furthermore, those who stay in two or more prefectures can avail of an additional discount of up to 35000 yen which will motivate tourists to visit many destinations in Kyushu instead of visiting one-only destination.
The travel period from Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, and Oita is from October 1 until December 25, 2026.
Saga will start taking reservations from September 24 while Oita and Miyazaki are expected to take reservations toward the end of September. Fukuoka is hoping to launch its program in October.
Kagoshima may start the program around mid-October after the existing discount scheme is completed on October 13.
The tourism sector experienced a lot of financial losses and challenges due to the earthquake. In the city of Kumamoto, canceled accommodation cost approximately ¥2.7 billion by August 21. Kagoshima faced a similar problem, amounting to ¥2.3 billion of canceled payments by the end of the August month.
These figures show how soon the fears regarding its natural disasters can lead to a decrease in demand for traveling in the affected areas, even though the relevant tourist infrastructure still remains operational.
Japan’s officials are sure that the new discount program will help promote Kyushu and encourage tourists to come back there.
Similar Programs in the Past
Japan has already made use of several travel subsidy programs in the aftermath of other earthquakes. Similar travel subsidy programs came into force after Kumamoto earthquake in 2016 and Noto Peninsula earthquake that happened in 2024.
This program will be similar to those above-mentioned ones and allow for getting financial support for accommodations and tours, thus promoting tourism in the first days of the program.
The latest discounts are intended to make traveling cheaper and encourage people to visit the islands of Kyushu with its numerous tourist spots, such as hot springs, historic places, and sandy beaches.
