On August 1, 2026, South Korean media Maeil Business Newspaper reported that despite continued high prices in South Korea, the enthusiasm of South Koreans for overseas travel has not waned, and Japan continues to be the most popular travel destination.

According to the article, travel data for the first half of 2026 and summer, released by travel booking platforms Klook and Agoda, showed that Japan was the most searched and booked overseas travel destination by South Korean travelers on both platforms. Klook's data from July 1st to 20th indicated that search traffic related to Japan increased by 60% compared to the same period last year, making it the most popular country.

Furthermore, in Agoda's search rankings for the first half of 2026 (January-June), Tokyo, Fukuoka, and Osaka occupied the 1st to 3rd places in the overseas city category, with Sapporo also ranking 6th. As a result, Japan accounted for four of the top 10 cities.

Following Japan in popularity were short-haul Asian destinations such as Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan. Meanwhile, changes in travel styles were also observed, with rapidly increasing interest not only in classic cities like Tokyo and Osaka but also in regional cities such as Matsuyama, Miyakojima, Kitakyushu, and Hiroshima. Differences were also seen in travel content; while interest in hotel bookings was high for Japan and Taiwan, experiential products such as rental cars, local tours, and transportation methods were notably popular for Vietnam and China. The article analyzed, 'This summer, the popularity of short-haul travel continues, with a particularly significant increase in hotel demand in Japan.'

Regarding this, South Korean netizens commented, 'Even after considering various options, I always end up choosing Japan,' 'I never get tired of visiting Fukuoka and Sapporo, no matter how many times I go,' 'Japanese travel allows me to enjoy 'overseas travel' without much financial or psychological burden,' 'It's good that it's only 1-2 hours away,' and 'It seems that young people from Japan and South Korea are purely enjoying cultural exchange, putting political matters aside.'

Other comments included, 'Japan has good customer service, and its regional cities are unique and interesting,' 'Traveling around regional cities is trending lately,' 'The 'Japanese-like' scenery seen in anime and dramas can be felt more in regional cities,' 'I hope South Korean regional cities will also learn from this,' and 'Recently, I hear Korean wherever I go.' (Translation/Editing: Higuchi)