Speakers: Ian Miller, President of the Hakuba International Business Association, as well as owner and operator of the Hakuba Panorama Hotel, Le Bocage Chalets & Apartments, Hakuba Taproom, and Tengu Travel

Hosting Committees: Tourism Industry

Member Fee: ¥600

Guest Fee: ¥1,200

Registration/Cancellation Deadline: Thursday, November 5 (16:00)

This event will be hosted as a webinar. Instructions for joining the virtual meeting will be sent to registered attendees after the above stated deadline.

Event Overview

Chances are that your passport has been collecting dust for about a year now, and it’s unlikely things will change much in the months to come. While expat families can now legally reenter Japan if they head home for the holidays, for most, it’s not worth the quarantine time on both sides.

But for many used to being out of the country during winter break, planning a winter staycation in Japan may seem quite complex. There are so many ski areas to choose from, and many cater to different types of clientele.

In this virtual event, Ian Miller, president of the Hakuba International Business Association, will explain “staycation” options for the winter holidays and how to take advantage of government subsidies, such as Go To Travel and Go To Eat campaigns, as well as the furusato nozei hometown tax scheme and many other prefectural and municipal discounts. He will also talk about the major ski areas in Japan and how some may suit your needs better than others.

There are many aspects of the Go To Travel and Eat campaigns that are important to understand:

• The budget is likely to run out well before the January 31 deadline if there is not supplementary budget

• While the discount per person, per night is limited, there are no limits on duration of stay

• Travel agents and accommodation providers can package many things into your stay, so Go To can be applied to lessons, rentals, meals, and more

Whether or not you intend to take a ski trip in Japan this winter, this event should be beneficial to anyone looking to travel soon.

Cynthia Usui and Steve Dewire, Co-Chairs Sanae Sekiya, Vice-Chair Tourism Industry Committee

NOTE 1: This event is OFF THE RECORD.

NOTE 2: Please note that, as with all guest presentations, the content and comments of the speakers reflect their own opinions and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the ACCJ.

NOTE 3: If you cancel after the stated deadline, the full meeting fee will be charged to your account.