KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – 25 July 2023 – In the recent Halal In Travel Global Summit 2023 held in Singapore on June 1, 2023, Japan retained its position as the sixth among 138 countries listed in the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2023.
Global Muslim Travel Index 2023
The summit brought together travel industry stakeholders and various national tourism organizations to discuss global Muslim travel market opportunities.
The Hida Takayama Muslim Friendly Project
Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture has a population of just 80,000 but attracted over 35,000 travelers from Malaysia and Indonesia.
To accommodate Muslim travelers, the city is enhancing their experiences through the Muslim Friendly Project.
This initiative provides information on Muslim-friendly restaurants and the availability of prayer spaces.
A popular destination nearby is the picturesque town of Hida Furukawa, which inspired the setting for the animated movie Your Name (Kimi no Na Wa).
The area also offers easy access to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shirakawa-Go.
Experience halal Kobe beef in Kobe, Japan.
Home to the oldest existing mosque in Japan, the city of Kobe is just 20 minutes by train from Osaka.
The Kobe Mosque was built in 1935 and survived air raids in 1945 and a large earthquake in 1995.
The city is also popular during cherry blossom season, with Ikuta River Park and Sumaura Park attracting local and international visitors.
Kobe offers Muslim-friendly facilities alongside authentic teppanyaki dining experiences with halal-certified meat so that Muslim diners can indulge in this cuisine without worry.
More prefectures are improving their Muslim-friendly websites and guides for tourists.
Shizuoka Prefecture, the Kingdom of Food
Shizuoka Prefecture is known for its food.
To put Muslim travelers at ease, they have updated their portal that shares information about Muslim-friendly restaurants, grocery stores, and other relevant facilities here.
Meanwhile, Toyama Prefecture has become popular due to the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train).
For helpful travel information, Muslim travelers may refer to the updated Toyama Muslim Guide.