Calling all of those with the urge to travel to Japan.
And paging for those who want to travel for free.
We have a new lobang (good deal) for you.
With a few simple steps, you can stand to win a fully sponsored trip to selected locations in Japan.
This is what you need to know about this exciting opportunity.
Japan National Tour Organisation Is Offering a Fully Sponsored Trip to Japan
In its latest stunt to promote Japan, JAPAN by Japan has announced that it is searching for “participants who are interested in collaborating with us to make promotional videos for Japan”.
These participants stand to design a “once-in-a-lifetime birthday celebration for your loved one(s) in Japan”.
The trip will be fully sponsored by the organisers. This includes all expenses of the trip, “inclusive of air tickets, accommodation, transport, and food & beverage as decided to be part of the itinerary”.
Wow, generous much?
For those who are hearing about JAPAN by Japan for the first time, it is a community website supported by the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) Singapore Office.
This sponsored trip is made possible through the generosity of the JNTO Singapore Office and has as its aim to “bring Japan even closer to Singapore” by highlighting the “endless discovery” that one can make in Japan.
They want travellers from Singapore to “fall in love with Japan and help these Japan lovers discover their own ways to enjoy Japan”.
The idea is to show the “lesser-known gems” in Japan to a broader audience through this trip.
Three Destinations in Japan Are on the List
In case you think this sponsored trip is an “open season” in any location in Japan, it is not.
Participants are free to plan their own itineraries but may only select from three different locations within Japan.
One of the options is a “Family Exploration to Hokkaido”, which is to take place between 3 September 2023 (Sunday) and 8 September 2023 (Friday).
The target demographic of participants for this trip is a family with children. Ideally, the family comprises two adults and two children who are at least 11 years old by the end of 2023.
Under the Hokkaido travel option, winners are expected to visit the areas of Kushiro, Furano, Sapporo, and Chitose.
As for the contents of the trip, the theme is outdoor adventures for the family so the itinerary should include a “wide variety of activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and canoeing”.
For those who are foodies, you can choose to taste the “rich flavours of Hokkaido” by eating vegetables that you harvest from the fields.
Learning more about Japan’s “raw elements”, such as its nature, that cannot be experienced “anywhere else in the world” is also an option.
The second option is to Hiroshima and San’in (Tottori & Shimane). This is under the name “Dreamlike trip for 2 across Hiroshima and San’in” theme during the November 2023 period.
The sponsorship would be for a five-night stay in Hiroshima and San’in.
If you are a couple, opt for this option. You can stand to visit the areas of Izumo, Iwami Ginzan, Onomichi, Fukuyama, and Hiroshima if you win this option.
In terms of what you can expect to do on your trip, you can “design and make” your “dream rings” in Izumo. Izumo is a destination known as a “sacred place for marriage in Japan”.
For those who are shopaholics, you may be pleased to know that a visit to a “world-famous denim production spot” is on the cards. You will have the opportunity to “create a luxurious pair of jeans that costs 1 million yen per pair but comes with a lifetime warranty”.
If you are a nature lover, you will be covered as well. Opt to explore the beautiful Seto Inland Sea by bicycle or car, or island hop with a sightseeing boat covering Okunoshima.
Okunoshima is an island famous for its local rabbit residents.
Why not experience some cultural aspects while travelling in Japan? Those who win the Hiroshima option can witness the traditional performing art “Iwami Kagura”, which has been around since “ancient times”.
You can treat your eyes to a “powerful stage performance featuring gorgeous costumes” and immerse yourself in the myths of the old.
The last option is to Kyushu, though details have not been released at the time of writing this article.
How to Apply for the Rare Opportunity
The application process for this exciting opportunity is pretty simple. You just need to complete three steps.
First, you should create an introductory video for JAPAN by Japan.
This is your chance to convince the judges why JAPAN by Japan should sponsor the trip for you and your loved ones.
The video should be in English, and introduce yourself to the viewers. JAPAN by Japan is also looking for the following points in your submission:
- Who would you be celebrating on this trip?
- Why would you like to gift them a trip to Japan for their birthday?
- What would you like to do?
- What destinations interest you in the region you have applied for?
To make sure the video is of good quality, ensure that you take the video in an area with sufficient lighting. Also, do some quality checks to make sure that your face and voice can be seen and heard clearly in the video.
There is a length limit of three minutes for the video.
As to who has to appear in the video, it is flexible and up to the submitter (who must be featured in the video). The guests who the submitter wishes to invite to Japan may or may not appear in the video, depending on their preferences.
Second, you should fill up the online application form provided by JAPAN by Japan.
Sign up as a JAPAN by Japan member (which comes with its own application form) if you haven’t already before filling up the form to join this contest.
Indicate which route you want to enjoy for free and submit the supporting documents requested for (such as the introductory video we mentioned earlier).
You can apply for more than one route if you wish.
Do note, however, that only JAPAN by Japan members residing in Singapore may fill up this application form. Also, there must be at least one Singapore citizen in the travelling group.
For the third and last step, you get to meet the judges in an interview.
You may be shortlisted and invited for an interview with a panel before the final winners of the contest are selected.
Keep an eye out for an email from JAPAN by Japan via [email protected] during this time, including your junk inbox.
The interview may be an online one or an in-person one, depending on the circumstances.
And if you manage to pass through all three rounds, congratulations. You have just earned yourself a well-deserved fully sponsored trip to the Japan location you selected.
Applications for the destinations have already opened. Do note that the applications close on 18 June 2023 (Sunday), so there is slightly more than two weeks for you to plan how to impress the judges.
If you are selected for the sponsored trip, you have a fair bit to do before you fly off to the Land of the Rising Sun.
For starters, you need to plan your trip itinerary together with the JAPAN by Japan staff. You can list out what you want to do and places you want to visit with your travel companions, in line with the theme of each respective travel option.
Then, make sure your travel documents are in order.
This includes ensuring that your passport has at least six months of validity so that you can pass through the customs of both Singapore and Japan without hassle.
Travel insurance would also be a good bet in case any accidents or misfortunes strike your trip.
Now, you will be all set to fly to the Land of the Rising Sun. Leave any camera-shyness you have in Singapore, as cameras will be following you on the trip.
In particular, there will be some JAPAN by Japan staff accompanying you on the trip, including photographers and videographers taking photos and videos of you and your companions enjoying your trip.
You can feel like the main character in a movie while on your trip.
Do remember to flash your best smile and share your thoughts on the trip while the camera lenses are trained on you.