Klook: Japan remains the top spring destination among Filipinos

Travel and leisure booking platform Klook said Japan is seeing an increased interest in multiple destination itineraries among Filipinos, as the country maintains its spot as the top destination for the spring season.

“Spring Travel is always a must for Filipinos looking to escape the summer heat and to enjoy unique seasonal experiences,” Klook Philippines General Manager Michelle Ho said in a news release.

“Filipino travelers prioritize comfort and affordability just as much as they value meaningful and memorable experiences,” she added.

Based on Klook’s survey across nine Asian markets, travelers visit Japan (78%)  and South Korea (52%) during the spring season, mostly (36%) due to seasonal attractions.

The platform linked these findings to its annual Travel Pulse research for 2026, which showed that “time-limited sights or spectacles”, including flower blooms, will be one of the most sought-after experiences for 2026.

Apart from seasonal activities, 23% of tourists travel to experience the cool weather, and 14% said travel costs are more favorable during this period.

Some 15% find this season as the best time that works with their personal schedule, while 12% said this time aligns better with their travel companion’s schedule.

“What we’re seeing through this Spring Readiness Index is a renewed confidence in planning and exploring destinations around these experiences, and a more intentional approach to how they travel,” Ms. Ho said.

The platform’s travel index also found that between March and April 2025, Filipino travelers explored “second-city locales” or regional destinations.

Significant growth was observed last year in Sennan, Nagoya, and Hiroshima, alongside scenic escapes like Sapporo, Fukuoka, Oono, and Kobe.

The same behavior was also seen in South Korea, where visitors opted to explore beyond the traditional routes, such as Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do, Jeju, Gyeongju, Chungcheongnam-do, and Jeollabuk-do.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), about 3,617,700 international travelers visited Japan in December 2025, a 3.7% year-over-year (YoY) increase.

Of which, the Philippines ranked the ninth biggest source of tourists with 115,600 and a 44.1% YoY growth. — Almira Louise S. Martinez