2024/03/28 / Last updated : 2024/03/28 東京支店 blog

2024 JAPAN TRAVEL AWARDS RECOGNIZES 3 PLACES IN JAPAN FOR CHAMPIONING DIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

The 2024 Grand Prix was awarded to Zerogravity marine sports facility on Amami Oshima island in Kagoshima Prefecture for its pioneering efforts in barrier-free marine sports. Zerogravity provides inclusive access to its accommodations, pool, and boat, offering visitors the opportunity to engage in various marine activities like diving, snorkeling, and kayaking.

Founder Junichi Torihata emphasized the importance of respecting the dignity of guests, evident in Zerogravity’s boat equipped with an elevator for wheelchair users to enter and exit the water comfortably.

Director Yuta Kawamoto noted that guests often rebook their stays due to the unique experience offered at Zerogravity, with many expressing that there is no comparable facility in Japan.

Naniwa Issui ryokan inn in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, received two awards: best accessible travel and a special recognition award for best accommodation. Judge Josh Grisdale, a wheelchair user and founder of Accessible Japan, commended the inn’s accessibility features, including a slope at the entrance, barrier-free rooms, and a lift for outdoor baths. He also praised the attentive service provided by the staff, who adjusted table heights to accommodate guests.

The recipient of this year’s top sustainable travel award is Okinawa Diving Service Lagoon in Onna, Okinawa Prefecture, hailed as a prime example of responsible tourism by the awards committee. Judge Joy Jarman-Walsh, founder of Inbound Ambassador Co., commended the experience for its emphasis on environmental and regenerative sustainability within a thriving business framework.

At Okinawa Diving Service Lagoon, customers have the opportunity to engage in activities like cultivating coral seedlings and subsequently planting them while snorkeling or diving.