Hongkongers may not always have the leisure time to travel, but when they do, they make sure it is in Japan. Citizens of Hong Kong love to visit the Land of the Rising, not only because of its beautiful sceneries and the blooming sakura but also because of the two countries' strong ties.
Hongkongers have the lowest annual leaves in the world. Many people have leftover days to use before the financial year ends this month, so they will surely make time to travel and enjoy. And where they will go? According to the South China Morning Post, their number one destination is Japan to experience its spring, which is also the perfect time to witness the cherry blossom season.
Japan's cherry blossoms usually bloom in late March and early April. This season attracts a flood of tourist, not only from Hong Kong but from other parts of the world as well. However, the blooming sakura can also be found in other nations like South Korea.
Although South Korea's cherry blossoms are uncelebrated like Japan, it holds the same beauty and view -- especially in Seoul and on Jeju Island. These places are also "picturesque destinations." In the two countries, the emergence of sakura means the beginning of spring. But the bloom may last for only ten days, so tourists should carefully plan their itineraries.
This year, the first bloom may happen in Kyushu in southern Japan, a great alternative destination for the sakura. A Japan travel expert at JTB (jtbhongkong.com) in Hong Kong Ellie Chiu added Tateyama Park, Sakura no Sato in Nagasaki, and Senganen Garden's Japanese garden in Kagoshima are also good places. The Japan Weather Association reported the city of Fukuoka might hold its first flowers on March 16, Kumamoto on March 17, Nagasaki on March 20, and Kagoshima on March 26.
Meanwhile, there is an underlying reason why Hongkongers love to travel to Japan. The ties between these two nations "have never been closer." In 2017 alone, 2.23 million or 8 percent of the country's 28 million tourists were from Hong Kong.
"Hong Kong is Japan's number four travel market after mainland China, South Korea, and Taiwan in the number of visitors," Japan ambassador and consul general in Hong Kong Kuninori Matsuda said. Some of the Hongkongers favorite Japan destinations are Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo, Okinawa, and Hokkaido.
"Many countries have relations with Japan, but Japan and Hong Kong is so much closer and so much stronger," Matsuda added. The two countries have "long and strong business ties" and a lot of things in common that hold its bond.
