(Based on data from DIVE Inc.)
DIVE Inc., a company specializing in staffing services for the tourism industry, has announced that the number of foreign workers employed at tourism facilities across Japan using working holiday visas has increased by 35% compared to the same month last year.
The Working Holiday Program allows young people—generally aged between 18 and 30 (age limits vary by country)—who meet certain conditions to travel primarily for tourism while engaging in limited employment to supplement their travel funds. The maximum duration of stay is one year. Japan currently has agreements with over 20 countries and regions, including Australia and Canada. The program aims to provide young people with international experience and promote mutual understanding between nations.
Looking at regional trends in the increase of foreign workers on working holiday visas, Gunma Prefecture saw a tenfold rise compared to the previous year, driven by growing demand in tourist destinations such as Kusatsu Onsen. In Nagano Prefecture, the acceptance of foreign workers has expanded in ski resorts and hot spring areas, leading to an approximately 2.2-fold increase. In Tochigi Prefecture, bolstered by attractions such as Nikko, the number of workers rose by about 1.7 times, indicating a growing trend of acceptance in areas near the Tokyo metropolitan region.
Even in Hokkaido, where the acceptance of foreign workers was already relatively high, a stable increase was observed, suggesting continued demand for services catering to inbound tourists. In Hiroshima Prefecture, although there were no employment cases in the previous year, multiple foreign workers have begun employment this year, signaling signs of expansion into new regions. Note that the year-on-year comparisons are limited to regions that had previous records.
Employment of foreign workers under the working holiday visa scheme is not confined to urban areas but is spreading to regional tourist destinations as well. In particular, areas near Tokyo such as Gunma, Nagano, and Tochigi, along with Hokkaido and Hiroshima, are seeing new and expanding placements driven by the recovery of tourism demand. This trend indicates a growing momentum in leveraging the unique characteristics of each region to utilize human resources effectively.