Japanese Visitor Impressed by Davao's Clean Environment and Diverse Attractions
Japanese tourist Shigata Kentaro has expressed admiration for Davao City's cleanliness and natural offerings during his recent visit. "My first impression of Davao City is that it is clean. I am actually coming from other parts of this country, but I honestly felt I was in another world. So I will recommend this place to other tourists," Kentaro stated when sharing his initial thoughts on the city.
Tour Operator Highlights Growing Interest from Japanese Visitors
Kentaro, a resident of Chiba who works as a tour guide in Tokyo, was one of several Japanese tourists invited by local tour operator Jen Ramirez, who organizes Davao Coffee Tours. Ramirez noted that Japanese tourists are increasingly frequenting Davao through private tour operators' efforts to boost international arrivals. "We have a Japanese guest who joined our coffee tour. In October, he brought 10 tourists, and now there are 11 on the tour. This March, a batch of 20 Japanese tourists is coming. They are returning to the tour, which means we are on the right track. What we lack here in Davao is promotions," Ramirez explained.
Ramirez emphasized that their tours are story-based, designed to introduce Davao City not only to visitors but also to locals. "If you get to know your city, you'll fall in love with the place and you will defend, you will protect, and you will promote," she said. Her goal is for Dabawenyos to participate in tours like the coffee and chocolate tours, enabling them to promote the city through word-of-mouth or social media, especially as advertising costs rise for tour agencies.
Kentaro Sees Davao as Ideal for Japanese Tourists
Kentaro highlighted Davao's appeal to Japanese tourists, citing its cleanliness and favorable climate. "Japanese people like clean places, and in my opinion, this is favorable for Japanese tourists. They like a different climate, especially since this month Japan is in the middle of winter, everybody wants to go away from the winter cold," he remarked. He also enjoyed the diverse activities available, such as exploring mountains, rivers, and coffee-related experiences.
However, Kentaro pointed out a potential improvement: establishing direct flights between Davao City and Japanese cities. Despite this, he affirmed that the city is worth visiting even with connecting flights, thanks to its pleasant climate. This marks Kentaro's second visit to Davao; his first was a two-day stay, while this recent trip spanned six days to fully explore the area.
Government and Private Sector Strategies to Attract Japanese Tourists
In response to growing interest, the City Government of Davao, through the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO), plans to launch Furosato Tours this year. These tours will guide visitors through historical sites showcasing traces of a prosperous pre-war Japanese community in Davao City.
Additionally, sports initiatives are being leveraged to attract tourists. The First Davao-Japan Friendship Golf Tournament was held on December 5-6, 2025, featuring several golfing tourists from Japan. This event aimed to promote Davao as a golfing destination, highlighting the city's three golf courses.
According to records from the Department of Tourism (DOT) and CTOO, Japan ranks as the third largest foreign tourist market for Davao, following the United States and China. In 2024, Japanese visitors accounted for 15 percent of foreign tourist arrivals in Davao City, underscoring the significance of this market segment.
Discussions are ongoing between tour operators and stakeholders to further increase Japanese tourist visits, focusing on enhancing promotional efforts and leveraging Davao's unique attractions to sustain this positive trend.
