A record 97.6 per cent of Japanese couples getting married this year will honeymoon overseas, says a Japan Travel Bureau (JTB) survey.
This is the highest number of overseas honeymooners since the JTB initiated surveys on honeymoon trends and destinations in 1978.
This year's figure is also 40 per cent higher than the 57.3 per cent recorded in 1982. But while the numbers are up, spend is down. (See table, right.)
According to Watabe Wedding, Japan's leading expert on weddings, about 59,200 Japanese couples are getting married this year. Using the JTB's survey, this means 57,779 newly-wed couples will have their honeymoon overseas.
Hawaii remains the top destination, attracting about 26 per cent of Japanese honeymooners. The US mainland is the second favorite, attracting about 23.9 per cent.
The popularity of the US among honeymooners is a reflection of the general trend pointing to the US as the top destination of outbound Japanese tourists. Europe - particularly Rome, Paris, Venice, Florence, Milan and London - is expected to attract 15.6 per cent of honeymooners this year.
Australia is also a big draw. The JTB estimates that 13.7 per cent of honeymooners will visit Australia, especially Sydney and the Gold Coast.
Some 6.7 per cent of the newly-wed couples are expected to visit Guam while 5.2 per cent are going to the South Pacific islands.
In terms of the number of bookings, Asian beach resorts are running at 230 per cent of last year's figures.
For South Pacific destinations, it is 170 per cent higher and for Guam and Saipan, about 148 per cent higher.
"While the actual numbers themselves are not large, it seems sure that the popularity of beach resorts will continue into the future," a JTB spokesperson added.