CHONGQING, China, Dec. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from Xinhua Finance:
The sixth Jiangbeizui New Financial Conference was held in Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area on December 28. Themed "New Finance, New Opportunities: Intelligent Integration for Inclusive and Efficient Finance — Fostering the Development of a Western Financial Center," the event brought together more than 500 industry experts and business representatives from China and abroad.
In recent years, Chongqing has implemented the "Intelligent Integration for Inclusive and Efficient Finance" initiative to strengthen financial support for economic development, while Liangjiang New Area has drawn on the concentration of financial institutions and professionals in Jiangbeizui to support the establishment of the core functional zone of the Western Financial Center. As a result, Jiangbeizui's financial sector has steadily grown in overall strength and regional influence, with a notable increase in its ability to serve the real economy.
At the conference, Liangjiang New Area unveiled its private equity fund cluster. Since the beginning of the year, the area has introduced 12 private equity funds focused on advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, aerospace and space-based information technologies, and technology commercialization, with a total committed capital exceeding RMB 10 billion.
The conference also featured the signing ceremony for the "Joining Forces for Quality-Driven Production: Building a New Sci-Tech Finance Ecosystem" program, which is intended to collaboratively establish a new ecosystem for science and technology finance. In addition, the Jiangbeizui Financial Service Center of the New Land-Sea Corridor was formally inaugurated, providing integrated one-stop financial services and serving as a showcase for the effectiveness of financial services supporting the corridor's development.
During the plenary session, speeches were delivered by prominent figures including Lin Yifu, Dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics and Honorary Dean of the National School of Development at Peking University, and Ma Weihua, Chairman of Menglang Sustainable Digital Technology and former President of China Merchants Bank.
Liangjiang New Area serves as the primary platform and main hub for Chongqing to implement national initiatives, enhance productivity, and drive the growth of new and emerging industries. It also acts as the central hub for Chongqing's developing role as a Western Financial Center. With a solid industrial foundation, a well-established financial service system, the combined effect of multiple national initiatives, and a favorable financial policy environment, Liangjiang New Area offers broad opportunities for business growth.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Sixth Jiangbeizui New Financial Conference Opens in Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area
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- Regional Events in February Drive Travel Demand Following Tokyo and Osaka
- Seasonal events such as Fukuoka's "Path of Light," Sapporo's "Sapporo Snow Festival," and Okinawa's "Cherry Blossom Festival" contribute to rising interest in regional cities
TOKYO, Dec. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital travel platform Agoda, operated by Agoda Company Pte. Ltd. (Headquartered in Singapore, CEO: Omri Morgenshtern), today announced the top five domestic destinations in Japan gaining booking momentum this winter (December 2025 – February 2026), based on search data from Japanese travelers.
In the 2025 winter travel search trends, Tokyo and Osaka continued to lead the ranking, maintaining the top two positions from the previous year. At the same time, regional cities again demonstrated strong appeal, with Fukuoka, Sapporo, and Okinawa Main Island all placing in the top five. The data suggests that seasonal winter events have significantly contributed to increased search interest in these cities.
Domestic Winter Travel Destination Ranking (Dec–Feb)
| Ranking | 2024 | 2025 |
| 1 | Tokyo | Tokyo |
| 2 | Osaka | Osaka |
| 3 | Fukuoka | Fukuoka |
| 4 | Kyoto | Sapporo |
| 5 | Okinawa Main Island | Okinawa Main Island |
February Regional Events Fuel Search Growth
A notable trend revealed in the search data is the strong influence of February seasonal events in boosting interest in regional destinations.
- Fukuoka: Miyajidake Shrine "Path of Light" (February) - A mystical sunset phenomenon visible only twice a year, the "Path of Light" has become popular on social media, contributing to increased February travel searches.
- Sapporo: Sapporo Snow Festival (Early February) - Japan's largest winter event, attracting visitors from Japan and abroad. With its ice sculptures, illuminated displays, and food festivals, Sapporo remains a leading city for winter travel demand.
- Okinawa Main Island: Cherry Blossom Festival (Early February) - Okinawa is the first place in Japan where cherry blossoms bloom each year. The island's warm climate combined with early-blooming sakura maintains its steady popularity as a winter getaway.
Overall, the data clearly indicates that seasonal events concentrated in February are a major driver of domestic winter travel demand.
Tadashi Ikai, Senior Country Director, Agoda International Japan, shared: "Agoda's latest search data shows that, in addition to major metropolitan areas such as Tokyo and Osaka, regional cities hosting rich seasonal events in February are also receiving a high volume of searches. Experiences unique to winter - such as Fukuoka's 'Path of Light,' Sapporo's 'Sapporo Snow Festival,' and Okinawa Main Island's 'Cherry Blossom Festival', are capturing travelers' interest and strongly driving demand for winter travel. At Agoda, we remain committed to helping travelers fully enjoy these diverse winter experiences. By continuing to offer a wide range of domestic options and a seamless booking experience, we aim to make every journey more fulfilling and memorable for our users."
Travelers can seamlessly search and book more than 6 million accommodations, 130,000+ flight routes, and 300,000+ activities through Agoda's platform. Attractive accommodation deals can be easily found via the Agoda mobile app or official website (Agoda.com).
- Regional Events in February Drive Travel Demand Following Tokyo and Osaka
- Seasonal events such as Fukuoka's "Path of Light," Sapporo's "Sapporo Snow Festival," and Okinawa's "Cherry Blossom Festival" contribute to rising interest in regional cities
TOKYO, Dec. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital travel platform Agoda, operated by Agoda Company Pte. Ltd. (Headquartered in Singapore, CEO: Omri Morgenshtern), today announced the top five domestic destinations in Japan gaining booking momentum this winter (December 2025 – February 2026), based on search data from Japanese travelers.
In the 2025 winter travel search trends, Tokyo and Osaka continued to lead the ranking, maintaining the top two positions from the previous year. At the same time, regional cities again demonstrated strong appeal, with Fukuoka, Sapporo, and Okinawa Main Island all placing in the top five. The data suggests that seasonal winter events have significantly contributed to increased search interest in these cities.
Domestic Winter Travel Destination Ranking (Dec–Feb)
Ranking
2024
2025
1
Tokyo
Tokyo
2
Osaka
Osaka
3
Fukuoka
Fukuoka
4
Kyoto
Sapporo
5
Okinawa Main Island
Okinawa Main Island
February Regional Events Fuel Search Growth
A notable trend revealed in the search data is the strong influence of February seasonal events in boosting interest in regional destinations.
- Fukuoka: Miyajidake Shrine "Path of Light" (February) - A mystical sunset phenomenon visible only twice a year, the "Path of Light" has become popular on social media, contributing to increased February travel searches.
- Sapporo: Sapporo Snow Festival (Early February) - Japan's largest winter event, attracting visitors from Japan and abroad. With its ice sculptures, illuminated displays, and food festivals, Sapporo remains a leading city for winter travel demand.
- Okinawa Main Island: Cherry Blossom Festival (Early February) - Okinawa is the first place in Japan where cherry blossoms bloom each year. The island's warm climate combined with early-blooming sakura maintains its steady popularity as a winter getaway.
Overall, the data clearly indicates that seasonal events concentrated in February are a major driver of domestic winter travel demand.
Tadashi Ikai, Senior Country Director, Agoda International Japan, shared: "Agoda's latest search data shows that, in addition to major metropolitan areas such as Tokyo and Osaka, regional cities hosting rich seasonal events in February are also receiving a high volume of searches. Experiences unique to winter - such as Fukuoka's 'Path of Light,' Sapporo's 'Sapporo Snow Festival,' and Okinawa Main Island's 'Cherry Blossom Festival', are capturing travelers' interest and strongly driving demand for winter travel. At Agoda, we remain committed to helping travelers fully enjoy these diverse winter experiences. By continuing to offer a wide range of domestic options and a seamless booking experience, we aim to make every journey more fulfilling and memorable for our users."
Travelers can seamlessly search and book more than 6 million accommodations, 130,000+ flight routes, and 300,000+ activities through Agoda's platform. Attractive accommodation deals can be easily found via the Agoda mobile app or official website (Agoda.com).
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Agoda Releases Ranking of Japan's Most Popular Domestic Winter Travel Destinations
