(MVA) — With Japan’s overseas student group travel nearly recovered to pre-pandemic levels, the Marianas Visitors Authority is using its network in the country to woo school groups.
This month the Marianas welcomed 150 students from Seisa Junior High School in Yokohama city, Kanagawa Prefecture to Saipan, with an additional 260 students from the school scheduled to visit in February 2026. While Seisa High School has a long history of student exchange with the Marianas, this marks the first time that the junior high has visited.
“We are pleased to continue expanding our partnership with Seisa High School and to welcome Seisa Junior High to the Marianas for the first time,” said MVA Managing Director Jamika R. Taijeron. “The Marianas is an ideal first overseas experience for students from Japan. We are close by, offer a safe and welcoming community, enjoy warm weather year-round, and share deep historical and cultural ties. Student exchanges like this create meaningful connections and lasting memories, and we are proud to welcome these students to our islands.”
While in Saipan, the group had a tour of the island’s scenic and historic sites, enjoyed a day of cross-cultural exchange with students of Mt. Carmel School, visited the award-winning Managaha Marine Conservation Area, and had a stargazing tour. The group was organized by JTB — Japan’s largest travel agency — and Tasi Tours. The tour is one of the results of the JTB-MVA Tourism Business Development Conference held in August in Saipan to explore tourism business development opportunities.
“Due to the size of the Seisa group, they actually had to split into two groups, with half arriving in Saipan directly from Tokyo-Narita and the other half transiting through Guam due to limited seat availability. When the high school group comes in February, high bookings to Saipan will also force some of the students to transit through Guam,” said Taijeron. “It’s a good problem to have, as we have had steady growth from Japan market over the last four months. Japan has always been an important source market for the Marianas, and we continue to engage with partners in the market and seek expanded air service from Japan as demand grows for group travel, as well as travelers coming to enjoy our diving, golf, sports, and more. We warmly welcome all our visitors from Japan.”
Recently, Taijeron and MVA Board Chairman Warren Villagomez met with several airlines in Japan to seek expanded or new flight service. They also met with Japan Circuit Ladies, a women’s golf association who will be making an inspection tour of Saipan early next year in anticipation of future tournaments in the destination. In support of group tours, MVA is also supporting NMIFA Masters Cup 2026 Friendly Football Tournament in Saipan on Jan. 9-11, 2026, featuring senior soccer teams from the Marianas and Japan.
