Tokyu's 'TsugiTsugi' flat-rate lodging wins sandbox approval to test hotel-airfare tie-up
On November 13, Tokyu announced that its plan to test combining hotels and flights for its flat-rate lodging service TsugiTsugi was certified under Japan's regulatory sandbox by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The test will check whether a model where users buy lodging rights first and choose destination and dates later can be paired with airfares. Timing and how to take part will be announced later.
Key points
- Certified on November 13, 2026 under the Industrial Competitiveness Enhancement Act's regulatory sandbox system
- The test will survey users' price perception and choices in real trips, and verify total-price display for the future
- TsugiTsugi partners with more than 500 lodgings nationwide and has passed 350,000 registered users, mostly free members (as of November 13, 2026); timing and participation details to follow
Background
TsugiTsugi is a flat-rate service in which users buy lodging rights first and decide destination and dates later. Because its transaction structure differs from conventional trips that arrange hotel and flight together, using an 'individual inclusive tour fare' requires real-world verification that user protection and fair competition among airlines can be ensured.
The regulatory sandbox lets new services be tested with limited periods and participants, and uses the data to review regulation or clarify how it is applied.
What it means for shops
The certification permits the test to go ahead; it does not mean the service can immediately be offered. Depending on results, rules on how prepaid or flat-rate lodging can be combined with airfares may be clarified. For hotels and travel businesses, it is a development to watch because booking and price display may change.
What shops should do
- Accommodation and travel businesses should watch for Tokyu or MLIT announcements on timing and participation terms
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Summaries are written by Seiichi Studio based on the original releases. Always check the source for the exact details.