ABSTRACT
Based on the fact that the halal industry has now become a trend in Japan, this study attempts to investigate halal tourism in Japan as a recent tourism strategy aimed at Muslims as its niche market. This study is based on questions regarding Japan’s strategy in applying halal tourism and how this halal tourism strategy is viewed from an economic and diplomatic standpoint. This study is an analytical descriptive research, which uses a qualitative approach through a data interpretation method. This study shows that the halal tourism strategy in Japan comprises restaurants, accommodation, transportation, related associations or institutions and also information services, while maintaining Japanese local wisdom. In this case, the concept of commodification has been applied implicitly to some products or facilities related to halal tourism. Hence, it should comprise the uniqueness of Japanese culture, as a non-Muslim majority country, while developing their tourism strategy in the context of halal tourism. This halal tourism strategy has implications for Japan’s economic improvement and diplomatic relations.
