Could it be possible some day to fly from Tokyo, Japan, to New York, New York in an hour?
A Japanese travel agency thinks so.
- The Nippon Travel Agency announced on October 28, 2025, that “it will launch a point-to-point transport service in the 2030s that would connect Tokyo and US cities like New York in 60 minutes via outer space,” according to the South China Morning Post.
- The travel agency would partner “with a reusable rocket development start-up,” and the cost for a trip would be about $657,000 or 100 million yen, the site reported.
- The “transport vehicle would launch from an offshore site and be capable of linking any two points on Earth within an hour,” Newsweek reported, adding that civilian travel to outer space is now reality.
- For example, Blue Origin allows people to purchase space travel, although that’s not a regular commercial route along the lines of the proposed Nippon plan.
- The plan was dubbed “rocket travel” online.
Travelers Responded With Bewilderment
Travelers didn’t know what to think about the idea, offering mixed reaction on Instagram.
“What’s the point?” asked one person. “For sure no inflight service,” wrote another. “How much leg room do you get?” inquired another traveler. “In a rocket? Trip to heaven instead,” wrote another person.
“We hope this business will be a new starting point to connect space travel and tourism,” Nippon Travel President Keigo Yoshida said at a news conference, according to Newsweek, which reported that, “Advance applications for the program will open in fiscal 2026.”
What Is the Nippon Travel Agency?
What is the Nippon Travel Agency? “We handle 200,000+ travelers to Japan every year. From sightseeing to education, VIPs, incentives, sports events..any type of travel that you can name, we are proud to say that we have many experiences of handling them,” the agency says on its website.
“We have the ability to develop products using our strong connection with the West Japan Railway Company. We are ranked #1 with customer satisfaction among Japanese travel agencies.”
The agency’s services included group tours and “luxury private tours.”
Blue Origin & Other Companies Are Already Offering Civilian Space Travel
Meanwhile, Blue Origin and companies like it are already offering space travel journeys to private customers.
“New Shepard astronauts ascend toward space at more than three times the speed of sound. They pass the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space 62 miles (100 km) above Earth, before unbuckling to float weightless and gaze at our planet. The crew returns gently under parachutes, forever changed,” Blue Origin wrote.
The website advised, “Gaze upon Earth from giant windows comprising one-third of the capsule’s surface area. The spacious and pressurized capsule seats six and is climate-controlled for comfort.”
It adds, “Spectacular sunrises, sunsets, and stargazing abound at Launch Site One, nestled in the Guadalupe Mountains near Van Horn, TX. You and your crew will stay at Astronaut Village, cultivating fellowship and memories that last a lifetime.”
Concluded Blue Origin, “Our on-site astronaut training program is meticulously designed to teach everything you’ll need to know for a safe spaceflight. Over two days, you’ll learn about New Shepard’s mission profile, safety systems, zero-g protocols, and execute mission simulations.”
