While many tourists go to great lengths to always be digitally accessible, a growing number of gadget-weary travelers in Japan are seeing what it is like to leave behind mobile phones and social media services altogether.

Joining a trend that started overseas last year, they are ditching their phones and tablets for "digital detox" holidays at summer camps or hotels, discovering the joys of time spent without instant connection to the digital world.

"We want our travelers to experience something that is not part of their usual routine. By turning off their mobile phones, we want people to appreciate the moment and realize things which are often ignored when our digital devices are there," said Mirei Eguchi, chief executive officer of Kushunada Co., which offers a "digital detox" vacation package in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture.