As the summer vacation season arrives, many of Japan's hotels are betting that an emphasis on safety measures rather than low prices will be the best way to attract wary customers amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

As they seek to make up for lost sales and stay afloat, some are also offering paid-in-advance vouchers and flexible reservations with no cancellation fees.

Oyo Japan G.K., the Japan unit of major Indian hotel operator Oyo Hotels & Homes, has started offering its member facilities packages of free sanitary goods, including 200 face masks, thermometers, a set of 200 gloves, hand sanitizers and plastic sheets.