Dramatic Decline in Chinese Tourists Visiting Japan
A significant drop in Chinese visitors to Japan has been reported, with a 45% decrease noted in December 2025 due to government advisories.
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) revealed on January 21 that in December 2025, Japan received 3.6177 million foreign visitors, with only 330,400 traveling from China—a staggering 45.3% decrease from the previous year. This marks the first downturn since January 2022, a period still heavily impacted by COVID-19.
The notable decline was largely due to a travel advisory from the Chinese government urging caution for trips to Japan, following statements made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan.
Despite this drop in arrivals from China, total inbound visitors for December achieved a record high. The Christmas holidays boosted numbers from other countries, significantly offsetting the decline from China. Arrivals from the United States, Canada, and Southeast Asia saw considerable gains.
- Visitors from Malaysia rose 40.4% year-on-year to 100,600, while South Korean arrivals increased by 12.3% to 974,200—both hitting record highs.
- Additionally, visitor numbers from the United States, the United Kingdom, and France also reached record levels for December.
