The number of Chinese tourists visiting Japan decreased by 60.7% in January

Data released by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) on February 18 showed that the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan in January was 3,597,500, a decrease of 4.9% year-on-year. This is the first year-on-year decline in three years since January 2022.

Besides the Chinese government’s reminders to avoid traveling to Japan, the difference in the timing of the Lunar New Year holiday is also considered a major reason.

The number of Chinese tourists decreased sharply by 60.7% year-on-year, falling to 385,300, marking the second consecutive month of negative growth, and the decline has widened further from 45.3% in December 2025. The number of direct flights to Japan decreased due to the travel advisories.

The Lunar New Year in 2026 begins on February 15, showing a clear “reactionary decline” compared to the Lunar New Year holiday starting in January 2025. In January 2025, the number of tourists from mainland China and Malaysia both increased by approximately 2.3 times, while tourists from Hong Kong also increased by 30.8%, resulting in a significant overall increase in Asian tourists. Looking at the breakdown by country and region for January 2026, South Korea led the way with a 21.6% year-on-year increase to 1,176,000 tourists.

Japan’s popularity as a tourist destination is soaring, with increased flights contributing to the growth in passenger traffic.

Furthermore, Australian tourists increased by 14.6% year-on-year to 160,700, also a new monthly record, primarily driven by increased demand for winter sports such as skiing.

Tourist numbers from the United States, the United Kingdom, and France also showed an upward trend.