China row sends Japan’s January tourist arrivals down 4.9%
Japan’s tourism recovery stalled in January as a diplomatic row with China sharply reduced mainland arrivals, dragging overall visitor numbers into their first year-on-year decline in four years.
Data released Wednesday by the Japan National Tourism Organization showed total inbound visitors fell 4.9% from a year earlier to 3,597,500 — the first annual drop since January 2022.
The decline was driven largely by a steep fall in arrivals from mainland China amid simmering political tensions and travel disruptions.
- Mainland China: 385,300 (down 60.7% from 980,520 in January 2025)
- South Korea: about 1.18 million (up 21.6%)
- Taiwan: 694,500 (up 17%)
- United States: 207,800 (up 14%)
- Hong Kong: roughly 200,000 (down 17.9%)
The tourism agency said the timing of the Lunar New Year holiday weighed on travel, as it fell in mid-February this year rather than late January in 2025.
It also cited a Chinese government advisory warning against travel to Japan and reduced flight frequencies.
Tensions have escalated since November, when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, potentially triggering a military response.
Beijing has criticised the remarks. Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the Munich Security Conference that forces in Japan were seeking to “revive militarism,” while China’s foreign ministry said dialogue must be based on mutual respect.
Tourism flows had already shown strain in December, when arrivals from mainland China fell 45% to around 330,000.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
