Japan’s tourism industry faced a significant setback in January after losing nearly 600,000 visitors from mainland China, highlighting how political tensions can ripple through economies and ordinary lives.
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, mainland Chinese arrivals fell 60.7 per cent year-on-year, dropping to 385,300 visitors compared to 980,520 during the same month last year. The sharp decline reflects not only diplomatic strains but also seasonal shifts and travel advisories that have reshaped travel patterns.
Officials noted that the Lunar New Year timing played a role. Last year, the holiday began in late January, boosting travel numbers, while this year it fell in mid-February. However, the bigger factor appears to be Beijing’s warning advising Chinese citizens against visiting Japan. Reduced flight frequencies between the two countries further contributed to the slump.
For years, Chinese tourists formed the backbone of Japan’s tourism boom. A weaker yen had made Japan an attractive shopping destination, filling streets from Tokyo to Osaka and tourist hotspots near cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji. Their absence is now clearly visible.
In January, South Korea overtook China as Japan’s largest source of tourists, sending 1.2 million visitors, an increase of 21.6 per cent. Meanwhile, arrivals from Hong Kong also declined by 17.9 per cent.
Overall, Japan recorded 3.597 million foreign visitors in January, marking a 4.9 per cent drop compared to the same period last year.
Political Tensions at the Core
The tourism decline comes amid escalating diplomatic friction between Tokyo and Beijing.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that Japan could consider military intervention if China attempted to take Taiwan by force. Beijing responded strongly, summoning Japan’s ambassador and warning of “significant risks” to the safety of Chinese citizens traveling to Japan.
Military tensions added further strain. In December, Japanese authorities reported that Chinese J-15 fighter jets from the Liaoning aircraft carrier locked radar on Japanese aircraft near Okinawa in international waters. Meanwhile, China tightened export controls on items with potential military applications, raising concerns about disruptions to rare-earth mineral supplies critical to Japanese industries.
Even cultural symbols were affected. Japan’s last two pandas were returned to China last month, a move many saw as symbolic of cooling ties.
Despite her reputation as a China hawk, Prime Minister Takaichi has said she remains open to dialogue while also pledging to strengthen Japan’s defence capabilities and safeguard national territory. Beijing, however, has insisted that genuine dialogue must be built on mutual respect.
At the Munich Security Conference, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi accused forces in Japan of attempting to “revive militarism,” further underscoring the widening divide.
