Japan inbound visitor numbers fall 5% in September

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) reported that inbound visitors to Japan in September 2026 reached approximately 3,103,700, representing a 5.0% decrease compared to the same month the previous year.

JNTO attributed the decline to rising airfares driven by Middle East tensions, reduced flight frequencies, and flight cancellations caused by typhoons. Despite the monthly dip, seven markets—including South Korea, Mexico, and the Middle East—recorded their highest-ever September visitor numbers.

The cumulative number of visitors from January to September 2026 reached 30,732,000, marking a 2.9% decrease year-on-year but continuing the trend of exceeding 30 million visitors as seen in 2025. Conversely, the number of Japanese citizens traveling abroad rose by 6.3% to 1,481,900.