Japan tourism revenue rises as Chinese visitor numbers plunge

Japan recorded 21.1 million international arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 2 % decline from the same period last year – the first dip in five years. The drop was driven by a 56.4 % fall in Chinese tourists after Beijing urged citizens to avoid Japan amid ongoing diplomatic tensions.

Visitors from South Korea and Taiwan offset the loss, with South Korean arrivals reaching 5.7 million (up 18.6 %) and Taiwanese travelers nearly 4 million (up 20.9 %). Higher spending helped tourism receipts between April and June total 2.5 trillion yen (about €14.5 billion), slightly above the previous year, and the average expenditure per visitor hit a record ¥244,457 (≈€1,420). Industry forecasts expect 40.5‑42 million visitors in 2026, and a recent Kyoto City Tourism Association report highlighted that the perception of Chinese tourists causing overcrowding is misplaced, as mainland arrivals to the city have sharply fallen.