In comparison to December 2024, the number of Chinese nationals entering Japan last month plummeted by 45%, totaling around 330,000, as reported by Tourism Minister Yasushi Kaneko.
This decline occurs amid rising tensions following Takaichi’s assertion in November that a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan could legally justify Japan deploying troops. Subsequently, China cautioned its citizens against traveling to Japan, leading to numerous flight cancellations.
“We will continue to closely observe the travel advisory issued by Chinese authorities,” Kaneko stated during a press conference on Tuesday. “We must strive to ensure that those Chinese wishing to visit Japan can do so as soon as possible, and we hope that day arrives soon,” he added.
The influx of visitors from China had been growing at an impressive rate of 40.7% during the initial ten months of the year, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. Chinese tourists are the top spenders in Japan, accounting for one-fifth of the nation’s ¥8.1 trillion ($52.4 billion) in tourism revenue for 2024. As a reflection of their influence on the retail sector, duty-free sales in Japan’s department stores saw a sharp decline in December.
Despite the reduction in Chinese tourists, the overall number of foreign visitors to Japan exceeded 40 million for the first time in 2025, according to Kaneko, with an influx from other regions compensating for the loss of Chinese tourists. Total consumption also reached a record high of approximately ¥9.5 trillion yen ($60 billion).
The total number of Chinese travelers for 2025 rose by around 30% compared to the previous year, despite the downturn from November onwards. However, Beijing’s advisory discouraging travel to Japan and its orders to airlines to reduce flights through March 2026 heighten the risk of a prolonged decline.
Japan’s leading travel agency predicts that this year will witness the first decrease in foreign tourism since the country reopened following the pandemic.
The tensions between Tokyo and Beijing escalated after Takaichi remarked in parliament on November 7 that a crisis in Taiwan might represent a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan. Such a designation could provide a legal basis for Tokyo to deploy its military alongside allies.
Since then, the travel warnings from China have adversely affected the economy in western Japan, with reports indicating that China’s military has aimed fire-control radar at one or more Japanese fighter jets in the East China Sea, according to the Japanese government. Japanese companies are assessing the impacts of trade restrictions announced earlier this month.
Takaichi has consistently stated that Tokyo’s stance on Taiwan remains unchanged and aligns with a communique from 1972. In that joint statement, Japan acknowledged and respected Beijing’s viewpoint that Taiwan is an “inalienable” part of China without endorsing that perspective. In a press conference last night, Takaichi reiterated that Japan remains open to discussions with Beijing officials.
