Japan Sees Record Tourist Arrivals in 2025 Despite December Drop in Chinese Visitors

Japan recorded a historic 42.7 million tourist arrivals in 2025, surpassing the previous year's 37 million, aided by a weak yen and government promotion efforts. Despite this growth, Chinese visitors dropped about 45% in December to around 330,000 following diplomatic tensions triggered by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan. China remains Japan's largest tourist source, with Chinese tourists spending 22% more on average. Officials aim to restore Chinese tourism while diversifying visitor origins.