Japan’s Foreign Tourism Declines for First Time in Five Years, Spending Continues to Rise

Japan has recorded its first decline in foreign visitor numbers in five years, but the slowdown appears to be driven almost entirely by a sharp drop in travelers from China, while arrivals from countries such as South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States continue to grow.

According to figures released by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Japan welcomed an estimated 21.08 million foreign visitors between January and June 2026. Although that remains the second consecutive year the country has surpassed 20 million visitors during the first half of the year, it represents a 2% decrease compared to the same period in 2025.

Chinese arrivals fell to roughly 2.06 million during the six-month period, a 56.4% decrease from the approximately 4.72 million visitors recorded during the first half of last year. June marked the seventh consecutive month of year-over-year declines from China, with arrivals dropping 57.3% compared to June 2025. The decrease follows a Chinese government travel advisory discouraging travel to Japan.

South Korea remained Japan’s largest source of overseas visitors during the first half of the year, with 5.68 million arrivals, an increase of 18.6%. Taiwan also posted strong growth, rising 20.9% to 3.97 million visitors, overtaking China as Japan’s second-largest source of international tourists. The United States likewise recorded its highest-ever June total, with visitor numbers increasing 2.7% year over year.

Tourist spending also continued to climb despite the slight drop in arrivals. Foreign visitors spent 2.51 trillion yen (approximately US$17 billion) in Japan between April and June, a modest increase from the previous year. Average spending per visitor also reached a new quarterly record at 244,457 yen (about US$1,500).

While the figures suggest Japan’s tourism boom has slowed, the data points to a shift in where visitors are coming from rather than a broad decline in the country’s popularity.