The decline in the number of Chinese visitors to Japan accelerated in January, fueling the first monthly drop since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, offering the clearest sign yet of economic fallout from tensions between the countries.
Arrivals from China shrank 61% in January from a year earlier, compared with a 45% decline in December, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) said Wednesday, citing a shift in the timing of the Lunar New Year holiday and warnings against travel to Japan. The fall dragged down the total number of inbound visitors by 4.9% last month.
The slide was triggered by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi¡¯s comments late last year that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan could be considered an ¡°existential threat,¡± a characterization that could give Japan legal justification for deploying troops. Beijing subsequently cautioned its citizens against traveling to Japan, resulting in flight cancellations through March 2026.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.