Japan's August Foreign Visitors Fall 9.6% Year-on-Year; Mainland Chinese Visitors Plunge 59%
Japan National Tourism Organization estimated on September 16 that August foreign visitors totaled 3.0989 million, down 9.6% year-on-year, the first decline in a month. Mainland Chinese visitors fell 59.0% to 418,000, the ninth consecutive monthly decline, affected by deteriorating Japan-China relations and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan. South Korean visitors were the largest group at 850,500, up 28.7%. Typhoon-related flight cancellations and rising fuel surcharges also contributed; ANA and Japan Airlines raised fuel surcharges for July-August tickets to record highs. Cumulative visitors from January to August totaled 27.6263 million, down 2.7% year-on-year.
Impact and considerations
The continued sharp decline in mainland Chinese visitors to Japan significantly impacts Japanese tourism, retail, and aviation; businesses need to monitor geopolitical and cost factors.
Key points
- Japan National Tourism Organization estimated on September 16 that August foreign visitors totaled 3.0989 million, down 9.6% year-on-year.
- Mainland Chinese visitors fell 59.0% to 418,000, the ninth consecutive monthly decline, affected by deteriorating Japan-China relations and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan.
- South Korean visitors were the largest group at 850,500, up 28.7%.
- Typhoon-related flight cancellations and rising fuel surcharges also contributed; ANA and Japan Airlines raised fuel surcharges for July-August tickets to record highs.
- Cumulative visitors from January to August totaled 27.6263 million, down 2.7% year-on-year.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- 品橙旅游
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 18 Sept 2026, 08:00
- Page published
- 20 Sept 2026, 02:27
- Last updated
- 18 Sept 2026, 08:00
- Original links
- Pinchain Tourism：8月访日外国人同比下滑 中国大陆游客暴减59% – 品橙旅游 (opens in a new tab)Primary source · zh · Published 18 Sept 2026, 08:00