The drop was largely driven by a sharp decline in arrivals from mainland China after Beijing advised its citizens against traveling to Japan, while strong growth from South Korea helped cushion the decline, Japan Today reported.
Mainland Chinese arrivals plunged 56.4% year-on-year to 2.06 million in the first half, while visitors from South Korea rose 18.6% to 5.68 million, and from Taiwan increased 20.9% to 3.97 million.
Tourists walk through a traditional alleyway near Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto, Japan. Photo by Reuters
Hotel operator Mori Trust forecasts Japan will welcome between 40.5 million and 42 million international visitors in 2026, slightly below the record 42.68 million arrivals recorded last year, The Japan Times reported.
The company said demand for hotel bookings remains strong for the summer and autumn travel seasons, despite airlines increasing fuel surcharges on international flights amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.
