In a worrying development for Japan’s tourism industry, the number of Chinese tourists visiting the country has plummeted by around 45% in December compared to the same period a year earlier. This sharp decline comes amid a bitter diplomatic row between Beijing and Tokyo over the security of Taiwan.
Japan’s Transport Ministry revealed that only around 330,000 Chinese tourists arrived last month, a significant drop from the previous year. However, the country continues to enjoy strong overall tourism figures, with a record 42.7 million foreign visitors flocking to Japan in 2025, surpassing the previous high of 37 million set in 2024.
The downturn in Chinese tourism began towards the end of last year, following comments made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. She suggested that Japan’s self-defence forces could become militarily involved if China attempted to invade Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a breakaway province. This prompted a furious backlash from China, with Beijing urging its citizens not to travel to Japan, citing safety concerns.
The diplomatic tensions have also led to the cancellation of cultural exchanges and the postponement of Chinese film releases in Japan. Beijing has even advised its young people not to study in Japan, further exacerbating the situation.
The loss of Chinese tourists, who have long been the largest source of inbound travel to Japan, poses a significant risk to the country’s tourism industry. Chinese visitors accounted for a quarter of all foreign tourists in the first nine months of 2025, spending a combined $3.7 billion in the third quarter alone. On average, Chinese tourists spent 22% more than other visitors last year.
However, Japan’s Transport Minister, Yasushi Kaneko, has sought to downplay the slump in Chinese visitors, referring to the overall annual figure of over 40 million foreign tourists as a “significant achievement.” He expressed hope that Chinese visitors will return to Japan as soon as possible.
The debate over how Japan should respond to a potential conflict between China and Taiwan has intensified since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and amid doubts over whether the US, under former President Donald Trump’s administration, would defend Taiwan. Japan has stepped up measures to defend its outlying islands in response to China’s military activity near Taiwan, located just 100km from Japan’s westernmost island of Yonaguni, and the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
As the diplomatic tensions continue to simmer, the impact on Japan’s tourism industry remains a pressing concern, with the country’s popularity as a destination for Chinese travellers now under threat.
