Japan welcomed 3.52 million foreign visitors in November, capping a year that has already broken the all-time arrivals record set in 2024. Yet growth from mainland China, historically the top source market, slowed to 3 % year-on-year after Beijing’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism advised citizens to defer trips following remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Taiwan.
Chinese carriers such as Air China and Spring Airlines offered fee-free refunds through 31 December, causing a brief sell-off in Tokyo-listed tourism stocks including Oriental Land (Tokyo Disney) and Isetan Mitsukoshi. Nevertheless, Chinese nationals still account for nearly a quarter of Japan’s 2025 arrivals, underscoring deep pent-up demand for leisure and shopping travel post-pandemic.
For mobility managers, the episode is a reminder that diplomatic rhetoric can trigger immediate itinerary changes, even when no formal travel ban exists. Companies sending employees to Japan should brief travellers on potential street-protest hotspots and carry contingency budgets for last-minute ticket changes.
![Chinese Travel Warning Slows—but Doesn’t Stop—Japan’s Record Tourism Surge]()
Corporate travel teams seeking up-to-date guidance on Japanese entry rules can tap VisaHQ’s China portal for document checklists, courier filing, and real-time status alerts on Japanese visas and other destinations. Explore streamlined support at https://www.visahq.com/china/.
On the policy front, Japanese officials have reiterated a goal to restore 90-day multiple-entry visas for Chinese ‘trusted traveller’ business categories in 2026, but analysts say any rollout will hinge on political temperature in the East China Sea. In the meantime, Chinese passport holders can speed clearance through six airports by pre-enrolling in Japan’s ‘Visit Japan Web’ digitised e-Gate system.
Retailers are adjusting marketing campaigns to focus on value-added tax-free shopping and outlet malls outside Tokyo, betting that Chinese visitor flows will rebound once the diplomatic row subsides.
Chinese carriers such as Air China and Spring Airlines offered fee-free refunds through 31 December, causing a brief sell-off in Tokyo-listed tourism stocks including Oriental Land (Tokyo Disney) and Isetan Mitsukoshi. Nevertheless, Chinese nationals still account for nearly a quarter of Japan’s 2025 arrivals, underscoring deep pent-up demand for leisure and shopping travel post-pandemic.
For mobility managers, the episode is a reminder that diplomatic rhetoric can trigger immediate itinerary changes, even when no formal travel ban exists. Companies sending employees to Japan should brief travellers on potential street-protest hotspots and carry contingency budgets for last-minute ticket changes.
Corporate travel teams seeking up-to-date guidance on Japanese entry rules can tap VisaHQ’s China portal for document checklists, courier filing, and real-time status alerts on Japanese visas and other destinations. Explore streamlined support at https://www.visahq.com/china/.
On the policy front, Japanese officials have reiterated a goal to restore 90-day multiple-entry visas for Chinese ‘trusted traveller’ business categories in 2026, but analysts say any rollout will hinge on political temperature in the East China Sea. In the meantime, Chinese passport holders can speed clearance through six airports by pre-enrolling in Japan’s ‘Visit Japan Web’ digitised e-Gate system.
Retailers are adjusting marketing campaigns to focus on value-added tax-free shopping and outlet malls outside Tokyo, betting that Chinese visitor flows will rebound once the diplomatic row subsides.
