In January, Japan welcomed over 2 million visitors, marking the eighth consecutive month of robust tourism and hinting at a potential record-breaking year.
According to data from the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO), the number of foreign arrivals stood at 2.69 million, slightly lower than December’s 2.73 million, which set a record for that month. Despite the pandemic-related halt in tourism, currency depreciation fueled Japan’s recovery, with tourists spending more than 5 trillion yen in 2023, exceeding government targets.
Even though January’s arrivals were affected by the Ishikawa earthquake, they were still on par with 2019’s record-breaking 39.9 million visitors to Japan. Chinese tourism is still lower than it was before the outbreak, although January recorded a 33% increase in
According to industry experts, 415,900 Chinese tourists visited in January and favoured slow travel, indicating a trend towards “chill stays” that emphasized local experiences. With more than 25 million visitors, December was yet another high point in a year of recovery. During the Lunar New Year season, department retailers reported robust sales of duty-free and luxury products, indicating a rebound in consumer spending.
