Japan welcomed a record 21.5 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2025, according to government data released Wednesday, demonstrating sustained travel demand even during traditionally quieter periods outside peak seasons.
The visitor numbers for the first six months exceeded the previous record of 17.78 million set in 2024, data from the Japan National Tourism Organization revealed. June alone saw 3.38 million foreign arrivals, representing a 7.6 percent increase from the previous year and marking the highest figure ever recorded for that month.
South Korea led visitor arrivals in the first half with 4.8 million tourists, followed closely by China at 4.7 million and Taiwan at 3.3 million. All major markets surpassed their previous year figures, with China recording a particularly notable 53.5 percent increase. This surge follows Japan’s relaxation of visa measures for Chinese citizens, including the introduction of a new 10-year tourist visa targeting affluent travelers, complementing existing three-year and five-year multiple-entry options.
Foreign visitor spending reached approximately JPY2.5 trillion ($16.8 billion) in the April-June quarter, up 18 percent year-on-year according to Japan Tourism Agency estimates. Chinese visitors accounted for the largest spending share at 20.4 percent, totaling JPY516 billion ($3.47 billion), followed by Americans at JPY357 billion ($2.4 billion) and Taiwanese at JPY292 billion ($1.96 billion).
The average spending per visitor reached around JPY239,000 ($1,608), with British tourists leading at approximately JPY444,000 ($2,987) per person, followed by Italians at JPY398,000 ($2,678) and Germans at JPY396,000 ($2,664).
This tourism boom occurs as Japan prepares for major attractions set to boost visitor numbers further. The Osaka Expo 2025 is currently underway on Yumeshima Island from April 13th to October 13th, 2025.Â
Additionally, MGM Osaka’s integrated resort, the country’s first casino, is under construction and scheduled to open in 2030, with projections of attracting 6 million foreign visitors annually alongside 14 million domestic visitors. The resort anticipates generating annual revenues of JPY520 billion ($3.5 billion), significantly boosting tourism in the Kansai region.
