Despite ongoing diplomatic tensions with China, Japan’s tourism sector recorded robust growth in November, with visitor numbers rising 10.4 percent year-on-year.
The Japan National Tourism Organisation reported that November saw 3.52 million international arrivals, bringing the total for 2025 to over 39 million, surpassing last year’s record annual total of 36.87 million.
Notably, while growth in visitors from mainland China slowed to 3 percent in November, a significant drop from the 37.5 percent increase seen across the year up to that point.
This decline followed a diplomatic dispute stemming from remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan, which prompted China to advise its citizens against traveling to Japan in mid-November. In response, Chinese airlines began offering free refunds for flights booked through the end of the year.
Despite the setback, Chinese tourists continue to represent the largest group of visitors to Japan in 2025, comprising nearly 25 percent of the total.
While the current spat between Japan and China is ongoing, analysts say that it is unlikely to have an impact on the growing MGM Osaka integrated resort – the nation’s first casino, slated to open in 2030.
