Mainland Chinese visitor numbers to Japan fell sharply in January, tumbling 60.7% year on year, as the countries’ ongoing diplomatic spat weighed on travel, according to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization.

The total of 385,300 Chinese visitors marked a steep decline from a reported 980,520 in January 2025, AFP writes. The fall was exacerbated by the timing of the ongoing Lunar New Year, which is occurring in mid-February this year rather than late January, alongside a Chinese government travel advisory warning against visits to Japan and reductions in flight frequencies.

As a result, South Korea overtook China as the largest source of visitors, sending 1.2mn tourists over the Sea of Japan, up 21.6% year on year, while arrivals from Hong Kong also dropped – down 17.9%. Overall foreign arrivals to Japan declined 4.9% to 3.597mn in January AFP adds.

The downturn follows heightened bilateral tensions, including statements from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicating possible military intervention if Beijing sought to take Taiwan by force. Beijing has responded with warnings to its citizens and restrictions on exports to Japan, including items with potential military applications, and summoned Tokyo’s ambassador.