China-Japan Tourism Plummets Amid Taiwan Tensions
20th Jan. 2026
Chinese tourism to Japan dropped sharply in December 2025. Japan’s transport ministry informed that it fell nearly 45% as compared to the December 2024, in between the rise of diplomatic tensions with Taiwan. The data shows that the number of visitors from mainland China fell to around 330,000. As a result, it marked a significant decline in what has historically been Japan’s largest source of inbound tourists.
Despite the fall, Japan has remained a top destination for international travelers. Last year, the country welcomed a record of 42.7 million visitors that comfortably surpassed the previous record of almost 37 million in 2024. Authorities said that while the slump in Chinese tourists is notable, overall foreign arrivals continue to sustain Japan’s tourism industry.
Tensions Over Taiwan Impact Chinese Travel Industry
The decline in Chinese visitors was seen after Japan’s PM Sanae Takaichi made a controversial statement in November 2025. She suggested that Japan could become militarily involved if China attempted to invade Taiwan. Beijing, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and has not ruled out the use of force to enforce “reunification,” has reacted sharply to her comments.
Following the remarks, China urged its citizens to avoid travel to Japan due to safety concerns. They later also advised young people to avoid studying there. Furthermore, Cultural exchanges were canceled, and the release of Japanese films in China was postponed indefinitely. In response, Japan also reminded its citizens in China to exercise caution and respect local customs.
Takaichi, a hawkish PM, had made the comments just weeks after meeting Chinese President Xi at the Apec summit in South Korea, where both leaders pledged to maintain “constructive and stable” relations. In her statement she warned that a crisis in the Taiwan Strait could trigger the deployment of Japan’s self-defense forces. She said that this would occur if the conflict posed an “existential threat” to the country.
Implications of the China-Taiwan Tension on Economy and Tourism
China has long been the biggest contributor to Japan’s tourism industry. In the first nine months of 2025, almost 7.5 million Chinese tourists visited the country, which accounted for a quarter of all foreign arrivals. Chinese visitors have spent a combined $3.7 billion in the third quarter alone, with each tourist spending on average 22% more than other foreign visitors, the Japan National Tourism Organization said.
Transport Minister Yasushi Kaneko downplayed the December slump and highlighted the overall annual record as a “significant achievement.” He added, “While the number of Chinese tourists in December decreased, we attracted a sufficient number of people from many other countries and regions to offset that. We also hope and want to make sure that Chinese visitors will return to us as soon as possible.”
Web Resources on the China-Japan Tourism Plummets
1. Guardian.com: Chinese tourists shun Japan in wake of Taiwan invasion row
2. Reuters.com: Why Japan PM’s Taiwan remarks escalated tensions with China
3. AcademicBlock.com: China-Taiwan Conflict
4. AcademicBlock.com: China Urges Its Citizens to Avoid Traveling to Japan`