South Koreans were the largest group of foreign visitors to Japan in February, reaching a record monthly high and accounting for one-third of all international arrivals.
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) on March 18, 1,086,400 South Koreans visited Japan in February, up 28.2% from the same month last year. Total foreign visitors reached 3,466,700, with South Korea ranking first among all countries.
The surge in South Korean tourists is attributed to expanded flight routes and holiday timing. Increased flights on the Incheon-Narita and Incheon-Fukuoka routes improved accessibility, while the Lunar New Year holiday shifted from January last year to February this year, concentrating travel demand. The overlap with winter school vacation further boosted short-term overseas travel.
Chinese visitors, meanwhile, declined sharply. Only 396,400 Chinese tourists visited Japan in February, down 45.2% year-on-year—a drop of more than 300,000. This trend began in December last year, with the decline exceeding 60% in January.
Political factors are seen as driving the decrease in Chinese tourists. Following remarks by Prime Minister Takaichi regarding Taiwan, Chinese authorities effectively discouraged travel to Japan, causing demand to plummet. Reduced flight schedules also contributed to the decline.
The gap is stark in cumulative figures for January-February. South Korean visitors totaled 2,262,400, up 24.7% year-on-year, while Chinese visitors fell 54.1% to 781,700. The difference between the two countries widened to approximately 1.5 million visitors.
By country, South Korea was followed by Taiwan (693,600), Hong Kong (233,900), the United States (219,700), and Thailand (117,000). Taiwan also hit a record high for February, rising 36.7% year-on-year.
Overall foreign visitors to Japan continued to grow. February arrivals rose 6.4% year-on-year, setting a new record for the month. Eighteen markets including the U.S., Canada, and Mexico posted all-time highs, confirming expanding demand. The continued weakness of the yen also supported the increase in foreign tourists.
Rising tourist numbers have brought increased cost burdens. Foreign visitors to Japan reached 42.7 million last year, exceeding 40 million for the first time, while tourism spending hit a record 9.5 trillion yen (approximately 89 trillion won).
Local governments have responded to surging tourism demand with tighter controls. Kyoto City is considering a dual pricing system for municipal buses that would distinguish between residents and tourists, lowering fares for residents while raising tourist fares by up to double.
Accommodation taxes have already risen significantly. Kyoto City charges guests at high-end hotels up to 10,000 yen (approximately 93,700 won). The Japanese government is also discussing raising the departure tax from the current 1,000 yen (approximately 9,370 won) to as much as 3,000 yen (approximately 28,111 won).
