Japan Witnesses Surge in Tourists With Nearly 2 Million Visitors in April as China Lifts Travel Restrictions

In April, the number of people visiting Japan reached a record high since the pandemic began. This was due to China easing its travel restrictions, allowing more visitors to travel for both business and leisure purposes. The number of foreign visitors increased from 1.82 million in March to 1.95 million last month.

Compared to April 2019, before the pandemic travel restrictions were put in place, there was still a 33% decrease in the number of arrivals. China imposed restrictions on outbound travel during the pandemic, which resulted in a significant decrease in the number of visitors.

However, China eased these restrictions last month, allowing more visitors to travel. In 2019, there were a record 9.5 million Chinese visitors to Japan, making up a third of all visitors. However, due to a shortage of flights, it may take some time for the tourism industry to fully recover.

In April, the number of Chinese visitors to Japan increased by 43% compared to March, reaching a total of 108,300 people. However, this is still significantly lower than the number of Chinese tourists who visited Japan in 2019.

The number of tourists has been increasing consistently since Japan allowed visa-free travel for several countries in October. They had also stopped conducting COVID tests for Chinese travelers before their arrival on April 5 and eliminated all remaining infection control measures on May 8.

Due to the pandemic, tourism in Japan was severely affected for over two years until it slowly started to reopen in June 2022. At the same time, the value of the yen compared to the euro and U.S. dollar has significantly decreased, resulting in travel to Japan being the most affordable it has been in years.

The Boom of Japanese Tourism

The increase in Chinese tourists is just one example of the recent boom in Japanese tourism. The country is known for its rich cultural heritage, stunning natural scenery, and unique blend of traditional and modern attractions. Tourists can visit historic temples and shrines, enjoy world-renowned cuisine, shop in trendy neighborhoods, and experience cutting-edge technology.

(Photo: by YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty Images) People eat Japanese sweets dumplings at a sweet shop in Kamakura city of Kanagawa prefecture on May 3, 2023.

Japan is also increasingly popular with younger travelers drawn to its vibrant pop culture scene and unique fashion trends. The country has seen a surge in visitors from Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as from North America and Europe.

Despite the pandemic, Japan is expected to continue to attract tourists in the coming years. The government has set a target of 60 million annual visitors by 2030 and is investing in infrastructure and marketing to achieve this goal. With its diverse attractions and growing popularity, Japan is becoming an increasingly popular destination for travelers from around the world.