KYODO NEWS


 

The number of foreign visitors to Japan in October rose 17.6 percent from a year earlier to around 3.9 million, the second highest monthly total on record, government estimates showed Tuesday.

By country and region, South Korea topped the list with 867,200 visitors, up 18.4 percent, followed by China with 715,700, a 22.8 percent increase, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

Visitors from China accounted for 18.4 percent of the total, boosted by national holidays.

But it is unclear whether the trend can be sustained after a sharp deterioration in bilateral ties over remarks earlier this month by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding a potential Taiwan contingency, which prompted the Chinese government to urge its citizens to refrain from visiting Japan.

The cumulative number of international visitors from January to October 2025 stands at some 35.5 million. This year's total is expected to surpass the previous annual record of about 36.87 million arrivals set in 2024.