"To See Cherry Blossoms"... Record Number of Tourists Visit Japan in April, 760,000 from China and 720,000 from Korea

Record 3.9 Million Foreign Visitors to Japan in April
Annual Total May Surpass 40 Million by Year-End

The number of foreign visitors to Japan last month reached an all-time high.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) on May 21, the number of foreign visitors to Japan last month was provisionally tallied at 3,908,900, an increase of 28.5% compared to the same period last year. On a monthly basis, this figure surpassed the previous record set in January 2025, when 3,781,000 people visited. JNTO stated that "the increase was driven by more visitors coming to see the cherry blossoms amid the weak yen trend," and added, "The Easter holiday also contributed to the growth."

The cumulative number of foreign visitors to Japan up to last month was 14,440,000. There is a strong possibility that the annual total will exceed 40 million for the first time by the end of the year. Last year, the number of visitors was 36,870,000.

Last month, the number of South Korean visitors to Japan was 721,000, an increase of 9.1% compared to the same period last year, making them the second largest group after Chinese visitors. The number of Chinese visitors surged by 43.4% to 765,000. They were followed by visitors from Taiwan at 537,000 and from the United States at 327,000. In terms of cumulative visitor numbers by nationality this year, South Koreans remained the largest group at 3,227,000, while Chinese visitors totaled 3,130,000.

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun noted that "the concentration of tourists in some popular destinations, such as Kyoto, continues," and commented that the Japanese government will need to implement measures to disperse visitors if it is to achieve its goal of increasing the number of foreign visitors to 60 million by 2030.

Meanwhile, as the number of foreign tourists has surged following the relaxation of COVID-19 quarantine measures in Japan, an increasing number of local governments have introduced or are considering introducing accommodation taxes. According to the Asahi Shimbun, nine local governments in Japan imposed accommodation taxes in 2023. This year, the number has increased to 25. The accommodation tax refers to a local tax levied by local governments on guests who stay at lodging facilities for a certain minimum fee. In November 2024, Niseko Town in Hokkaido began imposing the tax, followed by Tokoname City in Aichi Prefecture in January 2025.