Cumulative Number of Korean Visitors to Japan Surpasses 4 Million This Year
Despite 'Megaquake' Rumors, Korean Tourism to Japan Hits Record High
Although rumors of a 'July Japan megaquake' have been spreading through social networking services (SNS), the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan has actually surged. In particular, the number of Korean visitors increased by more than 20% compared to the previous year, reaching an all-time high.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) and the Japan Meteorological Agency, at 8:08 a.m. on June 19, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck in the sea about 344 kilometers southeast of Asahikawa, Hokkaido. The earthquake originated at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers, and the Japan Meteorological Agency reported that a seismic intensity of 4 was detected. This level of shaking is strong enough to cause lights to swing significantly and some furniture to topple, but fortunately, no tsunami warning was issued.
This earthquake overlapped with the rapidly spreading 'July megaquake theory' in Japan, amplifying public fear. The baseless rumor, which originated from a 'earthquake prophecy' by Japanese manga artist Tatsuki Ryo?who gained attention for predicting the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake?spread online and created a mood of 'refrain from traveling to Japan.'
However, according to recently released data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), a total of 3,693,300 foreigners entered Japan in May 2025. This figure represents a 21.5% increase compared to the same month last year. By country, South Korea ranked first with 825,800 visitors, followed by China (789,900), Taiwan (538,400), and the United States (311,900).
South Korea also ranked first in cumulative visitors for 2025, with a total of 4,053,600 people. JNTO analyzed, "With the launch of new flight routes connecting Cheongju, Ibaraki, and Obihiro in May, the number of visitors to Japan appears to have increased significantly."
In contrast, the number of Hong Kong travelers who visited Japan during this period was 193,100, marking the only decrease among major countries?a drop of 11.2% compared to the same month last year. On SNS and online communities in Hong Kong, sensational information such as "the Japanese archipelago will sink" spread indiscriminately. As a result, some travel agencies and consumers canceled or changed their reservations. In fact, some Hong Kong airlines reportedly reduced the number of flights to Japan.
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, "Groundless rumors that a major disaster will occur in Japan have spread, creating a mood of refraining from travel."
Although earthquake experts have firmly stated, "It is impossible to predict a major earthquake at a specific point in time using modern science," public anxiety continues to rise as the Japanese government recently issued a 'Nankai Trough Megaquake Temporary Information.'
In a disaster report released in March 2025, the Japanese government also warned, "There is an 80% probability that a magnitude 8 to 9 megaquake could occur in the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years."
According to this scenario, the maximum number of deaths could reach 298,000, with 12.3 million people displaced. It is also expected that 2.35 million buildings could collapse and about 900,000 people could be injured. The government announced that it has prepared 134 disaster countermeasures?including strengthening earthquake-resistant design, automating seawalls, and establishing wide-area evacuation plans?and will be prepared by 2030.
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