Japan tourism declines in April after record

TOKYO, May 20, 2026 (AFP): The number of foreign tourists coming to Japan fell in April after hitting a record the month prior despite a plunge in Chinese visitors and cancellations due to the Mideast war, official data showed Wednesday.

The number of international visitors fell 5.5 percent to 3.69 million in April year-on-year, the Japan National Tourism Organization said on Wednesday.

Chinese visitors, previously the biggest contingent, dropped 56.8 percent to 330,700 following Beijing's warning against travel last year, while arrivals from the Middle East fell 21.4 percent.

Japan-China ties have deteriorated since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that Japan might intervene militarily in any Chinese attempt to take Taiwan.

China, which regards the democratic island as part of its territory and has not ruled out force to annex it, was furious over the comments.