KUALA LUMPUR – The number of foreign visitors to Japan fell two per cent in the first six months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, marking the first first-half decline in five years.
Preliminary figures from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) showed that about 21.08 million international travellers visited Japan between January and June, as reported by NHK World Japan.
The decline was largely attributed to a 56.4 per cent drop in arrivals from China amid worsening bilateral relations.
JNTO also cited reduced airline capacity, driven in part by higher fuel costs linked to tensions in the Middle East, as another factor contributing to the decline.
In June alone, Japan recorded about 3.15 million foreign arrivals, down 6.8 per cent year-on-year, representing the steepest monthly decline since January 2022.
The number of visitors from China fell by more than 50 per cent during the month, while arrivals from Germany, Thailand and the Philippines also declined.
Meanwhile, visitor numbers from Hong Kong and India increased by more than 20 per cent, although the gains were insufficient to offset the sharp decline from China and other markets.
June also marked the third consecutive month of year-on-year declines in international arrivals.
The latest figures contrast with the strong tourism performance recorded in 2025, when Japan welcomed a record 21.52 million international visitors in the first half of the year, a 21 per cent increase from the previous year and the fastest pace on record to surpass 20 million arrivals.
