Japan-China Tensions Hit Tourism; Operators Report 90% Drop in Travelers to China
Ongoing tensions between Japan and China have severely impacted tourism, with Japanese travel to China plummeting by approximately 90% over the last six months due to cancellations, flight reductions, and safety concerns.
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- 📰 Published: May 31, 2026 at 17:15
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Central News Agency, Tokyo, May 31. As Japan-China relations remain tense, it is not only affecting the willingness of Chinese tourists to visit Japan, but also cooling down Japanese travel to China. Travel operators reveal that cancellations have surged, and combined with factors like reduced flight availability, the number of Japanese travelers to China has plummeted by about 90%.
According to Kyodo News, a representative from a major Japanese travel agency specializing in the China market lamented that the market is facing strong headwinds, including a lack of seats due to flight reductions, declining interest in China travel, and rising fuel costs exacerbated by the worsening situation in the Middle East. Cancellations have surged, and the number of Japanese travelers to China has dropped by about 90% over the past six months.
Initially, the number of Japanese travelers to China in 2025 was on an upward trend, having recovered to half of pre-pandemic levels at one point. However, since November last year, cancellations for trips to China have increased significantly. Operators admitted they had planned to expand China travel products but did not expect the sudden deterioration in Japan-China relations, which caused the market sentiment to plummet.
Shanghai travel operators also pointed out that since November last year, about half of the Japanese group tours have been canceled. An analyst at a local major travel agency handling the Japanese market suggested that "concerns about safety might be a factor." Even when bookings are completed, they are often forced to cancel due to flight suspensions. The agency is currently hosting about 70% fewer Japanese travelers compared to the same period last year.
Following Japanese Minister Sanae Takaichi's parliamentary response regarding a "Taiwan contingency," the Chinese government urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, and Chinese airlines announced reductions in flights to Japan. According to Chinese media reports, 2,691 flights from China to Japan were canceled in March this year, a cancellation rate of about 50%.
On the other hand, Kansai International Airport recently announced its April operational data, showing that due to these impacts, the number of Chinese travelers passing through the airport dropped by 61% compared to the same period last year.
The cooling of tourism has also hit frontline workers. In Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, famous for the Terracotta Warriors, all direct flights to Japan have been suspended. A 57-year-old guide with 30 years of experience said, "I haven't received a single Japanese tourist this year," and a planned high school study tour in April was also canceled.
A Beijing-based guide also said that since March, there have been almost no Japanese guests, resulting in a "90% drop in income." He noted that many Japanese-speaking guides changed professions during the pandemic, adding, "If Japanese travelers don't return, we can't train new guides, and it will be difficult to organize group tours with local guides in the future."
Operators stated that while there are still flights, they are mostly used by business travelers and Chinese tourists, with almost no Japanese group tours to China. They admitted, "Unless Japan-China relations improve and flights increase, it will be hard to see a market recovery."
According to Kyodo News, a representative from a major Japanese travel agency specializing in the China market lamented that the market is facing strong headwinds, including a lack of seats due to flight reductions, declining interest in China travel, and rising fuel costs exacerbated by the worsening situation in the Middle East. Cancellations have surged, and the number of Japanese travelers to China has dropped by about 90% over the past six months.
Initially, the number of Japanese travelers to China in 2025 was on an upward trend, having recovered to half of pre-pandemic levels at one point. However, since November last year, cancellations for trips to China have increased significantly. Operators admitted they had planned to expand China travel products but did not expect the sudden deterioration in Japan-China relations, which caused the market sentiment to plummet.
Shanghai travel operators also pointed out that since November last year, about half of the Japanese group tours have been canceled. An analyst at a local major travel agency handling the Japanese market suggested that "concerns about safety might be a factor." Even when bookings are completed, they are often forced to cancel due to flight suspensions. The agency is currently hosting about 70% fewer Japanese travelers compared to the same period last year.
Following Japanese Minister Sanae Takaichi's parliamentary response regarding a "Taiwan contingency," the Chinese government urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, and Chinese airlines announced reductions in flights to Japan. According to Chinese media reports, 2,691 flights from China to Japan were canceled in March this year, a cancellation rate of about 50%.
On the other hand, Kansai International Airport recently announced its April operational data, showing that due to these impacts, the number of Chinese travelers passing through the airport dropped by 61% compared to the same period last year.
The cooling of tourism has also hit frontline workers. In Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, famous for the Terracotta Warriors, all direct flights to Japan have been suspended. A 57-year-old guide with 30 years of experience said, "I haven't received a single Japanese tourist this year," and a planned high school study tour in April was also canceled.
A Beijing-based guide also said that since March, there have been almost no Japanese guests, resulting in a "90% drop in income." He noted that many Japanese-speaking guides changed professions during the pandemic, adding, "If Japanese travelers don't return, we can't train new guides, and it will be difficult to organize group tours with local guides in the future."
Operators stated that while there are still flights, they are mostly used by business travelers and Chinese tourists, with almost no Japanese group tours to China. They admitted, "Unless Japan-China relations improve and flights increase, it will be hard to see a market recovery."
FAQ
How is the Japan-China tension affecting tourism?
It has led to a 90% drop in Japanese tourists visiting China, causing a severe downturn in the tourism market.