Japan Tourism Soars to Record High Despite Hong Kong Dip

Japan experienced a surge in tourism during the first half of the year, with a record 21.5 million visitors arriving in the country. This represents a 21% increase compared to the same period last year. The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) highlighted that this was the fastest pace ever for exceeding 20 million visitors within six months.

The month of June alone saw a 7.6% increase in visitors, reaching a record 3.4 million. This rise was attributed to increased travel demand coinciding with school holidays. Significant growth in tourist numbers was observed from various countries, including China, South Korea, Singapore, India, the United States, and Germany.

However, there was a notable decline in visitors from Hong Kong. The number of travelers from Hong Kong dropped by 33.4% in June. This decrease was linked to online rumors circulating about a potential major earthquake in Japan. Despite this, the total number of visitors from Hong Kong for the first six months of the year only saw a slight decrease of 0.4%.

The spread of these earthquake predictions has caused concern among Hong Kong residents. Some of these predictions referenced a Japanese manga comic that foretold a major natural disaster in July 2025. Japanese authorities have consistently refuted these rumors, emphasizing their falsity.

Looking ahead, the Japanese government has set an ambitious goal of nearly doubling the annual tourist numbers to 60 million by 2030. The authorities are also focused on distributing tourists more evenly across the country to prevent overcrowding in popular destinations, particularly during peak seasons like cherry blossom viewing and autumn foliage viewing. Similar to other popular tourist destinations, there is growing concern from residents in places like Kyoto.