Japan experiences all-time high in February tourism, even with a significant decline in Chinese travelers.

In February, the number of visitors to Japan increased by 6.4% compared to the previous year, achieving a new monthly record, according to government data released on Wednesday. This growth occurred despite a significant decline in Chinese tourists due to ongoing diplomatic issues between the two nations.

Last month, inbound visitors reached 3.46 million, as reported by the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO), while arrivals from China dropped by 45%, totaling 396,400.

JNTO noted that the surge in numbers was partly attributed to the Lunar New Year holiday occurring in February this year instead of late January last year.
During the Kawazu Sakura Festival in eastern Japan, which is famous for its early-blooming cherry blossoms that start to bloom in early February, the decrease in Chinese visitors was particularly evident, shared Hoshi Mori, the director of the town’s tourism association.

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Nevertheless, thanks to a rise in domestic visitors and those from Taiwan, the festival attracted around 630,000 attendees, marking its highest turnout since 2022, Mori added.

South Korea continued to be the largest source of visitors in February, with an increase of 28% to 1.08 million. Additionally, arrivals from Taiwan rose by 37% to 693,600 in February.