Japan sees record 22 mil foreign visitors in 1st half of 2025
Japan saw a record 21.5 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2025, government data showed Wednesday, with travel demand remaining strong even outside peak seasons.
Visitor numbers for the first six months of the year topped the previous record of 17.78 million set a year earlier, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.
The number of foreign visitors in June totaled 3.38 million, up 7.6 percent from a year earlier and the highest ever for the month.
By country and region, South Korea accounted for the highest number of visitors in the first half of the year at 4.8 million, followed by China at 4.7 million and Taiwan at 3.3 million. All markets exceeded their figures from the previous year, with China seeing a notable 53.5 percent increase.
The surge in visitors has created various challenges for Japan, including overtourism affecting the quality of life for locals in popular destinations.
Meanwhile, spending by foreign visitors in the April-June quarter totaled around 2.5 trillion yen ($16.8 billion), up 18.0 percent from the same period a year earlier, according to estimates from the Japan Tourism Agency.
Chinese visitors led spending, accounting for 20.4 percent of the total at 516 billion yen, followed by Americans at 357 billion yen and Taiwanese at 292 billion yen.
Visitors to Japan spent around 239,000 yen per person on average, with Britons spending the most at around 444,000 yen, followed by Italians at 398,000 yen and Germans at 396,000 yen.
© KYODO
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asahi Shimbun
5 minutes ago
- Asahi Shimbun
Europe and China agree to take action on climate change and nothing else in tense Beijing summit
Left to right, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas walk at the Great Hall of the People before the European Union-China Summit in Beijing, China, July 24, 2025. (Pool Photo via AP) BEIJING--China and the European Union have issued a joint call to action on climate change during an otherwise tense bilateral summit in Beijing on Thursday riven with major disagreements over trade and the war in Ukraine. The two economic juggernauts issued a joint statement on climate change, urging more emission cuts and greater use of green technology and affirming their support for the Paris Climate Agreement as well as calling for strong action at the upcoming COP30 climate summit in Brazil. 'In the fluid and turbulent international situation today, it is crucial that all countries, notably the major economies, maintain policy continuity and stability and step up efforts to address climate change,' the joint statement said. Their climate agreement was a silver lining on a stormy day where European leaders demanded a more balanced relationship with China in talks with President Xi Jinping. They highlighted trade in their opening remarks, calling for concrete progress to address Europe's yawning trade deficit with China. 'As our cooperation has deepened, so have the imbalances,' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. 'We have reached an inflection point. Rebalancing our bilateral relation is essential. Because to be sustainable, relations need to be mutually beneficial.' Expectations were low ahead of the talks, initially supposed to last two days but scaled back to one. They come amid financial uncertainty around the world, wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, and the threat of U.S. tariffs. Neither the EU nor China is likely to budge on key issues. European Council President António Costa called on China to use its influence over Russia to bring an end to the war in Ukraine — a long-running plea from European leaders that is likely to fall again on deaf ears. Xi called for deeper cooperation between China and Europe to provide stability in an increasingly complex world. Both sides should set aside differences and seek common ground, he said, a phrase he often uses in relationships like the one with the EU. China is willing to strengthen coordination on climate and make greater contributions to addressing climate change, he said, but he pushed back against EU restrictions on Chinese exports. 'We hope the EU will keep its trade and investment markets open, refrain from using restrictive economic and trade tools and provide a good business environment for Chinese companies to invest and develop in Europe,' he said, according to a readout posted online by state broadcaster CCTV. Besides trade and the Ukraine war, von der Leyen and Costa were expected to raise concerns about Chinese cyberattacks and espionage, its restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals and its human rights record in Tibet, Hong Kong and Xinjiang. The EU, meanwhile, has concerns about a looming trade battle with the United States. 'Europe is being very careful not to antagonize President Trump even further by looking maybe too close to China, so all of that doesn't make this summit easier,' said Fabian Zuleeg, chief economist of the European Policy Center. 'It will be very hard to achieve something concrete.' China's stance has hardened on the EU, despite a few olive branches, like the suspension of sanctions on European lawmakers who criticized Beijing's human rights record in Xinjiang province, where it is accused of a widespread campaign of repression against the Uyghurs. The summit ended with almost no movement on the major issues of trade, electric vehicles, or Russia, said Noah Barkin, an analyst at the Rhodium Group think tank. Rather, frustration from the EU was glaringly obvious 'after years in which its concerns have been largely ignored by Beijing.' He said the Europeans will likely use more 'trade defense tools in the months ahead, including a debate over expanding safeguards and new cases under the bloc's foreign subsidies regulation.' Like the U.S., the 27-nation EU bloc runs a massive trade deficit with China — around 300 billion euros ($350 billion) last year. It relies heavily on China for critical minerals and the magnets made from them for cars and appliances. When China curtailed the export of those products in response to Trump's tariffs, European automakers cried foul. China agreed during the summit to start 'an upgraded export supply mechanism' to fast-track exports of critical minerals, von der Leyen said. Details of the arrangement were not immediately made public. Barkin said he doubted the mechanism would be 'a miracle solution for what may become a go-to coercion tool for Beijing in the years ahead.' The EU has imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to support its carmakers by balancing out Beijing's heavy auto subsidies. China would like those tariffs revoked. The rapid growth in China's market share in Europe has sparked concern that Chinese cars will eventually threaten the EU's ability to produce its own green technology to combat climate change. Business groups and unions also fear that the jobs of 2.5 million auto industry workers could be put in jeopardy, as well those of 10.3 million more people whose employment depends indirectly on EV production. China has launched investigations into European pork and dairy products and placed tariffs on French cognac and armagnac. It has criticized new EU regulations of medical equipment sales and fears upcoming legislation that could further target Chinese industries, said Alicia García-Herrero, a China analyst at the Bruegel think tank. The EU has leverage because China needs to sell goods to the bloc, García-Herrero said. 'The EU remains China's largest export market, so China has every intention to keep it this way, especially given the pressure coming from the U.S.,' she said. China bristles at EU sanctions over Russia's war against Ukraine. The latest package included two Chinese banks that the EU accused of links to Russia's war industry. China's Commerce Ministry protested the listing and vowed to respond with 'necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and financial institutions.' Buffeted between a combative Washington and a hardline Beijing, the EU has more publicly sought new alliances elsewhere, inking a trade pact with Indonesia and drafting trade deals with South America and Mexico. Costa and von der Leyen visited Tokyo the day before their meetings in Beijing, launching an alliance with Japan to boost economic cooperation, defend free trade and counter unfair trade practices. 'Both Europe and Japan see a world around us where protectionist instincts grow, weaknesses get weaponized, and every dependency exploited,' von der Leyen said. So it is normal that two like-minded partners come together to make each other stronger.'
Nikkei Asia
35 minutes ago
- Nikkei Asia
Hong Kong's IPO boom sets off underwriter price war
A price war has broken out among firms involved in stock listings in Hong Kong due to intensified competition for deals. © Reuters LORRETTA CHEN HONG KONG -- A price war has broken out in the Hong Kong financial world as competition among investment banks drives down underwriting fees for initial public offerings in what has become the world's hottest market for new stock listings. As a result, banks now earn only a fraction of the commissions they received just a few years ago, even as companies raised 107.1 billion Hong Kong dollars ($13.6 billion) through IPOs in the first half of this year, topping two major rivals in the U.S. Some Chinese competitors are willing to accept fee cuts in exchange for lead roles on deals, according to several industry insiders and a review of company prospectuses.
The Diplomat
3 hours ago
- The Diplomat
China's Visa-Free Diplomacy
China now has the most liberal visa regime since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949. Will it last? In a notable policy change, China, despite its traditionally strict visa policies, has now opened its borders, granting visa-free entry to ordinary passport holders from 75 countries. Starting from June 9, citizens from four Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries – Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain – could enter China and stay for up to 30 days without a visa. Two other GCC members, the UAE and Qatar, have maintained reciprocal visa-free arrangements with China since 2018. This means that all six GCC countries now enjoy visa-free access to China. Earlier, on June 1, China granted similar privileges to the nationals of five South American countries – Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay – and two Central Asian states, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Ordinary passport holders from these countries can also enter China visa-free for up to 30 days. In most cases, China made these concessions unilaterally – and the list is expanding. China's visa-free diplomacy reflects a broader soft power strategy, aimed at enhancing its international image through increased people-to-people engagement. At the same time, the growing number of countries offering reciprocal visa-free or simplified procedures for Chinese travelers indicates two-way mobility. The trend of major relaxations in China's visa policies started in 2023-24. In late 2024, China offered visa-free expansions to Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, and Japan, with the visa-free stay extended from 15 to 30 days for citizens of these countries. In total, 75 countries now enjoy visa-free travel to China for stays of up to 30 days. These changes were accompanied by complementary efforts to boost international travel: improved tourism services, multilingual signage at major attractions, targeted promotional campaigns, and tourism cooperation agreements. Enhanced infrastructure – improved airports and railways – and the availability of digital translation tools have also made China a more welcoming destination. China's strategy is not just about recovering post-COVID-19 tourism levels; it aims to leverage visa-free travel for a broader economic rejuvenation. China's National Immigration Administration reported that during the first six months of 2025, 38 million foreign nationals made trips to or from China. This was a 30 percent year-on-year increase. Among them, 13.64 million were on visa-free entries, a 53.9 percent increase compared to last year. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, in 2025, China's tourism sector (both domestic and international) will contribute a record-breaking 13.7 trillion yuan ($1.93 trillion) to the national economy – the highest level ever, over 10 percent above pre-pandemic figures. The sector will also sustain 83 million jobs. Sluggish domestic consumption, despite efforts to stimulate consumer spending, has been a challenge for a long time. Chinese authorities view the visa-free policy, and the resulting boost in inbound international travelers, as part of the solution. Following the broad opening, China introduced incentives to encourage greater spending by travelers. Beijing facilitated departure tax refund services, encouraging more businesses to become tax refund shops and expanding the range of goods eligible for tax refunds. These measures make shopping in China more attractive to foreign tourists. High-tech items, such as smartphones, smartwatches, and drones, are among the products that will soon be eligible for tax refunds. To tackle the significant barriers for foreign payments, China expanded payment options, allowing certain foreign bank cards to be linked to WeChat and Alipay, China's ubiquitous digital payment services. But it's not all smooth sailing. International visitors to China face challenges in terms of internet access, with many global social media apps and websites blocked. Tourists may struggle to use Chinese alternatives that often lack English support and require a local phone number. However, foreigners using their home country's SIM card with international roaming can access the internet. Chinese telecom providers also offer SIM cards to foreigners that provide internet access, although the setup process may require extra steps. Despite the move to allow foreign cards to link up with WeChat and Alipay, paying for goods and services can still be challenging. Small vendors and local hotels may not accept foreign credit cards or cash, and many booking platforms and apps are available only in Mandarin. Additional difficulties include cumbersome ticketing processes, limited hotel options for foreigners (not all hotels are allowed to accept foreign visitors), and a general lack of English language support, especially outside major cities. For China, relaxed visa rules also bring a new set of challenges. Beijing worries about potential side effects like illegal immigration, security issues, including terrorism, transnational crime, overstays, a strain on services, and a loss of visa revenue. Perhaps due to these concerns, China's visa-free policy for most of the 75 countries is initially limited to a one-year trial. Based on this experience, Beijing will decide whether to keep the policy or tighten its borders once again. For now, China has the most liberal visa policy since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949. This indicates a shift from China's long-standing reputation as a tightly controlled, security-focused state with restrictive entry policies and high levels of suspicion toward foreign influence. Notably, China is opening its doors to other countries as the U.S. enforces stricter visa regulations, including outright bans on the citizens of certain countries. The visa liberalization is likely to support China's diplomatic efforts, especially in promoting people-to-people exchanges and showcasing its rich cultural heritage, while also bringing economic benefits. A newly welcoming stance to foreign visitors has the potential to significantly impact China's overall image in the world.
