Chinese Visitors to Japan Decline Again as Tensions Linger

The decline in the number of Chinese visitors to Japan accelerated in January, fueling the first monthly drop since Covid restrictions were lifted, offering the clearest sign yet of economic fallout from tensions between the countries.

Arrivals from China shrank 61% in January from a year earlier, compared with a 45% decline in December, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Wednesday, citing a shift in the timing of the Lunar New Year holiday and warnings against travel to Japan. The fall dragged down the total number of inbound visitors by 4.9% last month.