Japan tourist shift
New March data show inbound tourism to Japan is rising with surges from South Korea, Taiwan and Western markets — but Chinese arrivals plunged 45.2% year‑over‑year in February (travelandtourworld.com). Spring hanami guides, packing tips and the best flower parks for 2026 are being updated for travelers chasing blossoms and fewer crowds in new hotspots (joyn.tokyo).
Japan recorded 3,466,700 inbound visitors in February 2026, the highest number for any February on record according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). (asset.japan.travel) JNTO data show 18 countries and regions set new monthly records for visits in February, with East Asian and Western source markets accounting for most of the upside. (malaymail.com) South Korea remained the top source market in February with roughly 1.08 million arrivals, while Taiwan sent about 693,600 visitors that month, both figures cited in the government release covered by Reuters. (usnews.com) Mainland China supplied 396,400 visitors to Japan in February, a marked fall in absolute terms from prior months as airlines and tour operators adjusted capacity. (straitstimes.com) Beijing issued travel advisories against Japan in mid‑November 2025 and again around the Lunar New Year, and Chinese carriers were directed to scale back services—schedule filings show more than 60% capacity cuts on some China–Japan routes for February–March. (travelandleisureasia.com) The diplomatic row began after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s November 2025 remarks on a Taiwan contingency, which prompted the summoning of ambassadors and later travel warnings from Chinese authorities. (nbcnews.com) Tourism managers are updating spring hanami content and pushing lesser‑known flower parks as alternatives: the Japan Weather Association forecast Tokyo’s first blossoms around March 21, 2026, and travel sites are promoting new, less crowded viewing spots for the season. (gotokyo.org)
