The depreciation of the yen and the expansion of flights led to more than 3.37 million foreign tourists in Japan in June, which not only set a record for the same period in history, but also pushed the number of visitors to Japan in the first half of the year to exceed 20 million for the first time.
OSAKA, JAPAN (MERXWIRE) – Thanks to the depreciation of the yen, the increase in flights, the start of school holidays in various places, and the continued rise in the popularity of traveling to Japan, Japan welcomed 3.3778 million foreign tourists in June 2025, an increase of 7.6% over the same period last year, setting a record high for June in all previous years. The cumulative number of foreign tourists in the first half of the year has reached 21.5181 million, an increase of more than 3.7 million over the same period in 2024, breaking through 20 million for the first time in half a year, setting a new milestone.
According to statistics from the Japan Tourism Agency, the three countries with the most significant number of visitors to Japan in June 2025 are China, South Korea, and Taiwan. Among them, China ranked first with 797,900 passengers, showing the effectiveness of the recovery of flights and tourism demand in the two places. South Korea followed closely with 729,800 passengers, benefiting from the convenience of short-distance travel and the attractive exchange rate of the yen. The number of Taiwanese passengers was 585,000, also driven by the increase in flight and cruise capacity, setting a new monthly record.
In terms of the annual growth rate, the top three countries with the most outstanding performance were Russia, Germany, and India. Among them, Russia’s annual growth rate reached 111.9%, the most significant increase among all markets, mainly driven by factors such as the expansion of cruise demand and the convenience of flight transfers. The number of German passengers increased by 43.9% compared to the same period last year, benefiting from summer vacations and increased flight capacity. India followed closely with an annual growth rate of 43.8%, driven by the family travel boom and an increase in direct flights, indicating that the South Asian market is experiencing rapid growth.
Asia remains the primary source of tourism to Japan. China ranked first with 797,900 people, benefiting from the resumption of flights and holidays; South Korea had 729,800 people, reaching a new high due to the depreciation of the yen and the convenience of short-distance travel; Taiwan had 585,000 people, also breaking records due to the increase in flights and cruises. India experienced the most impressive growth, reaching 28,600 people, with an annual rise of 43.8%, primarily due to the expansion of direct flights and increased holidays. Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia all grew steadily.
The overall number of European passengers continued to grow, and many countries set a record high in June. Germany grew by 43.9%, driven by holidays and flight diversification. Italy grew by 34.1% year-on-year, due to school holidays and the introduction of new routes. The UK and France maintained double-digit growth despite the off-season. Russia’s annual growth rate was as high as 111.9%, driven by the convenience of cruises and transfer flights, making it the country with the highest growth rate in the world.
The momentum of the American market is strong. The United States reached a new monthly high of 345,100, as the start of summer vacation and the weakening of the yen stimulated travel intentions. Mexico increased by 22.7% year-over-year, mainly due to school holidays and flight diversification. Canada performed steadily, with an annual increase of 1.5%.
Although the number of visitors to Japan in most regions reached a new high, there were also declines in several markets. Hong Kong was affected by online rumors, and a large number of earthquake warning messages circulated on social media, resulting in a 33.4% year-on-year decrease in the number of tourists to 166,800. Thailand and Australia also had fewer visitors to Japan than in the same period last year due to reduced flights and holiday adjustments. Australia is also one of the few countries experiencing a decline in its market. Due to a decrease in flights and holiday adjustments, the number of visitors to Japan is lower than it was at the same period last year.