China is now the number one source of tourists to Japan

Although the political relationship between China and Japan is still tense due to territorial disputes, the number of Chinese tourists in Japan is still increasing rapidly. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, China has replaced Korea to become the largest source of foreign tourists in Japan.

There were about 4.3 million Chinese tourists Japan from January to October, making up approximately 25% of all tourists in Japan in this time period. The latest relaxed visa rules have facilitated trips to Japan for Chinese tourists, which helped attract more Chinese tourists than ever to choose Japan as their travel destination. Meanwhile, the weakened Japanese currency Yen and the downfall of Hong Kong’s longtime reputation as the paradise for shopping have also contributed to the popularity of Japan, particularly as a shopping destination.

Among all the Chinese tourists who visited Japan from July to September, nearly 67% of them were in Japan for the very first time. They spent their money mostly on shopping and accommodation, with the average shopping expenditure totaling JPY 152,991 per person (approximatelyh EUR 1,172) as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

This flow of Chinese tourists towards Japan can have a great significance, because unlike other countries, Japan and China had a long unpleasant history. Until today, Japan is still frequently criticized in the Chinese social media. In the meantime, relevant discussions have also appeared on different websites about whether people should travel to Japan and “support the Japanese economy by buying their products”. However, political tensions and historical animosity do not seem to influence the decision of many Chinese tourists nor quench their enthusiasm of shopping in Japan.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Photo: flickr