On May 17, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) announced the number of inbound visitors to Japan in April 2023.
<Announcement Summary>
- Due to the rise in demand for entry during cherry blossom season, there were 1,949,100 inbound visitors in April, which was 66.6% compared to April of 2019. Continuing the trend from March, this figure broke the record for visitors since the resumption of leisure travel in October of last year.
- By region, a steady recovery in the number of inbound travelers was seen in East Asia due to the increase in flights during the summer schedule, while in Southeast Asia, Europe, America, and Australia, the increase in travel demand was due to national holidays. Furthermore, scheduled international flights have returned to approximately 60 percent of pre-Covid-19 numbers.
Inbound visitors from South Korea exceeded 467,000 (82.4% compared to April 2019), despite entering the travel off-season. This was due in part to the relaxation of border restrictions on the Japanese side and also the recovery of local flights to various regions in Japan.
The number of direct flights from Korea is increasing compared to the previous year’s data, including between Fukuoka and Incheon.
Visitors from China entering Japan in April only reached 108,300 (14.9% compared to April 2019). The continuation of border restrictions for entrance into Japan from China, along with restrictions on exiting and reentering China, as well as the Chinese Labor Day holiday season all had effects on inbound travel.
*The Ministry of Culture and Tourism in China continues to impose a ban on the sale of products intended for travel to Japan.
**Chinese citizens were required to present negative Covid-19 test results in order to reenter China. (As of April 29, this has been replaced by a voluntary antigen test.)
***Sample Covid-19 tests were conducted for those entering Japan on direct flights. (No longer effective as of April 29)
Inbound visitors from the U.S. exceeded 183,900 (108.0% compared to April 2019). This was due to the relaxation of Japanese border restrictions, increased demand for travel to Japan during cherry blossom season, and the Easter vacation, despite restrictions after reentrance to the U.S.
*U.S. citizens were recommended to get a Covid-19 test within 3 to 5 days after returning from Japan.