The 9-day Tet holiday in China starts from February 15, 2026. The day before, airports in Beijing recorded a crowded situation as people flocked home or went on international tours.
However, in contrast to the bustling scene at other destinations, the number of visitors to Japan is forecast to decrease sharply due to the rapidly deteriorating bilateral relations between the two countries.
Chinese airlines have temporarily suspended many routes connecting the two countries. This move takes place in the context of the Chinese government continuously issuing recommendations to people to limit travel to the land of cherry blossoms. This is a major change compared to last year, when Japan was always in the group of most popular international destinations for Chinese tourists.
Chinese media reported that in the list of top 10 destinations for 2026, Japan has completely disappeared. Instead, the people of the billion-people nation are paying more attention to South Korea and Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam or Singapore.
However, a part of tourists are still persistent with their choices. Recorded at check-in counters of Japanese airlines on February 14, there were still quite a few customers queuing.
A tourist visiting Fukuoka shared that he had been looking forward to this trip for a long time and was not too concerned about the government's recommendations, affirming that each individual has their own will and preferences.
Another passenger also expressed optimism when she said she was not too worried about diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Tokyo. She hoped to have a complete vacation in Japan with unique sightseeing and hot spring bathing experiences.
The decline in Chinese tourists is forecast to have a significant impact on the retail and accommodation services industry in Japan, which always expects great purchasing power from this market during each Lunar New Year.
Currently, the Japanese tourism business community must make efforts to find alternative sources of customers to compensate for the gap left by Chinese tourists in the peak season of early 2026.
