Japan's tourism sector is feeling the chill ❄️ after Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi's recent comments on China's domestic affairs sparked a wave of cancellations and route changes.
On Saturday, November 29, 2025, Nikkei Asia sounded the alarm: as of Thursday, November 27, 904 out of the 5,548 scheduled ✈️ December flights from China to Japan have been scrapped—about 16% of the total.
These cancellations followed an official travel warning issued by the Chinese government ⚠️, advising citizens to stay cautious when planning trips to Japan amid rising diplomatic tensions.
It's not just airlines feeling the pinch. On Friday, Adora Cruises announced that two of its ships—Adora Magic and Adora Mediterranea—will reroute their early 2026 schedules 🛳️, focusing on the Republic of Korea and Southeast Asia instead of Japan.
Chinese tourists are known for their spending power 🛍️, usually making up around 20% of Japan's inbound revenue. In 2024, average visitor spending jumped 6.8% year on year to 227,242 yen (roughly $1,456), according to Xinhua.
With the year-end holidays around the corner, local airlines, hotels, souvenir shops and scenic spots are bracing for a tough season. Industry experts will be watching closely to see if the trend reverses or deepens in the coming weeks.
Reference(s):
Takaichi's China remarks continue to have disastrous effect: Nikkei
cgtn.com
