A travel advisory from the Chinese mainland authorities following a political row over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's China-related remarks has triggered a steep drop in bookings to Japan.
Since November 15, 2025, more than 540,000 tickets to Japan have been canceled, and refund requests continue to rise. Many agencies in the Chinese mainland have already scrapped group tours for November and December.
A Tokyo-based agency told Xinhua that cancellations jumped from 10 percent of bookings on November 17 to about 70 percent the next day. The agency added that dozens of study tours and business or government delegations have already withdrawn December trips, and most remaining reservations may also fall through.
Experts say this sharp pullback highlights how geopolitical tensions can ripple through the tourism economy, from airlines and hotels to local businesses that rely on visitors from the Chinese mainland. With the year-end holiday season approaching, travel operators are bracing for continued volatility.
As the dispute shows no sign of immediate resolution, travelers and industry watchers are keeping close tabs on diplomatic developments in the coming weeks. Whether bookings recover will depend on political signals and any easing of travel guidance from the Chinese mainland.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
