In November last year, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s remarks on “Taiwan’s security” provoked the anger of the Chinese Communist Party, leading to restrictions on Chinese people traveling to Japan. However, Hong Kong residents were not deterred and flocked to Japan during the Chinese New Year holiday period.
Takaichi Sanae’s comments on the Taiwan Strait crisis made the Chinese Communist Party uncomfortable, leading the authorities to repeatedly warn Chinese people against traveling to Japan. In the midst of this conflict, the Hong Kong government canceled some exchange activities with Japan.
According to statistics from the Japan National Tourism Organization, although the number of Chinese tourists visiting Japan from mainland China in December last year decreased by 45% to 330,400 compared to the previous year, the number of visitors from Hong Kong increased by 1.9% to 291,100.
A report on February 10 by Nikkei Shimbun stated that Paul Cheng, the head of a Hong Kong travel expert agency, explained that Hong Kong tourists are fond of winter skiing in Japan, and coupled with the weak Japanese yen, most flights and hotels are fully booked, so people from Hong Kong are not really affected. The company expects an overall business growth of 30% to 40% this year.
In the latest warning for Chinese travelers going to Japan, especially during the New Year period, the Chinese government has cautioned against traveling to Japan. Major Chinese airlines, including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines, extended their policies for free flight changes and cancellations to Japan last month.
Recent data from Airbnb shows that Japan has dropped out of the top ten favorite overseas destinations for Chinese tourists during the Lunar New Year period. For some Hong Kong residents, this presents a perfect opportunity to visit Japan with fewer crowds. Several Hong Kong locals told Nikkei Shimbun that with fewer mainland Chinese tourists in Japan, the country is less crowded, making it a great time to enjoy the sights and cuisine.
In recent years, due to factors like the spread of rumors about a major earthquake predicted by a Japanese comic, the demand for Hong Kong residents traveling to Japan during certain periods has significantly declined, resulting in a 6.2% decrease in the total number of visitors from Hong Kong to Japan to about 2.5 million. However, the number of Hong Kong visitors to Japan in December last year was almost double that of September (149,472 visitors), indicating a comprehensive recovery of the tourism sector.
Despite the threat of earthquakes, Hong Kong remained the fifth-largest source of tourists for Japan last year, following South Korea, mainland China, Taiwan, and the United States. The Japan Tourism Agency predicts that the total number of visitors to Japan is expected to reach a record 42.7 million in 2025, surpassing the 36.9 million in 2024.
With just about a four-hour flight distance between Hong Kong and Japan, many Hong Kong tourists frequently travel back and forth, jokingly referring to it as returning home. After visiting popular attractions, many Hong Kong residents are interested in exploring lesser-known or remote destinations. Some Hong Kong residents told Nikkei Shimbun that they have been to Japan more than ten times and plan to go again during the upcoming New Year period.
Mr. Cheng mentioned that Hong Kong people have visited Tokyo and Osaka too many times and prefer fewer crowded places. As a result, the number of visitors to Iwate Prefecture and Sendai in the northeastern region has increased.
Japanese tourism officials also informed Nikkei Shimbun that the number of Chinese mainland tourists flying to Japan through the Hong Kong International Airport has seen a slight increase.