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Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO)

Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO): A governmental body headquartered in Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, JNTO is dedicated to promoting tourism to Japan and fostering international tourism exchanges. Established in 1964, its core activities include global tourism promotion, operating Tourist Information Centres, publishing tourism statistics, and supporting international conventions. With 26 overseas offices, JNTO plays a central role in developing inbound tourism, disseminating comprehensive travel information, and contributing to sustainable tourism initiatives, functioning as the Japanese government’s official tourism bureau.

Chinese airlines transported 153.64 million passenger trips between July 1 and Monday, a historic high. Photo: AFP

China travel

How Japan fell from China’s tourism top 3 despite record summer travel boom

Mainland carriers scrap more than 30 per cent of flights to Japan as travellers turn to South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia.

2 Sep 2026 - 5:00PMvideocam

China travel

From travel warnings to visa fees: why Chinese tourism to Japan is in free fall

20 Aug 2026 - 5:37PM

China-Japan relations

Japan’s visa fee jump to hit Chinese tourists hard, straining tense ties

24 Jun 2026 - 9:11AMvideocam

Tourism

Opinion | From Japan to India, overtourism cries out for new success metrics

Arrival numbers are important, but the impact on local communities, public services and environments is too often overlooked.

30 Apr 2026 - 5:30AMvideocam

Japan

Chinese tourist arrivals to Japan plunge 41% in January amid simmering tensions

Impact ripples through Japan’s retail sector, with falling duty-free sales at top department stores highlighting the pain for the industry.

18 Feb 2026 - 4:35PMvideocam

Japan

Russia emerges as unlikely growth market for Japan tourism as China pulls back

New visa centres in Moscow and St Petersburg reflect a sharp rise in Russian demand as Chinese arrivals fall amid diplomatic tensions.

17 Feb 2026 - 11:00AMvideocam

China-Japan relations

Beijing issues new Japan travel warning as row over PM’s Taiwan comments drags on

Citizens warned against visiting ahead of Lunar New Year holiday as Chinese airlines extend deadline for refunds or flight changes.

26 Jan 2026 - 8:55PMvideocam

More than 9 million Chinese citizens visited Japan last year. Photo: AFP

Asia housing and property

The View | Why Thailand, India and Japan’s hotel sectors deserve a closer look

Thailand’s resilience in the face of an eventful 2025, India’s uneven boom in branded hotel supply and Japan’s record visitor numbers amid a row with China are deserving of attention.

26 Jan 2026 - 4:30PMvideocam

China-Japan relations

China-Japan tension hits holiday travel as flights cancelled on 46 routes

All cancelled flights are operated by Chinese carriers and involve most of the country’s major airlines.

22 Dec 2025 - 9:13PMvideocam

China-Japan relations

Chinese tourist arrivals to Japan lose momentum amid tensions: official data

Mainland visitor numbers rose just 3% in November after flight cuts and travel warnings took effect as diplomatic strains escalated.

18 Dec 2025 - 9:14AMvideocam

Mainland Chinese tourists visit Sensoji temple in the Asakusa district of Tokyo on Thursday Photo: AP

Japan

Overtourism in Kyoto turns rite of passage into disappointment for Japan schools

Rising costs and crowded attractions in Kyoto have put organisers off what was once seen as a rite of passage for pupils’ school trips.

25 Sep 2025 - 8:26AMvideocam

Visitors crowd a street leading to Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, Japan. A 2024 study by the Kyoto city government found that 56.06 million people visited over the course of the year. Photo: Reuters

China travel

Chinese tourists splash the cash in Japan as weak yen drives travel surge

Middle-class Chinese are flocking to Japan this year as a favourable exchange rate makes the country’s high-end goods and resorts more affordable.

21 Sep 2025 - 8:00AM

Japan

Tipping point: foreign gratuities upend Japan’s tradition of gracious service

As foreign tourists pour in, gratuities once seen as an insult are now being embraced by some Japanese businesses.

3 Sep 2025 - 5:32PMvideocam

Hong Kong economy

Hongkongers undeterred by Japan’s plan to tackle overtourism with taxes: experts

Industry leaders say additional tax unlikely to push up prices of tours, even as Japanese municipalities eye additional revenue stream.

24 Aug 2025 - 11:11PM

Last year, about 2.68 million Hongkongers visited Japan, accounting for around 7.3 per cent of the total foreign visitors to the country. Photo: EPA-EFE

Hong Kong tourism

Hong Kong tourists undeterred by prediction that quake will hit Japan on July 5

City’s travel agencies have not reported widespread cancellations, even as manga artist’s warning date looms and sets internet abuzz.

3 Jul 2025 - 12:39PMvideocam

Hong Kong travel agencies have not recorded widespread cancellations of Japan-bound tour groups for the coming weekend, despite predictions of a mega-earthquake from manga. Photo: EPA-EFE

Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO)

How Japan fell from China’s tourism top 3 despite record summer travel boom

Mainland carriers scrap more than 30 per cent of flights to Japan as travellers turn to South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia.

From travel warnings to visa fees: why Chinese tourism to Japan is in free fall

Japan’s visa fee jump to hit Chinese tourists hard, straining tense ties

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | From Japan to India, overtourism cries out for new success metrics

Arrival numbers are important, but the impact on local communities, public services and environments is too often overlooked.

Chinese tourist arrivals to Japan plunge 41% in January amid simmering tensions

Impact ripples through Japan’s retail sector, with falling duty-free sales at top department stores highlighting the pain for the industry.

Russia emerges as unlikely growth market for Japan tourism as China pulls back

New visa centres in Moscow and St Petersburg reflect a sharp rise in Russian demand as Chinese arrivals fall amid diplomatic tensions.

Beijing issues new Japan travel warning as row over PM’s Taiwan comments drags on

Citizens warned against visiting ahead of Lunar New Year holiday as Chinese airlines extend deadline for refunds or flight changes.

The View | Why Thailand, India and Japan’s hotel sectors deserve a closer look

Thailand’s resilience in the face of an eventful 2025, India’s uneven boom in branded hotel supply and Japan’s record visitor numbers amid a row with China are deserving of attention.

China-Japan tension hits holiday travel as flights cancelled on 46 routes

All cancelled flights are operated by Chinese carriers and involve most of the country’s major airlines.

Chinese tourist arrivals to Japan lose momentum amid tensions: official data

Mainland visitor numbers rose just 3% in November after flight cuts and travel warnings took effect as diplomatic strains escalated.

Overtourism in Kyoto turns rite of passage into disappointment for Japan schools

Rising costs and crowded attractions in Kyoto have put organisers off what was once seen as a rite of passage for pupils’ school trips.

Chinese tourists splash the cash in Japan as weak yen drives travel surge

Middle-class Chinese are flocking to Japan this year as a favourable exchange rate makes the country’s high-end goods and resorts more affordable.

Tipping point: foreign gratuities upend Japan’s tradition of gracious service

As foreign tourists pour in, gratuities once seen as an insult are now being embraced by some Japanese businesses.

Hongkongers undeterred by Japan’s plan to tackle overtourism with taxes: experts

Industry leaders say additional tax unlikely to push up prices of tours, even as Japanese municipalities eye additional revenue stream.

Hong Kong tourists undeterred by prediction that quake will hit Japan on July 5

City’s travel agencies have not reported widespread cancellations, even as manga artist’s warning date looms and sets internet abuzz.

Opinion | From Japan to India, overtourism cries out for new success metrics