Are you considering a trip to Japan?

If you’ve visited before and are planning to go again, that’s amazing – we’re glad that Japan has a special place in your heart! If this is your first time, get ready to explore a country filled with rich culture, beautiful scenery, and vibrant cities!

But have you ever wondered who visits Japan the most, and when the busiest season is?

International travel often costs more than domestic trips, largely due to fluctuating prices for flights and accommodations. These prices usually depend on demand and supply: when more people visit Japan, hotel prices tend to rise, and flight tickets from your country might get pricier too.

The best time to visit Japan depends on what you want to do, but understanding these travel trends can help you manage expectations for costs and crowd levels.

If you are a data nerd like me, here are some data-driven insights (with graphs so you know I am not making this up). 

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) tracks the number of visitors each month. We analyzed 20 years of data (2003-2023) and uncovered some interesting insights to help you plan your trip better.

Japan saw a steady increase in visitor arrivals over the years, followed by a sharp decline during the pandemic. Once Japan reopened its boarders for visa-free international travel, tourism bounced back quickly, with 2023 seeing a near-full recovery.

Breaking the data down by continent reveals that most visitors come from Asia, thanks to its proximity to Japan.

On a smaller scale, a few countries and regions are consistently at the top of the list: South Korea, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, and the U.S.

Japan attracts visitors year-round, with average monthly visitor numbers ranging from 950,000 to 1.1 million. However, certain months stand out as the busiest: July, October, and December.

Visitors from Asian countries tend to come year-round, with July seeing the highest numbers, followed by December and January. Proximity makes shorter trips more feasible, resulting in less seasonal fluctuation.

North American visitors show more variation, with larger volumes in October, March and June (July is a close fourth).

European travel patterns have spikes in October and April, followed by March.

Oceania has a unique trend, with most visitors arriving in December and January, followed by September.

October is the busiest month for South American visitors, though their numbers are much smaller compared to other continents.

Africa has the lowest visitor volume among all continents, but like North America, Europe, and South America, October is the peak month.

Let’s break down the busiest months by top countries/regions from each continent (except Africa as JNTO does not report Africa at country/region detail).

The surge in July is largely driven by visitors from top Asian countries.

October’s popularity can be attributed to travelers from non-Asian regions like North America and Europe, as well as Taiwan. The cooler temperatures make it an ideal time to explore.

December’s appeal is universal, attracting visitors for its festive winter vibe, ski season, hot springs (onsen), and unique New Year celebrations.

Here are the top regions from each continent contributing to Japan’s tourism:

Japan’s allure is undeniable, with something to offer every season. Whether you’re chasing cherry blossoms in spring, enjoying festivals and beaches in summer, marveling at autumn foliage, or soaking in hot springs during winter, understanding these visitor trends can help you plan the perfect trip.

Happy travels!