Japan Becomes Hot Spot For Chinese Tourists

People walk through Omotesando shopping street in Tokyo on March 17, 2024. (Yuichi Yamazaki/ AFP)

“May Day,” also known as International Labor Day, is one of seven major holidays celebrated in China. It lasts several days, and many use this time away from work for leisure tourism. This year, many Chinese tourists chose Japan as their preferred destination and spent lavishly to take advantage of the yen’s record depreciation.

Recently, “Chinese tourists spend nearly 300,000 yen ($1,945) per person in Japan” trended on social media in China. Tourism data suggests the Chinese enjoy vacationing in Japan, contradicting the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) efforts to incite nationalist sentiment against Japan. Public opinion also suggests that those who are anti-Japanese are mostly just “living on the internet.”

Chinese Tourists Take Advantage of Depreciating Yen

According to Japan’s NHK media, the yen continues to weaken against the dollar, falling to its lowest level in 34 years, prompting an influx of tourists shopping for bargains.

Data from the Japan Tourism Agency highlights a remarkable surge in tourist spending, marking a 73.3 percent increase compared to two years ago, totaling $11.3 billion in the first quarter of this year. Among the biggest spenders, Chinese tourists led the pack, contributing $2.3 billion (20.1 percent of the total), with an average expenditure of approximately $1,900 per person. March alone saw a staggering 450,000 tourists from mainland China visiting Japan.

According to the Chinese Immigration Administration, this year’s “May Day” holiday witnessed a 35.1 percent spike in entries and exits by Chinese and foreign nationals, reaching 8.5 million, with a peak of 1.8 million entries and exits on May 3. Mainland residents accounted for 4.8 million entries and exits, a 38 percent increase from the previous year.

Japan has indisputably become the preferred destination for Chinese travelers during the May holiday, with Tongcheng Travel data showing a more than 30 percent surge in searches for trips to Japan. Tokyo and Osaka stand out as the primary tourist hubs for Chinese visitors.

Ctrip, China’s largest online travel service, issued a report titled “Insight into the 2024 ‘May Day’ Tourism Trend,” highlighting Japan’s dominance as the top outbound destination for Chinese tourists this year. Similarly, data from Airbnb reveals Japan as the most sought-after destination for spring 2024.

The allure of traveling to Japan for Chinese tourists is amplified by the yen’s depreciation. It plummeted to its lowest point of the year at 160 yen to $1 before rebounding to 154 yen to $1 presently.

Insider Perspective on Chinese Tourists in Japan

In an interview with The Epoch Times, Zhang Ru, a seasoned tour guide in Japan, shared his observations on the current landscape of Chinese tourists visiting Japan.

Mr. Zhang claims that “The scale of Chinese tourists coming to Japan now is much lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic. You can feel the pressure brought by the overall economic downturn in China. Most of them now hold multiple-entry visas, making it relatively easy for them to come to Japan.”

Mr. Zhang observed a noteworthy shift in purchasing patterns among Chinese tourists. Previously coveted home appliances like rice cookers and smart toilets have taken a backseat to a new wave of preferences, namely brand-name bags, clothing, and cosmetics. He attributes this shift to the enduring trust in Japanese product quality and the enticing affordability of luxury goods, particularly with the yen’s current depreciation against the Chinese yuan.

Mr. Zhang also believes tourists have a burgeoning inclination towards spiritual enrichment through sightseeing. The allure of well-preserved traditional culture, ancient architectural marvels, and the serene cleanliness and quietness of Japanese society deeply resonate with Chinese visitors. Such experiences touch Chinese hearts and often engender a profound affection for Japan, leading to a direct and enduring impact on Chinese perceptions.

CCP Promoting Anti-Japanese Sentiment

Despite China’s history of resentment toward Japan, a poll conducted in 2018 by the Japanese think tank Genron NPO showed the Chinese have begun to look favorably upon Japan. This stems from the collaboration under the 1978 Japan-China Treaty of Peace and Friendship. More recently, Chinese tourists have made Japan a favored destination, citing its favorable standard of living, scenic landscapes, quality of products, the likeability of the people, and efforts to preserve Japan’s traditional cultural standards.

Rather than build upon the Chinese people’s improving sentiments toward Japan, the CCP remains intent on widening the divide between these countries, most recently exploiting Japan’s controversial discharge of treated water from its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

On August 24 of last year, Japan released treated water from Fukushima, and the General Administration of Customs of China announced a comprehensive suspension of imports of Japanese aquatic products. The official media controlled by the CCP, such as Sina, Weibo, and Baidu’s hot search section, were filled with related topics when this occurred. Under the posts reported by CCTV News, there were over 150,000 comments overwhelmingly denouncing Japan, calling for “resistance against Japan,” “boycott Japanese goods,” and even calling for “Japan to disappear.”

Also, in the town squares, Chinese people protested against Japan’s discharge of treated water. A temporary boycott was also placed on Japanese goods, fearing faults or nuclear contamination.

Now that the news is replete with stories of how the Chinese enjoy touring Japan with its lavish shopping and preserved cultural highlights, criticisms have mellowed. Critics now claim that “anti-Japanese fanatics can only survive online.”

According to Mr. Zhang, “When Chinese tourists arrive in Japan, they are initially concerned about nuclear pollution, asking whether the seafood is safe to consume. After being reassured, they relax and enjoy themselves. The unnecessary psychological pressure caused by the CCP’s propaganda is relieved. Everyone eats and drinks freely because when they see people from various countries eating seafood here, they feel reassured. Facts are the most convincing.”

Lai Jianping, a former Beijing lawyer and chairman of the Canadian Democratic Movement, believes that those who are truly brainwashed by the CCP and have anti-Japanese sentiment are still a minority, and most people will not truly be anti-Japanese because of this political ideology. The CCP’s propaganda methods are ineffective for most Chinese people.