March 2026
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JNTO Announces: 3,597,500 International Visitors to Japan in January 2026, Down 4.9% Year-on-Year; South Korea Surpasses 1.1 Million in a Single Month for a Record High
(Source: JNTO) According to estimates released by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) on February 18, 2026, the number of international visitors to Japan in January 2026 reached 3,597,500, representing a 4.9% decrease compared with the same month of the previous year. The figure was also down by 20,200 from December 2025, when 3,617,700 visitors were recorded. Compared with January 2025, which saw 3,781,629 visitors, the total likewise declined. In 2025, the Lunar New Year (Spring Festival) fell in late January, whereas in 2026 it occurred in mid-February, affecting demand in some markets. On the other hand, growing demand for winter and snow-season travel in many markets helped maintain a certain level of inbound travel demand.