The number of Vietnamese tourists visiting Japan in 2025 is expected to reach nearly 700,000, marking the highest level since 2019.
Tourists walk along the path leading to Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto, Japan, on January 13, 2025. Photo: Paul Miller .
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the number of Vietnamese visitors to Japan in December 2025 increased by 9.1% compared to the same period in 2024. For the whole year of 2025, Vietnam is expected to record 678,500 visitors to Japan, a 9.2% increase year-on-year and the highest level since 2019 .
In this context, Japan continues to hold its position as one of the most popular overseas destinations for Vietnamese tourists.
JNTO stated that despite the impact of an uncertain economic outlook and unfavorable weather conditions, the Vietnamese market maintained growth thanks to increased frequency of Vietnam-Japan flights, which helped expand the supply of seats.
This growth is occurring against the backdrop of a strong recovery in international travel demand among Vietnamese people. According to data from the General Statistics Office ( Ministry of Finance ), in 2025, approximately 6.7 million Vietnamese people will travel abroad, an increase of 26.4% compared to 2024, with destinations in Asia accounting for the majority.
| NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE TOURISTS TO JAPAN FROM 2019-2025 | ||||||||
| Source: Japan Tourism Agency | ||||||||
| Label | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
| Number of visitors | Number of visitors | 495,051 | 152,559 | 26.5 | 284 | 573.9 | 621,173 | 678.5 |
Conversely, Japan also recorded a boom year in international visitors. The Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism stated that the total number of international visitors to the country in 2025 has exceeded 40 million .
This is the first time Japan has achieved this milestone, setting a new record for the tourism industry.
Minister Kaneko described surpassing the 40 million visitor mark as "a great achievement," as the country aims to welcome 60 million international visitors by 2030.
According to him, the number of visitors from Asia has increased compared to the pre-pandemic period, while significant growth from Europe, the US, and Australia shows that the international visitor market to Japan is becoming increasingly diverse.
| TOP 10 INTERNATIONAL TOURIST MARKETS FOR JAPAN IN 2025 | |||||||||||
| Source: Japan Tourism Agency | |||||||||||
| Label | Korea | Mainland China | Taiwan (China) | America | Hong Kong (China) | Thailand | Australia | Philippines | Singapore | Canada | |
| Number of visitors | Million views | 9.5 | 9.1 | 6.8 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.89 | 0.73 | 0.69 |
However, the outlook for Japanese tourism in 2026 is predicted to be more cautious, due to a significant drop in Chinese tourists following controversial remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaich.
According to forecasts released by JTB Travel Group, the number of international visitors to Japan in 2026 could fall to around 41.4 million. JTB believes that the rapid recovery of tourism demand has passed its peak and the growth rate is likely to slow down.
Amid declining demand from mainland China and Hong Kong (China), 2026 is projected to see a year-on-year decrease.
Tourists walk along a street near Yasaka Temple during a tour of Kyoto, 2025. Photo: The Independent.
Minister Kaneko also expressed caution regarding market prospects, stating that he was not yet ready to give a specific forecast due to the impact of various factors on international visitor numbers.
According to him, Japan will continue to promote tourism from various markets, focusing on attracting high-spending tourists. The country also aims to address issues related to tourism overcrowding, working towards long-term sustainable development.