Japan Tourism Hits New Milestones: South Korea Breaks 1.1 Million Record in January 2026

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) released its latest preliminary figures on 18th Feb 2026, revealing a dynamic start to the year for Japan’s travel industry. While total visitor arrivals for January 2026 reached 3,597,500, marking a slight 4.9% decrease compared to the previous year, the month saw historic surges from key markets, most notably South Korea.

South Korea Sets All-Time Market Record

A major highlight of the report is the unprecedented performance of the South Korean market. For the first time in history, a single market exceeded 1.1 million visitors in one month. Arrivals from South Korea surged to 1,176,000, representing a 21.6% increase over January 2025. This growth was driven by continued travel popularity, expanded flight capacity—including more routes between Busan and Fukuoka—and local school holiday schedules.

Snow Season and Regional Growth

The shift of the Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) from late January in 2025 to mid-February in 2026 caused temporary dips in some markets like China and Hong Kong. However, this was largely offset by a booming “Snow Season” demand.

Key highlights from the January 2026 data include:

• Record-Breaking Markets: South Korea, Taiwan, and Australia set all-time monthly highs.

• January Highs: A total of 17 markets recorded their highest-ever visitor numbers for the month of January, including the U.S.A., Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and several European nations.

• U.S. & Australia Growth: The United States saw 207,800 visitors (up 13.8%), while Australia reached 160,700 (up 14.6%), fueled by winter sports enthusiasts and increased flight accessibility.

• Emerging Strength: Mexico showed the highest percentage growth among major markets with a staggering 64% increase year-on-year.

January 2026 Visitor Arrivals – Top 5 Markets