Japan has dropped out of the list of top overseas travel destinations for Chinese tourists during the recent National Day holiday period, reflecting a significant decline in travel between the two countries amid deteriorating diplomatic relations. The National Day holidays, which began on October 1 and include the Mid-Autumn Festival, traditionally see a surge in outbound travel for Chinese citizens.

According to Tuniu, a major Chinese travel agency, popular destinations for this year’s holiday travel have shifted away from Japan, with Indonesia, Turkiye, and South Korea emerging as preferred alternatives. This contrasts sharply with 2025, when Japan was the leading overseas destination during the same holiday period.

The decline in Chinese tourism to Japan follows heightened political tensions after Japan’s Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, made remarks to Parliament in November 2025 suggesting that Japan might respond militarily in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. In response, Chinese authorities advised their citizens to avoid travel to Japan, a move that has contributed to a steep drop in visitor numbers.

Data from the Japan National Tourism Organization shows a 56.4% year-on-year decrease in Chinese visitors to Japan during the first half of 2026. A Chinese tourist who visited Japan earlier this year acknowledged that many people are now reluctant to consider Japan as a travel option amidst the current political climate.

Domestically, the Chinese government anticipates robust travel activity during the holiday period, forecasting approximately 2.13 billion trips across the country through October 7. On October 1 alone, the peak day of the holiday, around 340 million domestic travelers are expected to be on the move. The majority of these journeys, exceeding 90%, are estimated to be made by car. To support this volume, expressway tolls have been waived during the holiday period.

In response to the growing prevalence of electric vehicles in China, the government has also expanded infrastructure, installing over 10,000 fast-charging stations on major expressways in 2026 to accommodate increased demand and facilitate smoother travel experiences for motorists.