Indian Tourist Arrivals To Japan Cross 300,000 For First Time In 2025

Autumn And Winter Tourism In Japan Gain Popularity Among Indian Travellers

From January to December 2025, Japan welcomed 315,100 visitors from India, marking a milestone as Indian arrivals crossed the 300,000 threshold for the first time. This figure reflects a strong 35.2 per cent increase over 2024, when arrivals totalled 233,061, and is nearly 80 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019, which stood at 175,896. 

The surge highlights the rising interest among Indian travellers in Japan, supported by enhanced air connectivity, stronger collaboration with the travel trade, and growing awareness of destinations beyond the classic Golden Route.

May 2025 emerged as a standout month, registering a record 43,040 Indian visitors, the highest ever for a single month, even after the cherry blossom season concluded. This trend underscores Japan’s expanding appeal beyond spring, with May and June gaining popularity among Indian travellers due to school holidays, reduced domestic congestion following Golden Week, and greater availability of accommodations and attractions.

These developments are reinforcing Japan’s image as a year-round destination. In comparison, March saw 32,967 Indian arrivals, while April recorded a sharp 61 per cent year-on-year rise to 37,352 visitors, largely driven by cherry blossom tourism as Indian families and leisure travellers travelled to renowned viewing spots across the country.

The vibrant autumn foliage is increasingly drawing Indian travellers, marking autumn as a rising season for tourism. November welcomed approx. 28,900 arrivals showing growth of 22 per cent, while December climbed by 37 per cent to approx. 23,300 arrivals, both showing strong growth. Snow destinations such as Hokkaido and the Japanese Alps are gaining popularity, with Indian families and especially honeymoon travellers embracing powder snow, winter illumination and winter sports.

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Delhi Office believes that several key factors have contributed to this performance in the 2025. These include a sustained overseas travel boom in the Indian market and Japan’s growing reputation as a unique luxury destination that blends culture, modernity, and nature. The enduring appeal of the Golden Route (Tokyo–Osaka–Kyoto–Hiroshima) continues to draw interest, while there is also a noticeable rise in travel to off-the-Golden Route destinations such as the Alpine Route, Hokkaido and Okinawa. Additionally, Japan’s strengthened hospitality infrastructure and increasingly India- friendly environment, including the growing availability of Indian cuisine, multilingual signage, unique cultural experiences, tax free shopping, etc, have made the country even more appealing to Indian travellers.

Japan Airlines (JAL), with its new Narita route alongside the existing Haneda service, and All Nippon Airways (ANA), set to launch daily Mumbai–Narita flights in 2026, are driving improved air connectivity between India and Japan. This growth is further supported by increased networks through code-share agreements between airlines and the rising use of connecting flights via Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.

JNTO Delhi Office continuous promotional efforts including consumer-facing events like: Japan Travel Fair 2026 (JTF), advertising campaigns, trade seminars, FAM tours and collaboration with trade partners.