Annual change in monthly Japanese outbound traveler number 2019-2023

In November 2023, the number of Japanese overseas travelers decreased about 37.5 percent compared to the same period in 2019. Following the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in early 2020, entry restriction and travel bans resulted in a sharp decline in tourism, including Japanese outbound travel.

Where do Japanese travelers go?

Restricted by the financial burden and short durations of permitted leave, travels overseas are not a common activity in Japan. While the number of overseas travelers was on a steady upward trend before the COVID-19 pandemic, the most visited destinations remained East Asian and Southeast Asian regions in close proximity to the Japanese archipelago.

Japanese prefer individual travels?

The Japanese market offers a variety of travel products with different grades of flexibility for customization. Even though travel agencies were the places to go to purchase travel products, third-party websites were attracting customers with a variety of booking options. The possibility of planning highly-individualized trips catered to the popularity of custom travel packages among Japanese travelers.