PeterRS Posted November 16 Posted November 16 This might be a good time for those considering visiting Japan. Not only is the ¥ at very low levels (today US$1 - ¥154), the Chinese tourists who have been arriving in Japan in droves recently have just been advised by their government not to visit. The reason is a result of recent remarks in parliament by Japan's new right-wing and China-hawk Prime Minister that a military response from Tokyo might be necessary if China were to invade Taiwan. Previous Prime Ministers have always maintained a policy of "strategic" ambiguity over the Taiwan issue. Chinese tourists to Japan have risen to become second in number only to Americans. If Chinese numbers quickly fall, even by a relatively small amount, the tourism industry in Japan may have to resort to lowering prices to attract others. That will be my hope, anyway. KeepItReal and joizy 2 Quote
Moses Posted Sunday at 06:33 AM Posted Sunday at 06:33 AM 3 hours ago, PeterRS said: If Chinese numbers quickly fall It will not. Chinese never pay attention to state advises, they pay attention to prices. And prices are low as you mention. Quote
Keithambrose Posted Monday at 04:46 AM Posted Monday at 04:46 AM 22 hours ago, Moses said: It will not. Chinese never pay attention to state advises, they pay attention to prices. And prices are low as you mention. Mind you the 'advice' is pretty strong, and includes Macao and HK. Chinese Airlines are offering free refunds, so there could be an impact. Would be interesting to follow this, to see how far Xi can impose his 'advice'! Quote
Keithambrose Posted Monday at 04:48 AM Posted Monday at 04:48 AM Just now, Keithambrose said: Mind you the 'advice' is pretty strong, and includes Macao and HK. Chinese Airlines are offering free refunds, so there could be an impact. Would be interesting to follow this, to see how far Xi can impose his 'advice'! PS. Phrasing this as an issue arising from lawless Japan etc, danger to life, seems pretty dumb. Quote
Moses Posted Monday at 08:45 AM Posted Monday at 08:45 AM 3 hours ago, Keithambrose said: Mind you the 'advice' is pretty strong, and includes Macao and HK. Chinese Airlines are offering free refunds, so there could be an impact. Would be interesting to follow this, to see how far Xi can impose his 'advice'! I have about a dozen Chinese friends of various ages, from 20 to 50, and even more acquaintances. The words "cheap," "sale," and "discount" have a magical effect on each of them. Therefore, unless Xi imposes specific fees, taxes, bans, or restrictions, such as reducing the number of flights to Japan, the Chinese won't care about the government's recommendations, because they can travel to Japan cheaply now. The exception is CCP members, but most of them are already prohibited from leaving China without permission from their party branch. Quote
PeterRS Posted Monday at 08:56 AM Author Posted Monday at 08:56 AM You and the Chinese may not be concerned, but Japanese stockholders most definitely are. Japanese stocks related to tourism and retail fell on Monday after China warned its citizens not to travel to the country as Tokyo and Beijing remain locked in a row over Taiwan . . . Shares in Japanese department stores were hit hard, with the parent company of the Mitsukoshi and Isetan chains plunging by almost 12%. Other well-known brands like cosmetics company Shiseido also fell sharply. China has consistently ranked among the top sources of tourists visiting Japan. Shares in department store chain Takashimaya, and the owner of global fashion chain Uniqlo closed more than 5% lower. Carriers Japan Airlines and ANA Holdings were also down. Shares in Oriental Land, the theme park company that runs the Tokyo Disney resort, ended the day 5.8% lower . . . Chinese airlines - including China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and Air China - offered refunds for flights to Japan. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y9n25r0qyo Quote
macaroni21 Posted Monday at 09:17 AM Posted Monday at 09:17 AM Given how excessive numbers of Chinese tourists have in recent years annoyed the local Japanese, I have a feeling many locals think fewer Chinese will be a good thing; never mind the stock market. PeterRS and a-447 2 Quote
PeterRS Posted Tuesday at 09:57 AM Author Posted Tuesday at 09:57 AM On 11/16/2025 at 1:33 PM, Moses said: It will not. Chinese never pay attention to state advises, they pay attention to prices. And prices are low as you mention. Should we ve surprised? @Moses has got it wrond AGAIN! So Chinese never pay attention to state advisories? Chinese travellers are estimated to have cancelled hundreds of thousands of tickets to fly to Japan amid reports of suspended visa processing and cultural exchanges as a diplomatic dispute over Japan’s stance on Taiwan continues. Under pressure from business groups, Japan has sent a senior diplomat to Beijing in an attempt to calm tensions after Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, said her country could get involved militarily if China attempted to invade Taiwan. Her comments prompted fury from China’s government, which issued warnings against Chinese travellers and students going to Japan. One air travel analyst, Hanming Li, said departure data suggested about 500,000 flight tickets to Japan had been cancelled between 15 and 17 November. The Chinese outlet Jimu News reported that Sichuan Airlines had cancelled all flights between Chengdu and Sapporo from January until late March, and the budget carrier Spring Airlines had cancelled “multiple” Japan flights. At least seven Chinese airlines, including the three state carriers, said they would offer free cancellations to travellers with flights booked to the country. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/18/chinese-travellers-estimated-to-have-cancelled-500000-flights-to-japan-amid-rising-tensions Quote
Moses Posted Tuesday at 10:17 AM Posted Tuesday at 10:17 AM 20 minutes ago, PeterRS said: Should we ve surprised? So, Japan is on knees and begs for pardon? Quote On Monday, Tokyo dispatched a top foreign ministry official, Masaaki Kanai, to Beijing where he was expected to meet his Chinese counterpart, Liu Jinsong, Japanese reports said. Quote
khaolakguy Posted Tuesday at 03:27 PM Posted Tuesday at 03:27 PM 5 hours ago, Moses said: So, Japan is on knees and begs for pardon? If your interpretation of this action is correct it wouldn't be required unless a significant number of Chinese were following the government guidelines. This is incompatible with your previous assertion. On 11/17/2025 at 8:45 AM, Moses said: the Chinese won't care about the government's recommendations, because they can travel to Japan cheaply now. PeterRS 1 Quote
Keithambrose Posted 18 hours ago Posted 18 hours ago On 11/18/2025 at 10:27 PM, khaolakguy said: If your interpretation of this action is correct it wouldn't be required unless a significant number of Chinese were following the government guidelines. This is incompatible with your previous assertion. Today's news, 500,000 flights from China to Japan, cancelled. KeepItReal 1 Quote
macaroni21 Posted 13 hours ago Posted 13 hours ago 5 hours ago, Keithambrose said: Today's news, 500,000 flights from China to Japan, cancelled. This can be misread. I think you mean 500,000 journeys cancelled. Airlines don't operate as many as 500,000 flights. PeterRS 1 Quote
PeterRS Posted 3 hours ago Author Posted 3 hours ago 8 hours ago, macaroni21 said: This can be misread. I think you mean 500,000 journeys cancelled. Airlines don't operate as many as 500,000 flights. Agreed. But @Keithambrose who has criticised others for not providing sources, this time himself gives no source. So we do not know if that is in one day or over a period of time. Checking the internet, the news seems to have come from among others Yahoo News and Japan Today which state "nearly 500,000 flight tickets were cancelled" and is "spread over three days." Bloomberg is under a paywall but its headline is very clear - Japan Tourism Faces $.1.2 Billion Hit As Trip Cancellations Spike On China Rift https://japantoday.com/category/national/500-000-china-japan-trips-thought-cancelled-after-travel-warning-analyst https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-20/japan-tourism-faces-1-2-billion-hit-as-trip-cancellations-spike-on-china-rift Quote
a-447 Posted 1 hour ago Posted 1 hour ago I think the average Japanese will welcome the Chinese decision. The main problem with the Chinese is the sheer number of tourists in the same place at the same time. It is simply overwhelming. Imagine trying to catch the bus or train to work, only to find it is full and you have to wait until the next one. Or going to your favourite restaurant during your lunch break, only to have to line up for an hour to get in. Or having to take the stairs because there is a long line waiting for a lift (elevator). Or being unable to move around in a convenience store (or worse still, a pharmacy) because the aisles are packed with tourists, many just standing there on their phones. This is what the Japanese face on a daily basis, and it is intolerable. I've spoken to a lot of staff in craft stores selling ceramics, lacquerwork and other traditional high-value products. (I'm a collector). They dread the Chinese tour groups because they storm into the shop, mishandle the goods and rarely buy anything. When they leave, the store looks as though it has been hit by a hurricane and the staff are left to clean up the mess in readiness for the next busload. I've heard some horror stories about their general behaviour - littering, spitting, shitting in public etc - but have never witnessed this myself. I just wish they wouldn't be so loud! I've been to China a couple of times and I find them very polite, helpful and friendly. I don't think retailers will be too worried about a decrease in the number of Chinese tourists. Many shops were struggling to serve them all, and there are still plenty of tourists about. I think the government can probably handle the financial hit to the economy. Chinese tour buses near Kiyomizudera temple in Kyoto. Count them - there's over 50! And the tourists are all heading to the one temple! Quote
