South Korean visitors numbered 842,300 in September, up 25.6% year-on-year and the highest ever in a month, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
In Tokyo, the average daily room rate reached JPY28,276, up 8.4% year-on-year.
Strong demand from international travelers during the autumn foliage season, along with visitors attending international conferences and exhibitions, contributed to the increase in hotel rates, Seoul Economic Daily reported.
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International visitors enjoy Japan’s autumn foliage season. Photo by Unsplash |
The growth in South Korean arrivals came amid a decline in overall foreign visitor numbers.
Japan received 30.73 million foreign visitors in the first nine months of 2026, down 2.9% year on year, according to the JNTO.
The decline was partly due to a 55.5% drop in the number of visitors from China due to strained diplomatic relations between Beijing and Tokyo, Chinese travel advisories, and reduced flight services.
Japan’s hotel industry expects room rates to maintain their upward trend following September’s increase.
Shiori Sakurai, STR’s head of the Japan market, said overseas visitor demand would support further increases, with year-on-year growth remaining in the single digits through next spring.