Kyoto is Japan’s cultural heart, renowned for its ancient temples, traditional tea houses, and timeless geisha districts.
Japan has approved a new tourism plan that expands overtourism controls while keeping aggressive visitor and spending targets in place through 2030. The policy signals a shift from simple volume growth toward tighter management of crowding, local disruption, and regional distribution.
Japan’s 2026 cherry blossom season is expected to begin earlier than usual, with first blooms forecast in mid-March in parts of western and central Japan. Warmer late-winter temperatures are likely to push the sakura front northward through April.
Global Hotel Alliance is expanding in Japan through a new partnership with Tokyu Hotels & Resorts, adding more than 40 properties to the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty platform.
Japan welcomed a record number of international visitors in 2025, even as arrivals from China fell sharply late in the year amid rising diplomatic tensions.
Italy leads global travel demand in 2025, with Rome among the most booked cities, while Japan, Egypt, and island destinations highlight shifting patterns in luxury, value, and long-stay travel.
Starting March 2026, Kyoto will implement Japan’s highest-ever hotel tax to combat overtourism and protect the city’s cultural heritage.
Japan welcomed 3.43 million visitors in July 2025, setting a new monthly record. While arrivals from Hong Kong and South Korea fell, strong demand from China, the U.S., and Europe kept the momentum high.