Why Japan’s Record-Breaking Tourist Numbers Are Changing the Price Tag

The air in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district carries the scent of incense and early-morning dew, even as lines form outside temples before opening hours. Spring 2026 will likely see those queues stretch longer still. Official tourism figures show Japan welcomed more than 40 million visitors in 2025, breaking all previous records. Despite a Chinese travel boycott that reduced one key source market, overall arrivals are still climbing. Accommodation data and booking platforms confirm that 2026