# Japan tourist spending rises despite drop in visitor arrivals

> Japan's tourist spending grew 3.2% in Q3 despite 4.8% fewer foreign visitors.
- Title: Japan tourist spending rises despite drop in visitor arrivals
- Summary: Japan's tourist spending grew 3.2% in Q3 despite 4.8% fewer foreign visitors. Japan's foreign tourist spending rose 3.2% in Q3 as visitor numbers fell 4.8%.
- Keywords: japan tourism agency, china, taiwan, south korea, japan national tourism organization, foreign visitors, news, politics, world, Japan, tourist, spending
- Source: The Japan Times — https://japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/10/21/japan/foreign-visitors-spending
- Author: Jessica Speed
- Published: 2026-10-21T09:27:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: japan tourism agency, china, taiwan, south korea, japan national tourism organization, foreign visitors, news, politics, world
## Tourist spending rises
Foreign visitor spending in Japan rose 3.2% to ¥2.21 trillion ($13.9 billion) in Q3.
## Visitor arrivals fall
Visitor arrivals dropped 4.8% in Q3 despite spending growth.
## China arrivals decline sharply
Chinese visitors fell 44.5% to 430,800 in September, down 55.5% year-on-year.
## China spending drops
Visitors from China spent ¥358.3 billion, down 39.8% from previous year.
## Spending per visitor rises
Expenditure per visitor increased 6.1% to ¥233,677 excluding cruise passengers.
## Taiwan overtakes China
Taiwan became largest source of spending with ¥381.8 billion, up 26.2%.
## South Korea arrivals rise
South Korean visitors to Japan increased 25.6% to 842,300 in September.
## Japanese travelers abroad grow
Japanese nationals traveling overseas rose 6.3% to 1.48 million in September.
## Key takeaway

Japan's foreign tourist spending rose 3.2% in Q3 as visitor numbers fell 4.8%.