Foreign tourist numbers drop in Osaka, despite record-setting highs from U.S. and Korea
Almost every country is sending more travelers to Osaka these days, with one very big exception. With the international travel community still showing an intense interest in visiting Japan, you’d think Osaka’s inbound tourism numbers would be booming. It’s Japan’s third largest city, is situated close enough to Kyoto to be used as a livelier […]
Despite a surge in foreign tourist numbers from the U.S., South Korea, Taiwan, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Russia, Italy, Spain, and a few other countries, Osaka experienced a 9.6% decrease in visitors in August 2026 compared to the previous year. The main culprit behind this decline is the 59% drop in Chinese tourists, who accounted for 254,000 visitors but contributed to a 26.7% increase in travelers from all other nationalities.
This decrease is largely due to a warning issued by the Chinese government, which warned its citizens that Japan is an unsafe country to visit. The warning came after Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated her country's willingness to provide aid to Taiwan in case of an invasion by the Chinese military. While the situation in Osaka is dire for the travel industry, local hotels have reported an increase in reservations for October and November 2026 compared to the same period last year, and premium-priced hotels have seen a surge in bookings.
Osaka officials plan to focus on promoting the city's nightlife, traditional culture, sports, and luxury leisure offerings to boost tourism.
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