Japan’s National Tourism Organization (JNTO) reported that last month saw a record 3.78 million visitors, a 40.6% YoY increase. The rise was driven by the Chinese New Year, winter sports demand, and more flights to Naha and Fukuoka airports. Mainland China had the largest number of visitors (980,300), more than double compared to last year, while visitors from South Korea, Taiwan, the U.S., and Australia also saw significant growth. The number of visitors surpassed the previous record set in December 2024.