Tourism Kyoto hotel rates sink to 3,000 yen as Chinese travel sluggish

Despite record tourism numbers in 2025, some hotels in Kyoto now offer rooms for as little as 3,000 yen per night.

Discounts on accommodation are spreading quickly, with nightly rates in Kyoto slipping below 10,000 JPY and some properties offering rooms for as little as 3,000 JPY. On Komachi Street in Kamakura, the busy approach to Tsurugaoka Hachimangū that attracted more than 15 million visitors last year, local retailers report that independent travellers remain numerous. At the same time, organised tour groups from China have thinned out. A shop specialising in soft-serve ice cream made with high-grade matcha notes that Chinese customers once accounted for around 70% of its foreign clientele, but that overseas visitors are now more likely to come from other parts of Asia, including Indonesia.


Staff say the shift became evident roughly a week after Chinese authorities advised citizens to avoid travel to Japan, when footfall fell abruptly. Although Chinese visitors had been the largest foreign group using Kamakura's tourist information centres in the previous financial year, their numbers have declined since remarks by Chinese leaders concerning Taiwan led Beijing to call for restraint in travel to Japan.

The average room rate at major hotels in Kyoto once dipped during the pandemic but hit a record high of 20,195 yen last year, remaining elevated at 20,601 yen in December. However, a check of current listings on Google Maps shows many centrally located Kyoto hotels now priced below 10,000 yen per night, with some offering rooms in the 3,000-yen range. A tourist visiting from Tokyo said the prices felt "cheap," noting that rates were more than 10,000 yen lower than expected and made it easier to stay overnight. Aviation travel analyst Tori says similar price declines are occurring beyond Kyoto, particularly in urban areas such as Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Kanazawa and other cities that typically attract large numbers of Chinese tourists or are served by direct flights from China.

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According to an announcement by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), "the number of foreign visitors to Japan in November reached 3,518,000, representing a 10.4% increase compared to the same month last year. The cumulative total through November amounted to 39,065,600 visitors, surpassing the previous annual record of 36,870,148 set in 2024."

If this information reported by the so-called old media is accurate, does it mean that foreign tourists have started to move away from Kyoto? It is possible that during this period many foreign visitors chose to head not to Kyoto, but to ski resorts in Hokkaido, the Tohoku region, or Nagano instead. In any case, it is good news that hotel accommodation prices in Kyoto have returned to more normal levels.


Number of Foreign Visitors to Japan (Estimated Figures for November 2025)

November: 3,518,000 visitors, setting a new cumulative record

This release has been distributed to the MLIT Press Club and the Transportation & Logistics Press Club.

The number of foreign visitors to Japan in November totaled 3,518,000, representing a 10.4% increase year on year. The cumulative total through November reached 39,065,600 visitors, surpassing the previous annual record of 36,870,148 visitors set in 2024.

November marked the latter half of the autumn foliage season, and strong inbound demand was observed particularly from Europe, North America, Oceania, and the Middle East. As a result, the number of visitors increased from South Korea and Taiwan in East Asia, Malaysia and Indonesia in Southeast Asia, and the United States and Canada in Europe, North America, and Oceania, contributing to the overall growth for the month.

In 19 markets, including South Korea, the United States, and Taiwan, the number of visitors in November reached an all-time high for the month. In terms of cumulative figures through November, 17 markets recorded their highest annual totals on record. In addition, the United States surpassed 3 million visitors on a cumulative basis for the first time, becoming the fourth market, following China, South Korea, and Taiwan, to exceed 3 million visitors in a single year.

Under the Fourth Tourism Nation Promotion Basic Plan, formulated in March 2023, three key pillars—"Sustainable Tourism," "Expansion of Tourism Consumption," and "Promotion of Regional Tourism"—have been established, along with new government targets related to travel consumption and overnight stays in regional areas. Toward the achievement of these goals, efforts will continue to focus on strategic inbound tourism promotion, while closely analyzing market trends.

For monthly estimated figures and the number of foreign visitors to Japan since 2003, please refer to the link below:
"Statistics on Foreign Visitors to Japan"

"Monthly Estimated Figures (Excel)"

"Foreign Visitors to Japan by Nationality / Month (2003–2025) (PDF / Excel)"

The number of foreign visitors to Japan is calculated based on immigration statistics compiled by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan. "Foreign visitors to Japan" refers to inbound foreign travelers, excluding foreign nationals who are permanent residents or primarily reside in Japan, and including foreign temporary landing passengers. Expatriates and their families, as well as international students entering or re-entering Japan, are included in the count. Crew members are not included.

The 19 markets that recorded the highest-ever November figures are:
South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Australia, the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, the Nordic region, and the Middle East.

The 17 markets that recorded their highest-ever annual cumulative totals through November are:
Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Australia, the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, the Nordic region, and the Middle East.