Japan's tourism industry could face losses from China travel boycott

(26 Nov 2025) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Tokyo – 20 November 2025 1. Tourists outside landmark in Asakusa district 2. Various of tourists taking photos 3. Top shot of shopping street for tourists in Asakusa 4. Various of tea ceremony instructor Rie Takeda performing ceremony 5. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Rie Takeda, tea ceremony instructor: “Even just yesterday, some individual travelers contacted me to say they could no longer come to Japan due to China’s travel advisory, and told me that they hoped to visit once Japan-China relations have improved. Furthermore, I had four tour group bookings but they have all been cancelled too.” 6. Various of Takeda demonstrates tea ceremony at her tearoom Chazen 7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Rie Takeda, tea ceremony instructor: “Tea originally came to Japan from China, so when we start talking about tea the conversation takes off, and our Chinese guests seem to really enjoy it.” 8. Takeda during interview 9. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Rie Takeda, tea ceremony instructor: “Countries may have various issues between them, but individual travelers generally aren’t hoping for that kind of tension. People still want to visit each other’s countries, so I do hope the restrictions will be lifted as soon as possible.” 10. Takeda serving tea and sweets 11. Wide of popular shopping street for tourists in Asakusa 12. Mid of tourists shopping in Asakusa 13. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shigeo Nishiyama, volunteer tour guide in Asakusa: “If the number of Chinese visitors dips, it would be a major blow for the people in this area.” 14. Tourists shopping 15. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shigeo Nishiyama, volunteer tour guide in Asakusa: “Even after COVID, we’ve had people from China come here — eating at local restaurants and buying various things — and that has really supported this town.” 16. Tourist paying at a counter 17. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shigeo Nishiyama, a volunteer tour guide in Asakusa: “I really hope negative feelings among Chinese people toward Japan don’t intensify. There have been times like that in the past —negative sentiment toward Japan appearing in the news and so on. I just hope things don’t head in that direction again.” ASSOCIATED PRESS Tokyo – 21 November 2025 18. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takahide Kiuchi, economist at Nomura Research Institute: “The economic loss is 1.79 trillion yen ($11.4 billion). We calculate that this amounts to 0.29 percentage points off GDP.” ASSOCIATED PRESS Tokyo – 20 November 2025 19. Various of a Chinese tour group ASSOCIATED PRESS Tokyo – 21 November 2025 20. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takahide Kiuchi, economist at Nomura Research Institute: “Demand from inbound tourists alone has reached around 8 trillion yen ($51 billion). The tourism sector is experiencing very strong growth.” ASSOCIATED PRESS Tokyo – 20 November 2025 21. Wide of street with Sky Tree in background 22. Japan Tax-Free Shop sign 23. WeChat pay logo ASSOCIATED PRESS Tokyo – 21 November 2025 24. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takahide Kiuchi, economist at Nomura Research Institute: “Especially for the tourism industry, the impact is significant. I think there will also inevitably be ripple effects. And while tourism is at the center of this, depending on the sanctions or restrictions China may impose going forward, there could also be effects on overall exports and imports.” ASSOCIATED PRESS Tokyo – 20 November 2025 25. Various of tourists at popular site in Asakusa STORYLINE: Some fear that China’s latest travel boycott will come as a blow to the Japanese economy. AP video shot by Ayaka McGill Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...