Japan’s long-cultivated appeal among Indian travellers has translated into a landmark milestone, signalling not just volume growth but a decisive shift towards year-round, experience-led travel beyond the classic Golden Route.
From January to December 2025, Japan welcomed 315,100 Indian visitors, marking the first time arrivals from India have crossed the 300,000 mark, according to data released by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). The figure represents a 35.2% increase over 2024 and nearly 80% growth compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
Strong year-round demand
The surge reflects growing confidence among Indian outbound travellers, driven by improved air connectivity, deeper engagement with the travel trade, and rising awareness of destinations beyond Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto.
May 2025 emerged as the highest-ever single month, recording 43,040 Indian arrivals, even after the cherry blossom season had ended. The performance underlined Japan’s growing appeal outside peak spring travel, with May and June increasingly favoured due to Indian summer holidays, lighter domestic crowds after Golden Week, and improved availability of accommodation.
Spring continued to play a significant role, with March recording 32,967 arrivals, while April saw a sharp 61% year-on-year rise to 37,352 visitors, fuelled by cherry blossom travel, particularly among Indian families and leisure travellers.
Autumn and winter gain momentum
Beyond spring, autumn and winter are emerging as strong travel periods for Indian visitors. November welcomed approximately 28,900 arrivals, reflecting 22% growth, while December rose by 37% to around 23,300 visitors. Snow destinations such as Hokkaido and the Japanese Alps are gaining traction, especially among honeymooners and families drawn to winter landscapes, illumination events, and seasonal activities.
Connectivity and infrastructure boost growth
JNTO attributes the record performance to India’s sustained overseas travel momentum and Japan’s positioning as a destination that blends luxury, culture, modernity, and nature. Travel to off-the-Golden Route regions such as the Alpine Route, Okinawa, and Hokkaido has increased, supported by improved hospitality infrastructure and a more India-friendly environment, including wider availability of Indian cuisine, multilingual signage, and enhanced visitor services.
Air connectivity has been a critical enabler. Expanded services by Japan Airlines, alongside All Nippon Airways’ planned daily Mumbai–Narita flights from 2026, are expected to further strengthen demand, complemented by growing codeshare networks and convenient connections via Southeast Asian hubs.
JNTO’s continued promotional efforts in India — including travel fairs, trade seminars, FAM tours, and consumer-facing campaigns — have played a key role in sustaining awareness and driving conversion, positioning Japan firmly as a year-round destination for Indian travellers.
Rahul Bhadana is a digital editor at TravTalk with experience spanning multiple content niches, with a strong focus on travel trade journalism and digital publishing. A graduate of Delhi University, his work covers editorial writing, content strategy and platform-led storytelling, supporting TravTalk’s digital growth and industry engagement. A technology enthusiast, he enjoys films, poetry and exploring new ideas across media and culture.
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