Japanese Tourists Flock to Korea During Golden Week, Koreans Head to China

Clipart Korea

With Japan’s “Golden Week” (April 29 to May 6) approaching, the number of Japanese tourists visiting Korea during the period is expected to rise sharply. Japan calls the long holiday stretch from April 29, “Showa Day,” through May 5, Children’s Day, the “Golden Week.”

JTB, a major Japanese travel agency, forecast that the number of overseas travelers during Golden Week will reach 572,000, up 8.5 percent from a year earlier. About 80 percent of them are expected to head to Asian destinations including Korea and Taiwan, JTB said. The trend reflects a growing number of travelers choosing Korea over China amid deteriorating China-Japan relations, as well as a preference for short-haul routes due to rising oil prices.

In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will host the “2026 Seoul Hospitality Week” from May 1 to 5 in the Myeongdong and Yeouido areas to welcome foreign tourists during Japan’s Golden Week and China’s Labor Day holiday.

At the hospitality center near Myeongdong Station, the city will operate a “Seoul Styling Spot” and an “AI Smart Travel Guide Consultation Office.” These facilities will provide customized tourism information and offer participatory content such as K-pop dance and K-beauty experiences to foreign tourists. The city also plans to create a welcoming atmosphere “from departure to arrival” by partnering with airlines and urban media outlets.

Koreans Say “Let’s Go to China”

Meanwhile, during the May “golden holiday” when Japanese tourists are flocking to Korea, Koreans’ destination of choice was China. According to Hana Tour, an analysis of package products departing from May 1 to 7 by country showed that China accounted for the largest share at about 30 percent, followed by Japan at 23 percent and Vietnam at 14 percent.

In particular, the share of bookings for China rose by about 8 percentage points from the same period last year. The bridge holiday made it easier to secure travel schedules, and local experience content spread mainly through social media also boosted travel demand, analysts said. The company explained that not only natural tourist destinations such as Zhangjiajie but also experience-based products such as “wanghong experiences” and Shanghai culinary tours are gaining popularity.

“Is the era of traveling the world on a budget over?” The reason travelers planning May trips were struck by lightning prices.