Japan's third largest city set to break record for Chinese tourist arrivals

By Hoang Vu May 25, 2025 | 04:00 pm PT

Shoppers are seen in front of Takashimaya department store in Osaka, Japan, Feb. 28, 2019. Photo by Reuters

Osaka, Japan's third-largest city after Tokyo and Yokohama, welcomed 1.27 million Chinese visitors in the first quarter of this year, marking a 90% year-on-year increase and putting it on track to set a new annual record.

According to the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, the number of Chinese arrivals to Osaka is expected to surpass the first-half record of 2.58 million set in 2019, as well as the full-year record of 5.64 million, China Travel News reported.

Eased visa regulations for Chinese travelers and the Expo 2025 scheduled to take place from April to October have significantly contributed to the surge, Nikkei Asia noted.

During the first quarter, Osaka received a total of 4.17 million international visitors, a 35% increase from the same period last year. This marks the second consecutive quarter with more than 4 million international arrivals, 170,000 higher than the previous record in the last quarter of 2024.

Japan recently overtook Thailand to become the top destination for Chinese tourists, driven by its relaxed visa policies and a weak yen.