South Korea was the top overseas destination for Japanese travelers by market share, as a weak yen and the country's growing cultural pull draw record numbers of visitors, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday. Japanese arrivals reached 2.28 million in the first seven months of 2026, up 18.8 percent from 1.92 million a year earlier, the ministry said. That growth far outpaced the 4.1 percent rise in Japanese overseas travel overall, which totaled 8.14 million people through Jul
South Korea is the top overseas destination for Japanese travelers.
2.28 million Japanese travelers visited South Korea in the first seven months of 2026.
A weak yen and South Korea's growing cultural appeal are contributing to the increase in visitors.
The growth in Japanese travel to South Korea (18.8%) far outpaced the overall increase in Japanese overseas travel (4.1%).