Tokyo May 2025: 4.79M Foreign Overnight Stays — USA Leads, China #2
Tokyo recorded 4.79M foreign overnight stays in May 2025 (+19.6% YoY). USA led with 833K stays, followed by China (753K) and South Korea (344K).
· HotelInsight Research · Market Intelligence
Tags: Tokyo, Japan, Overnight Stays, JNTO, Tourism
- Tokyo recorded 4.79M foreign overnight stays in May 2025, +19.6% year-on-year — reflecting continued momentum across global source markets.
- China ranked #2 at 753K stays (15.7% share, +19.1% YoY) — recovering from spring weakness as Golden Week attracts Chinese leisure travelers.
- South Korea placed #4 (344K) while Australia (241K) and UK (165K) both grew strongly YoY, contributing to the +19.6% overall surge.
- Western long-haul markets — USA, UK, Australia, Canada — were key drivers of broad-based growth as the weak JPY sustained Japan's price competitiveness.
Tokyo Foreign Overnight Stays: May 2025
Tokyo prefecture recorded 4.79M foreign overnight stays in May 2025, a +19.6% year-on-year increase from 4.01M in May 2024. May's +19.6% YoY growth reflects Golden Week demand amplified by the weak JPY and broad-based growth across all major source markets.
Golden Week Drives 4.79M Stays — USA #1 as China Closes the Gap
May 2025 generated 4.79M Tokyo foreign overnight stays, a +19.6% YoY surge from 4.01M in May 2024. Japan's Golden Week (April 29 – May 5) drives the month's headline figure, with Japan's own domestic holidays creating a backdrop that benefits inbound tourism infrastructure.
USA led for the third consecutive month with 833K stays (17.4% share, +26.3% YoY). The combination of Japan's cultural appeal, the weak JPY, and Golden Week's international marketing drove American visit volumes to near-record levels.
China ranked #2 at 753K (15.7%, +19.1% YoY) — a meaningful improvement from China's March-April trajectory and the strongest China showing since January's LNY peak. Golden Week is historically a lower-season event for Chinese outbound travel (Chinese Golden Weeks occur in October and February), making this figure attributable to FIT travelers rather than holiday-surge demand.
Singapore contributed 140K stays — its strong showing reflects Singapore's high per-capita Japan tourism intensity and the city-state's affluent traveler profile.
Revenue Management Implications
May's Golden Week demand is concentrated in the first 5–6 days. Hotels should structure pricing with peak-period premiums followed by a mid-May correction. The broad market growth (+19.6%) across Western, Asian, and Oceania markets means demand is less concentrated in any single source country — a healthier demand base for rate optimization without nationality dependency.
Source Market Snapshot — May 2025
| Market | Stays | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| USA | 833K | +26.3% |
| China | 753K | +19.1% |
| South Korea | 344K | -2.7% |
| Taiwan | 295K | +6.8% |
| Australia | 241K | +16.5% |
| UK | 165K | +30.3% |
| Canada | 155K | +30.7% |
| Singapore | 140K | +0.1% |
FAQ
Q: How many foreign visitors stayed overnight in Tokyo in May 2025?
A: Tokyo prefecture recorded 4.79M foreign overnight stays in May 2025, a +19.6% change from May 2024.
Q: Which country sent the most tourists to Tokyo in May 2025?
A: USA led with 833K overnight stays (17.4% of total), followed by China (753K) and South Korea (344K).
Q: How does May 2025 compare to May 2024?
A: Total Tokyo foreign overnight stays increased +19.6% YoY, from 4.01M to 4.79M. May's +19.6% YoY growth reflects Golden Week demand amplified by the weak JPY and broad-based growth across all major source markets.