The graph below presents monthly outbound travel volumes from Japan together with year-on-year (YoY) growth rates from January 2024 to October 2025. Overall, the data show a strong post-pandemic recovery through 2024, followed by a stabilization phase in 2025 as the growth momentum gradually normalizes.
Outbound travel rebounded sharply in early 2024, with YoY growth peaking at 89.3% in January and remaining above 70% through March. This rapid expansion reflects a low base effect from the previous year and the continued normalization of international travel demand. Traveler numbers surpassed 1.2 million in March 2024, marking one of the strongest months of the year.
From April to July 2024, growth began to moderate, declining from 58.7% in April to 17.6% in July. Despite the slowdown, overall traveler volume remained robust, indicating that demand was stabilizing rather than contracting. A seasonal upswing occurred in August 2024, when travelers exceeded 1.43 million, accompanied by a temporary rebound in growth to 19.7%. This was followed by solid performance in September and October, where growth hovered around the low-20% range.
The final months of 2024 demonstrated continued resilience. December 2024 recorded 1.19 million travelers with a notable 25.2% YoY increase, marking one of the strongest growth readings of the year.
In 2025, the recovery entered a mature phase. YoY growth dropped to the single digits in January (8.8%) and April (8.2%), signaling the diminishing influence of the base effect. Nevertheless, travel demand remained healthy, consistently exceeding 1 million travelers from February onward. Growth rates in mid-2025 mostly fell within the 13–15% range, indicating steady but moderate expansion.
By August 2025, outbound travel reached a new peak of 1.65 million, the highest level in the entire period, while growth stabilized at 14.7%. The months that followed showed mild deceleration, with October 2025 settling at 8.3%, consistent with a shift toward normalized demand rather than renewed weakness.
Overall Assessment
Overall, the data suggest that Japanese outbound travel experienced a rapid recovery throughout 2024, followed by a transition to sustainable, moderate growth in 2025. Seasonal effects remain visible, but the general trend points to a return to pre-pandemic travel patterns with stable demand and diminishing volatility.
More Insights from the Japan Outbound Tourism Economy Monitor