Japan’s hotel room rates reached a record high in April. Despite the impact of the Chinese government’s travel advisory against visiting Japan, strong demand from inbound travelers continued, with Western tourists—who are more likely to stay at upscale hotels—playing a key role in lifting rates. Their growing presence has also reshaped Japan’s peak hotel demand season.
According to STR, a hospitality data and analytics company owned by U.S.-based CoStar Group, the average daily room rate (ADR) at hotels in Japan rose to JPY 23,397 (about USD 160) in April.
The figure was 4.6% higher than the previous record of JPY 22,359 set in April 2025, marking a new all-time high.
Data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) showed that the number of Chinese visitors to Japan fell by 60% year-on-year during the January–April period following the Chinese government’s travel advisory. As a result, the share of Chinese travelers among total inbound visitors dropped sharply from 22% to 10%.
At the same time, the proportion of higher-spending travelers from Europe and North America increased, helping to push up average hotel room rates.
Western tourists also tend to stay longer because of longer travel distances. Compared with Chinese travelers, who often choose mid-range or budget accommodations, visitors from Europe and North America are more inclined to stay at higher-priced hotels.