By country, South Korea accounted for the largest number of visitors, at 1,012,700, followed by Taiwan (331,100), the United States (323,500), and Vietnam (284,100). However, China's strict Zero COVID policy resulted in only 189,000 Chinese visiting Japan in 2022.

As of early 2026, the top tourist nationality visiting Japan is South Korean. Since the full reopening of Japan's borders, visitors from South Korea have consistently made up the largest share of international arrivals, often accounting for nearly 25–30% of the total. This is due to the extreme geographical proximity (flights are often under 2 hours), a high frequency of low-cost carrier routes, and a strong cultural interest in Japanese food and shopping. The second and third spots are usually contested between Taiwanese and Chinese tourists. While Chinese tourism was slower to return to its pre-pandemic highs, it has surged back significantly by 2026. Visitors from the United States typically round out the top five, representing the largest long-haul market. For Japanese tourism authorities, the high volume of South Korean visitors is a key economic pillar, particularly for regional cities like Fukuoka and Osaka which are easily accessible via short flights or ferries from the Korean peninsula.