Spatial Characteristics of Chinese Tourist Activities in Japan

The emergence and development of Chinese outbound tourism have been the result of an open policy and economic reform in China since the end of the 1980s. The rapid development of outbound tourism has been promoted by increases in income and leisure time, easing of international and domestic limitations, and improved infrastructure. In Japan, the balance of payments deficit in outbound tourism has continued for a long time. Currently, Japan's government is trying to improve this disadvantageous situation. China, as a potential source of inbound visitors for Japan, has a vital position in the Visit Japan Campaign, which aims at significantly increasing the number of foreign tourists to Japan. However, there is little research on the spatial characteristics of Chinese tourists. The purpose of this study was to examine the spatial characteristics of Chinese tourists in Japan by analyzing package tours offered in China. Most package tours of Japan have similar destinations. There is a distinctive regional inequality in tourist destinations among Chinese visitors compared with Korean and Taiwanese tourists. The main destinations of Chinese tourists are large cities such as Tokyo and Osaka. Chinese tourists are mainly attracted to shopping and exploring lively streets in cities. In addition to these activities, package tours include side trips to volcanoes and Japanese-style hot springs near these cities. Therefore Chinese tourist spaces in Japan are focused on metropolitan areas like Tokyo and Osaka. Presently, Chinese tours to Japan are limited only to group tours; certain limitations and restrictions are still in place. Therefore Chinese tourists generally must see many attractions and products when they travel to Japan.