Hello I am Akito Tanaka from Tokyo. Personally, I think the best season for overseas travelers to visit Japan is autumn. The skies are usually clear, the temperatures are nice and cool, and you can enjoy beautiful townscapes and nature as the leaves turn vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red. Of course, spring in Japan is popular, but it can be tricky planning a trip to coincide with the cherry blossoms that everyone hopes to see. In contrast, fall feels as if time moves more slowly, and — as an added bonus — many vegetables, fruits, mushrooms and different kinds of seafood come into season around this time, fueling what Japanese people refer to as their “autumn appetite.”
But even as Japan basks in this beautiful season, clouds of uncertainty are hanging over the nation in the wake of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remarks on Taiwan, potentially dampening demand from Chinese tourists. In response to the comments from Japan’s leader, China has urged its citizens to refrain from traveling to its regional neighbor.
In recent years, the number of overseas tourists visiting Japan has surged, with Chinese travelers making up a large share. That said, according to this report, while some Chinese tourists say they are not worried about the advice from their government, there are also signs that travel agencies in China are suspending new sales of tours to Japan.
On Wednesday, Beijing escalated tensions by effectively suspending imports of Japanese seafood products — a sign that relations between the two countries may be quickly heading into winter. How will the spat between Japan and China evolve? What impact will that have in the region and beyond? Follow our stories on Nikkei Asia.
New Year’s survey
As the end of 2025 approaches, we’re beginning to look forward to the new year and what it might have in store for Asia.
Now it’s time to ask what you think. For the past four years, we have been asking readers to share their expectations about what the next year may bring to everything from the markets and politics to sports and culture.
The survey takes about five minutes and can be accessed via this link. We will be accepting submissionsfrom today until Dec. 8 and we will then compile your replies for an upcoming Big in Asia feature. I’m very much looking forward to reading your predictions.
My suggested reads
1. After controversy erupted over the Miss Universe contest in Bangkok, Nikkei Asia investigated why beauty pageants are so popular in the Philippines and how “boot camps” training contestants to win such events attract aspirants from all over the world, making the country a powerhouse in the business.
2. Over a year since North Korea began sending troops and arms to support Russia’s war on Ukraine, questions remain over what Pyongyang gets out of the partnership with Moscow in economic terms. More significantly, the alliance now increasingly involves China in a grouping that observers say has ambitions to reshape the entire Asian political landscape.
3. Philippine public health care is poor, based on metrics such as bed numbers and costs people have to bear. This has prompted two of the country’s biggest conglomerates, Ayala and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., to invest hundreds of millions of dollars on transforming hospitals, clinics and pharmacies into professionally managed, integrated networks.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
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