Japan's Yen Weakness Fuels Summer Travel Boom

The strong U.S. dollar is making Japan an affordable destination for American tourists.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:55am by Ben Kaplan

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A bold, geometric illustration in shades of blue, pink, and gold depicting the grand scale and romantic allure of travel to Japan, without any literal depictions of people, places, or text.The strong U.S. dollar is making Japan a prime summer travel destination, with the promise of grand architecture, natural wonders, and cultural experiences at a significant discount.San Francisco Today

The U.S. dollar is currently strong relative to many foreign currencies, including the Japanese yen, which has fallen 43% against the dollar over the past five years. This has made Japan a more affordable travel destination for American tourists, leading to a surge in visitors. Airlines are also increasing flights between the U.S. and Japan to meet the growing demand.

Why it matters

The weak yen has made Japan a more attractive and accessible travel destination for American tourists, boosting the country's tourism industry. This is particularly significant as Japan aims to continue growing its inbound tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The details

The U.S. dollar now buys 156.36 yen, 15% more than a year ago and 43% more than five years ago. This has led to a surge in American visitors, with a record 290,100 Americans visiting Japan in March 2024, a 42% jump year-over-year and a 64% increase compared to March 2019. Foreign visitors to Japan spent 1.75 trillion yen ($11.2 billion) in the first quarter of 2024, up 52% from pre-pandemic 2019. Airlines have responded by increasing flights between the U.S. and Japan, with about 60 daily flights now departing the U.S. for Japan, 6% less than before the pandemic but a big improvement from last year.

  • In March 2024, the number of visitors to Japan exceeded 3 million foreign tourists in a single month for the first time ever.
  • In March 2024, a record 290,100 Americans visited Japan in a single month, a 42% jump year-over-year and a 64% increase compared to March 2019.
  • From June to August 2026, carriers will be flying 9% more seats between the U.S. and Japan than last summer.

The players

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

The national tourism organization of Japan that tracks and reports on visitor data.

United Airlines

A major U.S. airline that operates flights between the U.S. and Japan, with a 19% share of the seats.

Delta Air Lines

A major U.S. airline that operates flights between the U.S. and Japan, with a 10% share of the seats.

American Airlines

A major U.S. airline that operates flights between the U.S. and Japan, with a 7% share of the seats.

Japan Airlines

A major Japanese airline that operates flights between the U.S. and Japan, making up over half of all scheduled seats.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Airlines are expected to continue increasing flights between the U.S. and Japan to meet the growing demand for travel to the country.

The takeaway

The weak Japanese yen has made Japan a much more affordable travel destination for American tourists, leading to a surge in visitors and increased airline service between the two countries. This trend is expected to continue as the strong U.S. dollar makes Japan an attractive summer travel bargain.