Understanding the Future of Japan's Inbound Market: Insights from the Inbound Summit 2026

Unveiling the Future of Japan's Inbound Tourism

Japan is poised at a significant juncture as the number of foreign visitors surpassed 40 million in 2025. This milestone marks a new growth phase for Japan's inbound market. The Japan Economic Newspaper and MATCHA, a media outlet focused on inbound tourism, are set to collaborate for the Inbound Summit 2026. Scheduled for March 4, 2026, this large-scale conference will discuss themes surrounding winning strategies in inbound business.

The event aims to gather leaders from diverse sectors such as airports, railways, travel platforms, technology, and creative fields. They will collectively explore the structural and value dynamics of inbound tourism as it moves beyond mere recovery into a robust growth trajectory.

What is the Inbound Summit?

The Inbound Summit stands as one of Japan's largest conferences dedicated to inbound tourism and the traveling experience. Initiated in 2020, the upcoming event will celebrate its sixth edition in 2026. Previous summits have successfully blended online and onsite participation to engage over 4,000 attendees and feature about 40 distinguished speakers, reflecting the vibrant dialogue about Japan's evolving tourism landscape.

Past discussions have centered on the values Japan offers to visiting tourists and the factors contributing to the continuous allure of its attractions. The 2026 event will emphasize **