Japanese airlines' flights from China to Japan are almost fully booked during an eight-day holiday that began Friday, the airlines said, despite Chinese media reports last month that Japan-bound trips had been canceled following the release of treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea.
Japan tops the list of popular overseas destinations for Chinese travelers during the vacation period, which combines the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, data analysis made by Chinese internet search giant Baidu and other companies also showed.
"A high percentage of seats on flights from China to Japan have been reserved and we don't see the impact from the release of the treated water," an official from a major Japanese airline said.
Earlier this week, Ichiro Takahashi, chief of the Japan Tourism Agency, told reporters the impact on the number of Chinese travelers to Japan by the release of the treated radioactive water, which commenced on Aug. 24, "has been limited," as the agency inquired at travel agencies in China about travel reservations for the holiday.
In late August, the Global Times, a tabloid affiliated with China's ruling Communist Party, said several travel agencies have reported the cancellation of Japan-bound trips, with many companies planning to reduce their promotions for the holidays.
Japan-bound Chinese group tours resumed in August after a hiatus of more than three years caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.