Uzbekistan welcomed more than 36,600 Japanese tourists in the first nine months of 2026, representing an increase of nearly 50% compared to the same period in 2025.

The growing number of visitors highlights strengthening cultural and economic ties between Uzbekistan and Japan, as well as the success of efforts to promote the Central Asian country as an attractive travel destination in the Japanese market, according to UzA.

Several initiatives have contributed to the surge in Japanese arrivals. These include the launch of regular direct flights between Tokyo and Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s participation in the Tourism EXPO Japan exhibition in Tokyo, and familiarization tours organized across Uzbekistan for leading Japanese tour operators.

The initiatives are expected to further raise Uzbekistan’s profile among Japanese travelers and create new opportunities for tourism cooperation between the two countries.