Courting Muslim Travelers

Japan welcomed a record 36.87 million foreign visitors in 2024, and a growing share came from Muslim-majority markets in Southeast Asia. Hotels, restaurants, airports and local governments are adapting food, prayer space and information to serve them, and Japan climbed to 7th among non-OIC destinations in the 2026 Global Muslim Travel Index.

A Market Driven by Southeast Asia

Most Muslim visitors to Japan come from Indonesia and Malaysia, helped by visa exemptions for ePassport holders, low-cost flights and the popularity of Japanese food, anime and seasonal scenery. According to JNTO, both markets set new highs in 2024:

Visitors also arrive from the Middle East, South Asia, Turkey and Muslim communities in Europe. Indonesia, with about 240 million Muslims, is still at an early stage of outbound travel, so most industry observers see long-term growth potential.

What Muslim Travelers Need

Food

Food is the largest barrier. Japanese cooking uses pork, lard, mirin, sake and other alcohol-based seasonings in many dishes, including ramen broth and soy sauce-based sauces. Restaurants that want Muslim guests have introduced:

• Halal-certified menus using certified meat and alcohol-free seasonings
• Muslim-friendly labeling that lists pork and alcohol content so travelers can decide for themselves
• Halal ramen, wagyu and sushi in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hokkaido, now a draw in their own right

Japan has no single national halal authority. Several private certification bodies operate, and the official Japan travel guide advises visitors that standards vary. Many businesses choose disclosure rather than full certification because certification is costly for small kitchens.

Prayer Space

Prayer rooms are now common at Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports, major railway stations, department stores and some theme parks and stadiums. Hotels add qibla direction markers and prayer mats on request. Mobile prayer units have been used at large events.

Information

JNTO publishes a searchable Muslim travel guide listing restaurants and prayer facilities by area. Local governments in Hokkaido, Kyoto, Osaka and elsewhere print their own Muslim-friendly maps, and apps help travelers check ingredients and find nearby mosques.

Where Japan Stands Internationally

In the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index, Japan placed 14th among non-OIC destinations in 2025 and rose to 7th in 2026. Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the United Kingdom are the main competitors for the same travelers. Japan scores well on safety and attractions; its weaker areas are the limited number of halal restaurants outside major cities and the language barrier.

Opportunities for Overseas Partners

• Halal food supply — certified meat, seasonings and ready-made sauces from Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and the Middle East to supply Japanese kitchens
• Certification and training — auditing services and staff training for hotels and restaurant chains
• Travel distribution — tour operators and online travel platforms in Southeast Asia packaging Muslim-friendly itineraries to regional Japan
• Export link — halal-certified Japanese products such as wagyu, seasonings and snacks find a second market in the visitors’ home countries

Conclusion

Japan’s halal tourism effort has moved from a niche policy idea to everyday practice in airports, hotels and restaurants. The visitor numbers from Indonesia and Malaysia are already at record levels, and the index ranking has improved quickly. The next gains depend on regional areas: more certified food and prayer space outside Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto would open the rest of Japan to these travelers.