91.8% of Chinese visitors use generative AI to plan Japan trips
A survey of 341 Chinese travellers planning a National Day holiday trip to Japan found 91.8% used generative AI for trip planning, and menu translation was the top in-trip use at 68.0%. Over 80% said they would find it easier to enter a restaurant if key information were available in Chinese.
Key points
- 91.8% used generative AI in planning (51.3% 'actively'); RED (Xiaohongshu) was the top booking information source at 73.0%
- In-trip AI uses: restaurant menu translation/explanation 68.0%, real-time translation with staff 67.7%
- 82.4% said they would find it easier to enter a restaurant if budget, menu overview, hours, entry rules and payment methods were shown in Chinese
Background
The survey ran on WeChat from 17 to 20 August 2026 among 5,471 residents of ten Chinese cities; the findings cover the 341 who planned to visit Japan during the National Day holiday. Among 214 respondents with prior Japan trips, 88.8% had wished they knew something before entering a Japanese restaurant: minimum-order or one-drink rules (46.7%), payment methods (43.0%) and extra charges such as cover or table fees (41.1%).
The publisher is a firm that promotes Japan travel in China, and the sample is limited to 341 people planning a trip, so the figures do not represent all Chinese travellers.
What it means for shops
Visitors often check reviews, map apps and AI before choosing where to eat, so restaurants with unclear prices or rules may be passed over. Providing Chinese-language information is a relatively easy way to prepare.
What shops should do
- Summarise budget, menu overview, hours, cover/otoshi charges and payment methods in Chinese (simplified and traditional) and English, in-store and online
🔒 3 more action items for subscribers
Summaries are written by Seiichi Studio based on the original releases. Always check the source for the exact details.