'July Japan Catastrophe' Rumors Lead to Travel Cancellations

As rumors spread about a potential large-scale disaster in Japan that could surpass the Great East Japan Earthquake, known as the 'July Japan Catastrophe,' travelers from neighboring countries have begun canceling their trips to Japan.

On the 27th, local media Hokoku Shimbun in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, reported on the cancellation of group travel reservations from Taiwan.

According to the article, the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel located in Kanazawa stated, "All accommodation reservations made through a Taiwanese travel agency between July 2 and 5 have been canceled."

All have been canceled.

The hotel explained, "We still have reservations from Taiwanese travelers between July 6 and 8, which indicates that we have been significantly affected by the 'July Catastrophe' rumors."

Origin of the Rumor and Its Practical Impact

July 5, 2025, is the date mentioned in the Japanese prophetic manga "The Future I Saw," which marks when the catastrophe is said to occur, and this manga is considered the origin of the 'July Catastrophe' rumors.

The hotel added that their usual room occupancy rate on Saturdays is around 80-90%, but the reservation rate for Saturday, July 5, only stands at 50%.

Among foreign tourists using accommodations in Ishikawa Prefecture, Taiwanese travelers make up the largest share at 18%.

The ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel hosts about 30 guests per day through Taiwanese travel agencies, leading the hotel to express that the impact from the rumors is substantial.

Absorbing Travel Demand from China and Japan for Windfall Gains

As concerns over the Japanese earthquake and the appreciation of the yen coincide, China, which recently implemented visa exemption measures, is seen to be benefiting by absorbing travel demand from South Koreans.

According to Consumer Insight's 'Monthly Domestic and International Travel Trends Report,' the proportion of South Koreans visiting China has more than doubled from 3% last year to 7% recently.

The report analyzed, "As local prices rise and the value of the yen appreciates, the attractiveness of traveling to Japan diminishes, while China's rise is expected to accelerate due to the visa exemption measures."

The report also noted, "Japan has established itself as a representative overseas travel destination for South Koreans, but if its absolute advantage in 'value for money' weakens, it may enter a phase of long-term adjustment. This could lead to an expansion of the market share of Asian countries such as China, where demand has surged following the visa exemption measures, and some travel demand may potentially return domestically."

Image source: Supporting materials for understanding the article / gettyimagesbank, Ryo Tatsuki's 'The Future I Saw' / X(@omoikkiri_love), Shanghai, China / gettyimagesbank