Russian Tourists Flood Japan, Bringing Cyrillic Signs to Tokyo and Beyond

Japan’s streets are talking—and they’re speaking Russian. In Tokyo, Toyama, and other cities, shop signs, restaurant menus, and parking lot notices now come with Cyrillic translations. One sign even pleads: please don’t remove spare parts from parked cars. It’s a quirky but telling sign of a growing wave of Russian tourists.

Until recently, Russian signage was mostly a Hokkaido thing, thanks to ferry connections and trade with Sakhalin. But now travelers are finding translations far from that northern island, from convenience stores to tourist attractions. Local businesses are scrambling to accommodate the new clientele.

The reason is clear: a surge in arrivals. Japan hosted 104,400 Russian visitors in the first half of 2026—a 24.7% increase from the same period in 2025. If that pace continues, Russia will post its highest-ever annual travel numbers to Japan.

The trend may also reflect a thaw in business ties. Munéo Suzuki, a Japanese lawmaker, recently said local companies want to resume work with Russia. For now, the most visible change is on street corners, where Cyrillic letters are becoming part of the cityscape.