Japan expands prayer spaces amid rising Muslim tourism
The number of foreign visitors to Japan hit a record last year, including those from Muslim-majority regions, drawn by the country's food, pop culture, and seasonal scenery, Kyodo reports.
Between January and November last year alone, about 560,000 travelers came from Indonesia, 540,000 from Malaysia, and 240,000 from the Middle East, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. For many, however, navigating daily prayer obligations in a country where dedicated facilities remain unevenly available detracts from an otherwise rich travel experience.
The issue it seems is less about building grand mosques than about flexibility. The Japan Tourism Agency has issued a guide for serving Muslim travelers, encouraging hotels, transport hubs, and commercial facilities to designate quiet, clean spaces for prayer where possible.
In places where purpose-built rooms are not feasible, experts say that simple accommodations -- temporary partitions, clear signage or staff awareness -- can make a significant difference, helping Japan project an image of hospitality that extends beyond culture.
At last year's World Exposition in Osaka, which saw many Muslim visitors and staff members, a prayer room was set up near the Forest of Tranquility, in the center of the venue to accommodate worshippers who are required to pray five times a day.
Availability of prayer spaces has expanded at big airports and major cities, too. Tokyo's Haneda airport, for example, opened a prayer room at Terminal 3, which handles international flights, in 2014. It was used by almost 2,000 people per month on average in fiscal 2024, according to its operator.
Prayer rooms have also been installed at JR Tokyo and Osaka stations, while local governments and firms have set up facilities around stations in tourist destinations like Kyoto and Nara.
Still, due to factors such as space constraints and low demand, few prayer spaces are available at stations in regions like Shikoku and Kyushu in western and southwestern Japan, respectively.
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