China has issued an urgent safety alert advising its citizens to avoid travel to Japan after a high profile robbery in Tokyo’s Ueno district, in which assailants used pepper spray to steal suitcases containing hundreds of millions of yen in cash from a group that included Chinese nationals.

The warning, disseminated through Chinese diplomatic channels and state media at the end of January, has sharpened concerns about public security in Japan and added new tension to an already fraught period in China Japan relations.

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Violent Robbery Near Ueno Triggers Fresh Travel Warning

The latest advisory follows a dramatic incident on the night of January 29, 2026, near the busy Ueno and Okachimachi area in Tokyo’s Taito Ward, a district known for its shopping streets and dense foot traffic. According to Japanese and Chinese media reports, three suspects targeted a group of five people, including at least one Chinese national, as they were loading suitcases of cash into a vehicle.

Investigators say the robbers sprayed a Chinese man in his 40s with what appeared to be pepper spray before seizing multiple bags. The victims told police the stolen suitcases contained around 420 to 423 million yen in cash, an amount equivalent to roughly 2.7 to 2.8 million U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. Witness accounts describe a rapid, coordinated assault, with the attackers fleeing in a small car that was later found abandoned, suggesting advanced planning and possible links to organized crime.

Local residents in the Higashi Ueno and Okachimachi area have expressed alarm that such a high value robbery took place on public streets in a commercial neighborhood that, while lively, is not typically associated with violent crime. Some Japanese media have noted that nearby districts, known for jewelry and luxury goods, have seen sporadic robbery cases in the past, but the scale of cash involved in this incident stands out even by those standards.

Embassy Issues Rarely Strong Appeal to “Refrain from Traveling”

Within hours of the robbery becoming public, the Chinese Embassy in Japan moved to lodge formal representations with Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department and to issue an unusually pointed security advisory. In notices carried by state news agencies and posted on the embassy’s official social media channels on January 30, Chinese diplomats urged Japanese authorities to solve the case swiftly and to take “effective measures” to protect the lives and property of Chinese nationals in the country.

Crucially for travelers, the advisory reiterated and amplified earlier warnings by explicitly calling on Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan “for the time being.” It also urged Chinese nationals already in Japan to closely monitor local security conditions, heighten their safety awareness, and strengthen “self protection,” including reporting incidents promptly to local police and contacting Chinese consular offices in emergencies.

The language of the alert, carried by outlets including Xinhua and China Daily’s international editions, represents one of Beijing’s strongest public signals in recent years that it views Japan as a high risk destination for its citizens. The guidance goes beyond routine caution and effectively discourages discretionary tourism and business travel during what is normally a peak period around the Lunar New Year holidays.

Second Pepper Spray Attack at Haneda Deepens Alarm

Adding to the sense of unease, Japanese police are investigating a second pepper spray incident that occurred just hours after the Ueno robbery, this time at a parking lot at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. In the early hours of January 30, a Japanese man in his 50s, reportedly involved in currency exchange work, was attacked with a similar irritant while carrying a suitcase containing around 190 million yen in cash.

In that case, no money was ultimately stolen, but authorities believe the methods used and the profile of the victim suggest a link to the Ueno assault. In both incidents, small groups transporting large sums of cash for cross border money exchange operations were targeted, and suspects approached in a vehicle, used a chemical spray, and then fled quickly. Investigators are treating the two events as likely related and are searching for three suspects believed to be in their twenties or thirties.

For Chinese officials and media, the apparent pattern has reinforced a narrative that criminals in Japan are increasingly willing to single out Chinese nationals and their associates. Chinese state and commercial outlets have highlighted the fact that at least one victim in each case was engaged in moving cash to destinations in China or Hong Kong, presenting the attacks as evidence of heightened risk to Chinese businesspeople and tourists handling money in Japan’s major cities.

Warnings Follow a Broader Deterioration in Perceived Security

The dramatic Ueno case is the latest in a series of incidents that Chinese authorities say have contributed to a worsening security environment for their citizens in Japan. In early January, the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo issued a separate notice citing a “deterioration” in public security across several Japanese prefectures, including Fukuoka, Shizuoka and Aichi. That notice highlighted reports of Chinese travelers being verbally abused or assaulted without provocation and referenced a vehicle ramming in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward on December 31, 2025, which left two Chinese citizens seriously injured.

Against that background, diplomats had already begun advising Chinese nationals to avoid travel to Japan in the near term and to remain highly vigilant if they were already in the country. The Ueno robbery and the related Haneda incident have now injected a dramatic illustration of the risks that Chinese officials argue their citizens face, particularly when traveling with valuables or cash.

Japanese authorities, for their part, have stressed that overall crime rates remain relatively low by international standards, and that police are actively investigating the robbery series. However, the visibility of recent high profile cases and the fact that they involve large sums and foreign victims have raised questions in both countries about whether certain forms of organized crime and opportunistic targeting are becoming more brazen in Japan’s largest metropolitan areas.

Diplomatic Frictions Shape the Narrative on Both Sides

The sudden escalation in travel warnings cannot be fully separated from the broader political climate between Beijing and Tokyo. Over the past year, relations have been strained by a range of issues, from maritime disputes and defense policy to comments by Japanese leaders about a possible contingency involving Taiwan. Chinese state media and some analysts have openly linked the timing and tone of the travel advisories to these tensions.

Officials and commentators in China have described the spate of warnings as a necessary response to what they portray as rising hostility and a pattern of crimes “targeting Chinese nationals” in Japan. They argue that by drawing public attention to these episodes, Beijing is both protecting its citizens and sending a message to Tokyo about its obligation to ensure the safety of foreigners.

In Japan, some observers see the intensifying advisories as part of a broader pattern in which Beijing uses economic and tourism related levers to signal displeasure or apply pressure in diplomatic disputes. Chinese travelers are among Japan’s most important inbound markets, particularly for retail tourism in cities like Tokyo and Osaka and for resort destinations in Hokkaido and Okinawa. Any prolonged downturn in Chinese arrivals driven by official warnings could have real economic implications for airlines, hotels and retailers that have only recently been recovering from the pandemic era downturn.

Implications for Chinese Travelers and Japan’s Tourism Recovery

For individual travelers, the immediate impact of the new warning is a wave of uncertainty just as many were considering trips to Japan for shopping, sightseeing or family visits during the Spring Festival season. Travel agencies and online booking platforms catering to Chinese customers reported a spike in inquiries about cancellation and refund policies after the embassy’s latest advisory, with some carriers and tour operators extending free rebooking options on Japan routes.

Those who still choose to visit Japan in the coming weeks are being urged to avoid carrying large amounts of cash, stick to well lit and populated areas, and use digital or banking channels for high value transactions instead of physical transfers of cash. Chinese consular notices have also emphasized the importance of maintaining communication with family and friends, registering travel details when possible, and keeping local emergency numbers and consulate hotlines readily accessible.

From Japan’s perspective, the timing of the security scare is particularly unwelcome. The country has invested heavily in revitalizing inbound tourism as a pillar of its economic strategy and has pursued campaigns to attract foreign visitors year round rather than only during cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons. A sustained decline in arrivals from China, which historically accounted for a large share of tourist spending on luxury goods, electronics and cosmetics, could slow that recovery and prompt renewed debate within Japan over both policing and public diplomacy.

How Authorities on Both Sides Are Responding

In the wake of the Ueno robbery, Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police have launched a high intensity investigation, canvassing the area for security camera footage, interviewing witnesses, and tracing the abandoned vehicle believed to have been used by the suspects. Japanese media report that investigators are examining whether the victims’ cash movements were known in advance and whether the perpetrators may have obtained inside information from associates in the foreign exchange business.

The Chinese Embassy has publicly pressed for frequent updates and has called on Japanese authorities to not only solve the specific case but also to “take effective measures” to prevent similar attacks. That language suggests Beijing will be watching closely for visible improvements in how Japan handles security in areas heavily used by tourists, such as transport hubs and commercial districts.

Chinese authorities have also reiterated their standard guidance for citizens traveling abroad, urging them to stay informed about local conditions, avoid risky behavior, and contact consular officials promptly if they encounter harassment, discrimination or violence. Parallel notices have encouraged victims to preserve evidence such as photos, videos, and medical records to support any legal claims in Japan and to help Chinese diplomats advocate on their behalf.

FAQ

Q1. What exactly happened in Tokyo’s Ueno district that prompted China’s new travel warning?
The trigger was a violent robbery on the night of January 29, 2026, near the Ueno and Okachimachi area in Taito Ward, Tokyo. A group including Chinese and Japanese nationals transporting suitcases filled with cash for currency exchange work was attacked by three suspects using pepper spray. The assailants stole bags containing more than 420 million yen in cash and fled in a vehicle, prompting an urgent response from both Japanese police and the Chinese Embassy.

Q2. What is China’s official advice to its citizens about traveling to Japan now?
The Chinese Embassy in Japan and China’s foreign ministry have urged Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan “for the time being.” Those already in Japan are being told to stay highly vigilant, pay close attention to local security developments, strengthen personal safety precautions, and report any incidents promptly to local police and Chinese diplomatic missions.

Q3. Were there other related attacks besides the Ueno robbery?
Yes. A few hours after the Ueno incident, a similar pepper spray attack occurred in a parking lot at Haneda Airport, targeting a man carrying a suitcase with about 190 million yen in cash. In that case nothing was stolen, but Japanese police believe the two attacks are linked and may have been carried out by the same group focusing on people moving large amounts of cash.

Q4. Is Japan generally considered unsafe for tourists now?
Japan still records relatively low crime rates compared with many countries, and millions of tourists visit each year without incident. However, the recent high profile attacks involving Chinese nationals, combined with earlier reports of assaults and harassment, have led Chinese authorities to judge that risks to their citizens have increased enough to justify strong travel warnings.

Q5. How might this affect Chinese tourists who already booked trips to Japan?
Travelers who have already booked may face difficult decisions. Some airlines and tour operators are offering flexible change or cancellation policies for Japan bound itineraries. Those who decide to go despite the warning are being advised to avoid carrying large sums of cash, use secure electronic payment methods, stay in well known accommodation, and remain alert in crowded areas and around transport hubs.

Q6. Are only Chinese nationals at risk from these kinds of robberies?
While the latest advisory is directed at Chinese citizens, the type of crimes highlighted, such as organized robberies targeting people seen handling large amounts of cash, could affect foreign and Japanese nationals alike. The Ueno group, for example, reportedly included both Chinese and Japanese victims. The warning is a reminder that anyone moving large sums of cash, particularly in public, may attract criminal attention.

Q7. What safety steps are recommended for visitors who still choose to travel to Japan?
Recommended measures include minimizing cash holdings and using cards or digital payments, avoiding public displays of money or valuables, traveling in groups when possible, staying in well lit and busy areas at night, and keeping copies of passports and important documents separate from originals. Visitors are also encouraged to save emergency and consular contact numbers and to follow updates from both local authorities and their home country’s embassy.

Q8. How are Japanese authorities responding to reassure foreign visitors?
Japanese police have stepped up investigative efforts in the Ueno and Haneda cases, reviewing surveillance footage, tracing vehicles and interviewing witnesses. Officials have stressed their commitment to protecting all residents and visitors. While there has been no broad new security regime announced specifically for tourists, the high visibility of the investigation and increased patrols in some busy districts are intended in part to reassure the public.

Q9. Could political tensions between China and Japan be influencing these travel warnings?
Many analysts believe that politics and security concerns are intertwined in this case. Relations between the two countries have been strained over issues such as regional security and comments by Japanese leaders about Taiwan. The strong tone of the travel warnings, combined with earlier economic and cultural measures taken by China, suggests that Beijing is also using its influence over tourism flows to signal dissatisfaction with Japan’s policies while citing genuine security incidents.

Q10. What should travelers from other countries take away from this situation?
Non Chinese travelers should understand that while the latest warnings are specific to Chinese citizens, they reflect a broader conversation about crime, policing and the safety of foreign visitors in Japan’s major cities. Tourists from any country would be wise to stay informed, avoid risky behavior such as carrying large amounts of cash, and remain aware of their surroundings. At the same time, Japan continues to be one of the world’s more popular and statistically safer destinations, and most trips proceed without major problems.