The war in Iran is beginning to impact inbound travel to Japan, with the conflict resulting in canceled flights and closed airspace. 

Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and the ensuing war, a number of flights have been canceled as airports and airspace in the region face closures. As a result, hotels in Japan have seen cancellations from those planning to visit from Europe via major airports in the Middle East. 

Meanwhile, airfares are rising globally due to higher aviation fuel costs reflecting soaring crude oil prices, potentially impacting inbound travel to Japan.

The Japanese tourism industry is paying close attention to the situation.

Many flights between Japan and the Middle East have been canceled since the United States and Israel started their military operations against Iran in late February.

All 23 flights from the Middle East to Kansai International Airport in Osaka that had been scheduled between Feb. 28 and Tuesday were canceled, according to operator Kansai Airports.

There are moves to resume direct flights connecting Japan and the Middle East, but carriers including Japan Airlines are still suspending services.

Some tour reservations have been canceled at Tokyo-based Joyful Sightseeing, which provides bus services exclusively for visitors from abroad.

Still, people from the Middle East account for less than 1% of all inbound visitors to Japan, according to data from the Japan Tourism Agency.

Some of those who were scheduled to fly to Japan from Europe via the Middle East are switching to different routes, sources have said.

The overall impact of the situation has been limited, a Joyful Sightseeing official said.

An official of Mori Trust, which operates hotels in Japan, said the Tokyo-based company has faced the cancellations of some reservations, but added that this has been offset by strong demand among visitors from countries and regions outside of the Middle East.

With foreign airlines announcing decisions to raise their ticket prices, however, a tourism industry official warned that higher airfares could dent demand for travel to Japan.

Visitors from Europe are major profit contributors to the tourism industry, as many of them tend to stay in Japan for a long period and spend high amounts.

The industry is also pinning high hopes on an increase in the number of Middle Easterners visiting Japan in the future.

A prolonged conflict in the Middle East could deal a heavy blow to the tourism industry, a key engine for the Japanese economy, at a time when the sector has already been struggling with a continued drop in the number of visitors from China due to the deterioration in relations between the neighbors, industry watchers said.