China (mainland) (NB), Japan (NB), North Korea, Russia (Asian) (B), South Korea (NB), Taiwan (China) (NB).
Vagrant to Hong Kong (China).
Breeds south-eastern Russia (eastern Yakutia, Khabarovsk and Amur), also irregularly in adjacent north-eastern China (northern Heilongjiang); non-breeding mainly eastern China, Korea and Japan.
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010) and decreasing.
Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica) [XC841061]
by Jonas Buddemeier from Koshimizu, Shari District, Hokkaido, Japan (call, flight call)
Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica) [XC723873]
by GABRIEL LEITE from Yingzhou Park \uff08North Gate\uff09 (near Shanghai), Shang Hai Shi, China (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Appears to be most closely related to Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus).