Japan's tourist boom: March sees a record 3.08M visitors

In 2019, 31.88 million tourists visited Japan throughout the year, with July marking a monthly record of more than 2.9 million visitors. March of this year, however, has set a new benchmark in the tourism industry, with its impressive visitor count exceeding 3.08 million.

According to the government agency, foreign travelers spent a staggering 1.75 trillion yen (approximately 11.3 million dollars) from January to March. This expenditure sets a new record for the highest quarterly value ever, partially attributed to the favorable exchange rates of the yen.

For context, the total expenditure by visitors to Japan in 2023 amounted to 5.3 trillion yen (over 34 million dollars), a record-breaking figure.

The largest share of tourists in 2023 hailed from South Korea, with over 663,000 visitors, marking a 13.2 percent increase from the pre-pandemic year of 2019. Taiwanese travelers followed closely, with approximately 484,400 individuals visiting Japan, a 20.4 percent increase from 2019.

The Easter period saw a notable surge in tourists from the United States and the Philippines, with increases of 64.3 percent and 63.2 percent, respectively, compared to 2019. In light of these burgeoning numbers, the Japanese government is forging ahead with plans to further develop its tourism industry, aiming to attract 60 million foreign tourists by 2030.