Tourism in Japan

Mount Fuji, as seen from Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Crowds of tourists at Arayashima bamboo forest in Kyoto

Tourism in Japan is a major industry and contributor to the Japanese economy. Foreigners visit Japan to see natural wonders, cities, historic landmarks, and entertainment venues. Japanese people seek similar attractions, as well as recreation and vacation areas. In 2019, Japan attracted 31.88 million international tourists.[1][2] Japan welcomed 2.78 million visitor arrivals in February 2024, surpassing 2019 levels.[3]

Japan has 21 World Heritage Sites, including Himeji Castle, Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto and Nara. Popular attractions for foreigners include Tokyo and Osaka, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, ski resorts such as Niseko in Hokkaido, Okinawa, riding the Shinkansen and taking advantage of Japan's hotel and hotspring network.

The 2017 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report ranked Japan 4th out of 141 countries overall, which was the highest in Asia. Japan gained relatively high scores in almost all of the featured aspects, such as health and hygiene, safety and security, cultural resources and business travel.[4] In the 2021 edition of the report, now called Travel and Tourism Development Index, Japan reached 1st place.[5]

## History

[edit]

Throngs of tourists on their way to Himeji Castle in Himeji (WHS)

The origins of early traditions of visits to picturesque sites are unclear, but an early sight-seeing excursion was Matsuo Bashō's 1689 trip to the then "far north" of Japan, which occurred not long after Hayashi Razan categorized the Three Views of Japan in 1643. During the Edo era of Japan, from around 1600 to the Meiji Restoration in 1867, travel was regulated within the country through the use of shukuba or post stations, towns where travelers had to present appropriate documentation. Despite these restrictions, porter stations and horse stables, as well as places for lodging and food were available on well-traveled routes. During this time, Japan was a closed country to foreigners, so no foreign tourism existed in Japan.

Following the Meiji Restoration and the building of a national railroad network, tourism became more of an affordable prospect for domestic citizens and visitors from foreign countries could enter Japan legally. As early as 1887, government officials recognized the need for an organized system of attracting foreign tourists; the Kihinkai (貴賓会), which aimed to coordinate the players in tourism, was established that year with Prime Minister Itō Hirobumi's blessing. Its early leaders included Shibusawa Eiichi and Ekida Takashi. Another major milestone in the development of the tourism industry in Japan was the 1907 passage of the Hotel Development Law, as a result of which the Railways Ministry began to construct publicly owned hotels throughout Japan.[6]

For much of post-war period, Japan has been an exceptionally unattractive tourist destination for its population and GDP size. According to the IMF, WTO, and OECD, from 1995 to 2014, it was by far the least visited country.[7] As of 2013, Japan was one of the least visited countries in the OECD on a per capita basis.[8] Within six years however, the number of international visitors has more than tripled, reaching a peak of 31.9 million visitors in 2019.[9]

## Current status

[edit]

Domestic tourism remains a vital part of Japanese economy and Japanese culture. Across the nation, Japanese children in many middle schools see the highlight of their years as a visit to Tokyo Tower, Yomiuriland, Tokyo Disneyland, Sensō-ji, and/or Tokyo Skytree, and many high school students often visit Okinawa or Hokkaido. The extensive rail network together with domestic flights sometimes in planes with modifications to favor the relatively short distances involved in intra-Japan travel allows efficient and speedy transport. International tourism plays a smaller role in the Japanese economy compared to other developed countries; in 2013, international tourist receipts was 0.3% of Japan's GDP, while the corresponding figure was 1.3% for the United States and 2.3% for France. In 2019, the value was up to 1.0% of GDP, driven by an increase in international tourism, while the country's GDP has remained stable.[10][11]

Tourists from South Korea have made up the largest number of inbound tourists several times in the past. In 2010, their 2.4 million arrivals made up 27% of the tourists visiting Japan.[12]

Travelers from China have been the highest spenders in Japan by country, spending an estimated 196.4 billion yen (US$2.4 billion) in 2011, or almost a quarter of total expenditure by foreign visitors, according to data from the Japan Tourism Agency.[13]

From 2016 to 2020, Japanese government hoped to receive 40 million foreign tourists every year by 2020.[14] According to the Japan National Tourism Organization in 2017, 3 out of 4 foreign tourists came from other parts of East Asia, namely South Korea, mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.[15]

Japanese film, TV, video game, and manga/anime industries play a role in driving tourism to Japan. In surveys held by Statista between 2019 and 2020, 24.2% of tourists from the United States, said they were motivated to visit Japan because of Japanese popular culture.[16]

### Overtourism

[edit]

Following the easing of COVID-19-era travel restrictions, 2024 is on track to be a record-breaking year for the number of overseas tourists.[17] This tourism boom can be attributed in part to the weakening Japanese yen.[17] The unprecedented number of foreign tourists has led to claims that some parts of Japan are suffering from overtourism.[17][18]

In response to this surge, officials in some parts of Japan have introduced measures to counter its negative effects. For example, Yamanashi Prefecture has set a cap of daily climbers of Mount Fuji at 4,000 people and began charging an entrance fee of ¥2,000.[18] Also in Yamanashi Prefecture, a mesh barrier was set up to block a view of Mount Fuji behind a Lawson convenience store in Fujikawaguchiko due to tourist-caused disturbances in the area.[19]

As of 2024, some Japanese officials have considered instituting a two-tiered pricing system which would have foreign tourists pay more than residents at certain tourist attractions in order to counter the effects of overtourism.[20][21]

## Contribution to the national crises

[edit]

Following the triple meltdown of Fukushima nuclear reactors in Fukushima Prefecture caused by the earthquake and tsunami, the number of foreign visitors to Japan declined for the first time since 2009. In September 2011, some 539,000 foreign tourisms visited Japan, 25 percent down compared with the same month in 2010. This decline was largely attributed to the natural disasters including Fukushima nuclear accident; also the stronger yen made a visit to Japan more expensive.

In October 2011, the Japan Tourism Agency announced a plan to give 10,000 round-trip air tickets to Japan to encourage visitors to come and to boost tourism. However, on December 26, 2011, the Agency reported on their site that the "Fly to Japan! Project", which would have given out 10,000 round-trip tickets to Japan, had not been approved by the government for fiscal year 2012.[22]

By 2012, free tickets would be offered if the winners would write online about their experiences in Japan. They also would need to answer some questions about how they felt while visiting Japan after the triple disaster and how interest in tourism in Japan could be renewed. About US$15 million would be spent on this program.[23][24] International tourism inflows in Japan had recovered to pre-2011 levels.[25]

In early 2020, Japan received only 4.1 million foreign tourists, as many countries tightened travel restrictions due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first time visitor statistics had fallen since the Great Recession in 2008.[26] In January and September 2021, tourism in Japan had also further dipped to 245,862 foreign visitors, which was a 88% decrease as compared to 2020.[citation needed] In October 2021, as the country lifted the fourth state of emergency up and ahead[clarification needed] of the endemic phase, the Japanese government announced that many domestic visitors would be only resumed[clarification needed] and waived from the pandemic, in a move to reopen domestic travel with the introduction of vaccinated travel lanes.[citation needed]

In late November 2021, amid the spread of a highly transmissible COVID-19 Omicron variant, many countries including Japan tightened travel restrictions, with some governments banning travel completely to curb transmission.[citation needed]

In September 2022, the Japanese government announced that visa requirements from some countries would be waived from October 2022, in a move to reopen international travel after the pandemic border restrictions.[27][28] Prior to the pandemic, Japan did not require tourist visas for 68 countries and regions.

## Tourism statistics

[edit]

Foreign tourists to Japan

These are the top 35 nationalities that visited Japan from 2017 to 2024.[29][30]

Country/Territory  | Total

|

7/2024  | 2023  | 2022  | 2021  | 2020  | 2019  | 2018  | 2017
South Korea | 5,199,790  | 6,958,494  | 1,012,751  | 18,947  | 694,476  | 5,584,597 | 7,538,952 | 7,140,200
China | 3,849,376  | 2,425,157  | 189,125  | 42,239  | 1,069,256  | 9,594,394 | 8,380,034 | 7,355,800
Taiwan | 3,550,895  | 4,202,434  | 331,097  | 5,016  | 487,939  | 4,890,602 | 4,757,258 | 4,564,100
United States | 1,594,153  | 2,045,854  | 323,513  | 20,026  | 219,307  | 2,187,557 | 1,939,719 | 1,756,732
Hong Kong | 1,555,176  | 2,114,402  | 269,285  | 1,252  | 346,020  | 2,290,792 | 2,207,804 | 2,231,500
Thailand | 671,804  | 995,558  | 198,037  | 2,758  | 219,830  | 1,318,977 | 1,132,160 | 987,100
Australia | 510,607  | 613,062  | 88,648  | 3,265  | 143,508  | 621,771 | 552,440 | 496,100
Philippines | 457,233  | 622,293  | 126,842  | 5,625  | 109,110  | 613,114 | 503,976 | 424,200
Vietnam | 381,631  | 573,916  | 284,113  | 26,586  | 152,559  | 495,051 | 389,004 | 308,900
Singapore | 328,142  | 591,267  | 131,969  | 857  | 55,273  | 492,252 | 437,280 | 404,100
Canada | 320,422  | 425,874  | 55,877  | 3,536  | 53,365  | 375,262  | 330,600  | 305,591
Indonesia | 293,393  | 429,382  | 119,723  | 5,209  | 77,724  | 412,779 | 396,852 | 352,200
Malaysia | 261,057  | 415,712  | 74,095  | 1,831  | 76,573  | 501,592 | 468,360 | 439,500
United Kingdom | 251,401  | 321,482  | 57,496  | 7,294  | 51,024  | 424,279  | 333,979  | 310,499
France | 221,678  | 277,436  | 52,782  | 7,024  | 43,102  | 336,333  | 304,896  | 268,605
Germany | 180,330  | 233,410  | 45,748  | 5,197  | 29,785  | 236,544  | 215,336  | 195,606
India | 136,834  | 166,394  | 54,314  | 8,831  | 26,931  | 175,896  | 154,029  | 134,371
Italy | 114,486  | 152,305  | 23,683  | 3,527  | 13,691  | 162,769  | 150,060  | 125,864
Spain | 84,622  | 115,873  | 15,926  | 3,053  | 11,741  | 130,243  | 118,901  | 99,814
Mexico | 80,029  | 94,684  | 9,152  | 1,124  | 9,528  | 71,745  | 68,448  | 63,440
Nepal | 65,375  | 83,302  | 75,200  | 11,648  | 17,191  | 51,577  | 44,297  | 39,950
Macau | 63,233  | 74,252  | 1,359  | 54  | 12,234  | 121,197  | 108,694  | 115,304
New Zealand | 61,593  | 78,978  | 12,107  | 1,404  | 16,070  | 94,115  | 73,208  | 64,873
Netherlands | 58,581  | 74,486  | 12,064  | 1,860  | 8,481  | 79,479  | 72,069  | 63,041
Brazil | 46,854  | 50,570  | 9,436  | 2,731  | 6,888  | 47,575  | 44,201  | 42,207
Russia | 46,771  | 41,965  | 10,324  | 3,723  | 22,260  | 120,043  | 94,810  | 77,251
Switzerland | 42,482  | 53,395  | 8,917  | 1,387  | 6,036  | 53,908  | 52,099  | 47,154
Myanmar | 41,048  | 45,815  | 22,763  | 1,531  | 10,884  | 30,977  | 24,418  | 22,915
Poland | 34,815  | 40,634  | 5,745  | 1,350  | 3,996  | 38,534  | 34,706  | 28,727
Turkey | 34,232  | 31,198  | 7,129  | 1,161  | 2,886  | 22,724  | 19,762  | 19,123
Sweden | 30,114  | 39,245  | 7,900  | 1,112  | 7,622  | 53,836  | 53,822  | 50,805
Mongolia | 29,205  | 39,916  | 19,267  | 1,685  | 7,118  | 31,513  | 27,647  | 23,365
Israel | 28,674  | 45,143  | 7,673  | 619  | 2,315  | 44,214  | 39,193  | 32,758
Sri Lanka | 27,540  | 36,742  | 21,536  | 3,127  | 8,918  | 28,380  | 27,789  | 27,904
Belgium | 25,897  | 34,352  | 6,611  | 1,122  | 4,074  | 39,245  | 34,387  | 32,054
Denmark | 24,013  | 30,780  | 5,403  | 794  | 4,780  | 32,893  | 29,163  | 25,235
Portugal | 21,987  | 27,812  | 3,176  | 728  | 3,179  | 32,349  | 26,506  | 23,442
Austria | 20,717  | 26,360  | 5,025  | 888  | 3,605  | 27,530  | 24,187  | 21,035
Ireland | 19,057  | 22,985  | 4,458  | 820  | 3,270  | 39,387  | 20,319  | 18,591
Norway | 19,036  | 21,541  | 3,736  | 557  | 3,620  | 24,838  | 22,569  | 20,786
Cambodia | 16,491  | 27,067  | 13,618  | 784  | 7,420  | 28,492  | 21,696  | 17,857
Finland | 16,378  | 21,404  | 4,608  | 736  | 4,859  | 29,437  | 27,116  | 25,310
Bangladesh | 14,143  | 19,559  | 11,981  | 1,789  | 4,444  | 15,174  | 13,971  | 12,878
Pakistan | 13,869  | 21,132  | 11,423  | 4,284  | 6,145  | 17,208  | 15,802  | 13,729
Romania | 13,371  | 15,316  | 2,376  | 552  | 1,409  | 14,837  | 12,250  | 10,390
Argentina | 11,224  | 13,177  | 2,198  | 798  | 4,220  | 23,805  | 23,692  | 18,610
Chile | 10,937  | 13,808  | 1,902  | 276  | 3,381  | 13,370  | 14,089  | 11,027
Czech Republic | 10,808  | 13,958  | 2,487  | 753  | 1,679  | 14,356  | 12,255  | 11,114
Saudi Arabia | 10,167  | 12,380  | 2,403  | 1,039  | 11,152  | 7,403  | 7,554  | 7,587
Hungary | 8,636  | 11,316  | 2,511  | 1,034  | 1,302  | 12,696  | 10,440  | 9,148
Colombia | 8,318  | 9,598  | 1,495  | 476  | 1,098  | 11,745  | 9,966  | 8,795
Greece | 8,074  | 9,969  | 1,869  | 744  | 1,091  | 9,494  | 7,968  | 6,703
United Arab Emirates | 7,728  | 10,270  | 2,705  | 203  | 770  | 8,891  | 7,782  | 7,106
South Africa | 6,560  | 9,357  | 2,561  | 838  | 1,623  | 19,543  | 9,793  | 9,057
Kazakhstan | 6,136  | 8,571  | 1,511  | 601  | 890  | 5,431  | 4,391  | 4,125
Iran | 5,633  | 7,145  | 2,152  | 746  | 720  | 5,252  | 5,161  | 6,457
Bulgaria | 5,475  | 6,360  | 1,024  | 338  | 627  | 6,324  | 5,106  | 4,529
Ukraine | 4,981  | 6,749  | 3,795  | 1,070  | 1,466  | 10,176  | 8,458  | 7,094
Uzbekistan | 4,853  | 8,075  | 5157  | 1,567  | 1,290  | 5,243  | 5,530  | 4,380
Lithuania | 4,851  | 6,226  | 1,286  | 272  | 672  | 5,260  | 4,498  | 4,177
Laos | 4,356  | 6,359  | 1,804  | 150  | 1,169  | 6,154  | 5,987  | 5,398
Egypt | 3,604  | 4,816  | 2,223  | 1,187  | 1,294  | 6,345  | 4,942  | 4,283
Brunei | 3,579  | 6,292  | 1,159  | 23  | 742  | 4,866  | 3,626  | 3,699
Peru | 3,536  | 5,195  | 1,196  | 254  | 1,191  | 6,022  | 5,048  | 4,549
Croatia | 3,390  | 4,067  | 634  | 414  | 470  | 4,099  | 3,407  | 3,084
Slovenia | 3,347  | 3,779  | 676  | 308  | 493  | 3,347  | 3,187  | 3,027
Total (all countries)  | 21,075,024  | 25,066,350  | 3,832,110  | 245,862  | 4,115,828  | 31,882,049 | 31,191,856 | 28,690,900

## Major tourist destinations

[edit]

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|

Goko Five Lakes in Shiretoko (WHS) Shirakami-Sanchi (WHS) Shinjuku in Tokyo, and Mount Fuji Shirakawa-gō (WHS) Japanese Alps from Kamikōchi Tōdai-ji Daibutsu in Nara (WHS) Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine (WHS) Shikoku Pilgrimage (Zentsū-ji) Kumamoto Castle, Kumamoto Ishigaki Island, Okinawa

### Hokkaido

[edit]

* Niseko Ski Resort
* Shiretoko Peninsula (WHS)
* Teshikaga – Lake Mashū, Lake Kussharo
* Tōya Caldera and Mount Usu Geopark
* Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group
* Hakodate
* Otaru

### Tōhoku region

[edit]

* Shirakami-Sanchi (WHS)
* Mount Osore
* Lake Towada
* Hirosaki – Hirosaki Castle, Nakacho Samurai District
* Hiraizumi – Chūson-ji, Mōtsū-ji, Kanjizaiō-in, Takkoku-no-Iwaya
* Semboku – Kakunodate Samurai District, Lake Tazawa, Nyūtō Onsen
* Yamagata – Yama-dera Temple, Zaō Onsen
* Matsushima

### Kantō region

[edit]

* Nikkō – Shrines and Temples of Nikkō (WHS), Kegon Falls, Lake Chūzenji, Cedar Avenue of Nikko
* Tomioka Silk Mill (WHS)
* Kinugawa Onsen – Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura, Tobu World Square
* Utsunomiya – Oya stone museum, Utsunomiya Futarayama Shrine
* Ashikaga, Tochigi – Ashikaga Gakkō, Ashikaga Flower Park [ja]
* Tokyo – Imperial Palace, Asakusa, Akihabara, Ginza, Harajuku/Omotesandō, Nakano Broadway, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Tsukiji Fish Market, Ueno Park, Fujiko F. Fujio Museum, Studio Ghibli Museum
* Tokyo Disney Resort
* Kamakura – Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū, Kōtoku-in, Kenchō-ji, Engaku-ji, Meigetsu-in, Hase-dera
* Kusatsu Onsen
* Hakone Onsen

### Chūbu region

[edit]

* Mount Fuji
* Japanese Alps – Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route(Mount Tate), Hida Mountains, Kiso Mountains, Akaishi Mountains
* Kurobe Gorge Railway
* Shiga Kōgen
* Matsumoto – Matsumoto Castle, Mount Hotaka, Kamikōchi
* Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama (WHS)
* Takayama – Sanmachi Traditional Street, Ōshinmachi Traditional Street, Higashiyama Temple Area
* Kanazawa – Kenroku-en Garden, Kanazawa Castle, Higashi Geisha District, Nagamachi Samurai District
* Sakai – Tōjinbō, Maruoka Castle
* Nagoya – Nagoya Castle, Atsuta Shrine, Sakae, Nagoya Station (Meieki), Ōsu Kannon temple

### Kansai region

[edit]

* Kyoto – Kinkaku-ji, Ginkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, Ryōan-ji, Sanjūsangen-dō, etc., they are parts of Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (WHS)
* Uji – Byōdō-in and Ujigami Shrine (WHS), Relation of The Tale of Genji
* Ōtsu – Lake Biwa, Hiyoshi Taisha, Sakamoto Temple District, Mount Hiei, Enryaku-ji (WHS)
* Ōmihachiman – Traditional Riverside District
* Nara – Tōdai-ji, Tōshōdai-ji, Kōfuku-ji, Yakushi-ji, Heijō Palace, Kasuga-taisha and Nara Park, etc. They are parts of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (WHS).
* Ikaruga – Hōryū-ji and Hōki-ji are Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area (WHS).
* Yoshino (Mount Yoshino) – Kimpusen-ji, Yoshimizu Shrine, Yoshino Mikumari Shrine, etc. They are parts of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range (WHS).
* Shingū – Kumano Hayatama Taisha and Kumano River (WHS)
* Nachikatsuura – Nachi Falls, Kumano Kodō, etc., they are parts of Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range (WHS)
* Mount Kōya – Kongōbu-ji (WHS)
* Osaka – Osaka Castle, Umeda, Namba, Dōtonbori, Shinsaibashi, Shinsekai, Shitennō-ji, Sumiyoshi-taisha, Universal Studios Japan, Kaiyukan, Rinku Town, Den-Den Town, Expo Commemoration Park, Kamagasaki[31]
* Himeji – Engyō-ji, Koko-en Garden, and Himeji Castle (WHS)
* Kobe – Port of Kobe, Rokkō Mountains, Kitano-chō, Arima Onsen, Kobe Luminarie
* San'in Kaigan Geopark – Toyooka, Izushi, Kinosaki Onsen, Yumura Onsen

### Chūgoku region

[edit]

* Hiroshima Prefecture – Itsukushima Shrine (WHS), Onomichi, Tomonoura
* Okayama Prefecture – Kurashiki, Kōrakuen Garden, Okayama Castle
* Tottori Prefecture – Tottori Sand Dunes, Mount Daisen, Mount Hyōno, San'in Kaigan Geopark
* Shimane Prefecture – Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine (WHS), Izumo-taisha, Matsue Castle, Oki Islands, Tsuwano
* Yamaguchi Prefecture – Hagi

### Shikoku

[edit]

* Shikoku Pilgrimage (Zentsū-ji, Motoyama-ji, etc.)
* Ehime Prefecture – Dōgo Onsen, Matsuyama Castle
* Kagawa Prefecture – Kotohira-gū Shrine, Ritsurin Garden, Shōdo Island, Naoshima Island
* Tokushima Prefecture – Naruto whirlpools, Awa Dance Festival in Tokushima
* Kōchi Prefecture – Kōchi Castle, Cape Muroto (Muroto Geopark), Cape Ashizuri

### Kyushu and Okinawa

[edit]

* Fukuoka Prefecture – Mojiko Retro Town, Kokura Castle, Dazaifu Tenman-gū, Remains of Dazaifu (government)
* Ōita Prefecture – Many types of hot springs in Beppu, Ōita or Yufuin, Ōita, Usa jingū, stone bridges, small stonehenge on the top of Komekamiyama (mountain), Hello Kitty Harmonyland
* Nagasaki Prefecture – Ōura Church, Higashi-Yamate, Minami-Yamate including the Glover Garden, Huis Ten Bosch (theme park), Hidden Christian Sites (WHS)
* Kagoshima Prefecture – Yakushima (WHS), Sakurajima, Amami Ōshima
* Miyazaki Prefecture – Kirishima-Yaku National Park, Takachiho, Old Exculibur on the top of Takachiho-kyo mountain, Nichinan, Miyazaki, Chambered barrows of Saitobaru kofungun, Heiwadai Park
* Kumamoto Prefecture – Kumamoto Castle, Mount Aso
* Saga Prefecture – Pre-400 BC Yayoi archaeological site in Yoshinogari site
* Okinawa Prefecture – Shuri Castle, Nakagusuku Castle, Nakijin Castle, etc. They are parts of the Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu. (WHS), Ishigaki Island, Miyako Island, Iriomote Island, Traditional Ryukyuan Houses in Taketomi Island

## See also

[edit]

* Groups of Traditional Buildings
* Japanese museums
* List of National Geoparks in Japan
* List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites and Special Natural Monuments
* World Heritage Sites in Japan
* List of museums in Japan
* National Treasures of Japan
* Omiyage
* Ryokan (Japanese inn)
* Visa policy of Japan

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "International tourism, number of arrivals - Japan | Data".
2. ^ [1]
3. ^ Loh, Matthew (April 3, 2024). "Jimmy Kimmel says his trip to Japan last week made him realize that the US is a 'filthy and disgusting country'". Business Insider.
4. ^ "The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017" (PDF). World Economic Forum. April 2017.
5. ^ "Travel & Tourism Development Index 2021 - Rebuilding for a Sustainable and Resilient Future" (PDF). World Economic Forum. May 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
6. ^ Leheny, David Richard (2003). The Rules of Play: National Identity and the Shaping of Japanese Leisure. Cornell University Press. p. 59. ISBN 0-8014-4091-2.
7. ^ "International tourism, number of arrivals - United States, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada | Data". data.worldbank.org. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
8. ^ Silver, Nate (August 18, 2014). "The Countries Where You're Surrounded By Tourists". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
9. ^ "2023 Visitor Arrivals & Japanese Overseas Travelers(Compared to 2019)" (PDF). Japan National Tourism Organization. January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
10. ^ "International tourism, receipts (current US$) | Data". data.worldbank.org. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
11. ^ "GDP (current US$) | Data". data.worldbank.org. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
12. ^ Dickie, Mure (January 26, 2011). "Tourists flock to Japan despite China spat". Financial Times. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
13. ^ "Tokyu Group in steadfast pursuit of Chinese tourists". TTGmice. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
14. ^ Bhattacharjya, Samhati (May 17, 2016). "Japan to offer 10-year multi-entry visas for Chinese as part of tourism push". International Business Times. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
15. ^ "Japan Tourism Agency aims to draw more Western tourists amid boom in Asian visitors". Japan National Tourism Organization. February 6, 2018. Archived from the original on January 7, 2019.
16. ^ "Anime industry in Japan - statistics and facts". Statista. February 26, 2021.
17. ^ a b c "Japan visitors exceed 3 million for second straight month, tourism agency says". The Japan Times. May 15, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
18. ^ a b Inoue, Yukana (June 30, 2024). "Mount Fuji begins charging entrance fees as overtourism prevention measure". The Japan Times. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
19. ^ Gardin, Caroline (May 21, 2024). "Weary of overtourism, Japan town blocks one popular view of Mount Fuji". The Japan Times. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
20. ^ "Japan's Flood of Tourists Prompts Call to Charge Foreigners More". Bloomberg.com. June 19, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
21. ^ "In Japan, higher prices for foreign visitors come with caveats". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
22. ^ ""Fly to Japan! Project"(10,000 FREE FLIGHTS TO FOREIGNERS) | Japan Tourism Agency". Japan Tourism Agency. December 26, 2011. Archived from the original on September 30, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
23. ^ NHK-world (October 21, 2011) Japan to give away air tickets to 10,000 visitors Archived October 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
24. ^ JAIF (October 22, 2011)Earthquake report 242: Japan to give away air tickets to 10,000 visitors
25. ^ "International tourism, number of arrivals - Japan | Data". data.worldbank.org. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
26. ^ NEWS, KYODO. "Foreign visitors to Japan in 2020 plunge 87.1%, biggest since 1964". Kyodo News+. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
27. ^ "Japan to waive tourist visa requirements as part of border easing: Report". CNA. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
28. ^ "Japan to waive tourist visa requirements as part of border easing: Report". Japan to waive tourist visa requirements as part of border easing: Report - 'Channel News Asia' News | SendStory Singapore. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
29. ^ "2017年推計値" (PDF). Japan National Tourism Organization. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 8, 2016.
30. ^ [2]
31. ^ "Overseas tourists are changing the face of Japan". Nikkei Asian Review.

* Travel with Smile. Best Places to Travel in Japan

## Further reading

[edit]

* Graburn, Nelson HH. "The past in the present in Japan: nostalgia and neo-traditionalism in contemporary Japanese domestic tourism." in Change in tourism: people, places, processes (1995): 47–70.
* Henderson, Joan Catherine. "Destination development: Trends in Japan's inbound tourism." International Journal of Tourism Research 19.1 (2017): 89–98. online
* Ishimori, Shûzô. "Popularization and commercialization of tourism in early modern Japan." Senri Ethnological Studies 26 (1989): 179–194. online
* Jimura, Takamitsu. Cultural heritage and tourism in Japan (Routledge, 2021) online.
* McOmie, William, ed. Foreign Images and Experiences of Japan: 1: First Century AD-1841. (Brill, 2021). online
* March, Roger. "How Japan solicited the West: the first hundred years of modern Japanese tourism." in CAUTHE 2007: Tourism-Past Achievements, Future Challenges (2007): 843–52. online
* Robertson, Jennifer. "Hegemonic nostalgia, tourism, and nation-making in Japan." Senri ethnological studies 38 (1995): 89–103. online
* Soshiroda, Akira. "Inbound tourism policies in Japan from 1859 to 2003." Annals of Tourism Research 32.4 (2005): 1100–1120.
* Takeuchi, Keiichi. "Some remarks on the geography of tourism in Japan." GeoJournal (1984): 85–90. online
* Tokuhisa, Tamao. "Tourism within, from and to Japan." International Social Science Journal 32.1 (1980): 128–150.
* Uzama, Austin. "Yokoso! Japan: Classifying foreign tourists to Japan for market segmentation." Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management 21.2 (2012): 132–154.
* Yanagi, Miyuki. "Reconsideration of Japan's tourism innovation characteristics." Geographical Research Bulletin 2 (2023): 29–38. online
* Yasuda, Hiroko. "World heritage and cultural tourism in Japan." International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research 4.4 (2010): 366–375.

## External links

[edit]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Japan.

* Japan National Tourist Organization
* JapanTourist Travel Articles Database Archived May 7, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
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