Popular travel destination breaks annual tourism record, sets new goal of 60M visitors
Visitors from far and wide have been traveling to Japan, with the country breaking a tourism record in 2024.
Between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, projections indicated that nearly 33.4 million travelers visited Japan, according to the country's government site. Nearly three million Americans visited the country in 2024.
Hokuto Asano, first secretary at the Embassy of Japan, told Fox News Digital that the number of visitors last year ended up reaching 36 million.
Yukiyoshi Noguchi, who is the counselor at the embassy, said 2024 was declared the "U.S.-Japan Tourism Year" by both governments.
"So last year, in 2024, we received almost 3 million Americans in Japan, which was a record high," said Noguchi.
Asano shared that Japan has a plan to nearly double visitors in the next five years.
"In 2030, we want the goal to [reach] 60 million people. … We will make an effort to increase [and] welcome more tourists from international countries. So that's why we decided to invest in the local area. Other than Kyoto, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Osaka, we hope to encourage tourist[s] to visit these destinations," said Asano.
Thirty percent of visitors said they experienced overcrowding at popular spots, according to a Japan Tourism Board Foundation and the Development Bank of Japan report.
Japan is known for its hot springs (onsens) and bathing facilities surrounded by inns, drawing tourists from around the world.
Many of Japan's onsen towns have imposed so-called bathing taxes, Fox News Digital reported.
"Many local governments in Japan [are] thinking about introducing a tourism tax. This is because many tourists visit there, but they don't have … a public toilet for tourists or some didn't have enough infrastructure for the tourists," said Asano.
"So they need to invest in infrastructure. That's why they [are] thinking to increase these taxes, that tax income makes more comfortable or convenient for the tourists. I think this trend will continue," Asano added.
"In Japan or especially in Kyoto, there is a big debate for overtourism. So, to make a solution for overtourism, maybe taxation could be [the] option," said Noguchi.
Noguchi said Americans would enjoy visiting Japan during spring.
"I recommend visiting Japan in spring because there [are] very beautiful cherry blossoms growing in Japan … there [were] cherry blossoms gifted from Tokyo to Washington, D.C., in 1912. So American people will enjoy the genuine cherry blossoms in Japan," said Noguchi.
Asano said traditional culture involving Buddhist and Shinto religions is attracting many tourists.
Characters like Hello Kitty, which is popular in modern Japanese culture, are also drawing travelers to the country, Asano added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
11 minutes ago
- The Hill
Senate Republicans eye public land sales in ‘big beautiful bill'
The Senate version of President Trump's 'big beautiful bill' seeks to sell off more than 2 million acres of federal lands to build affordable housing. A provision in the text released late Wednesday calls for the sales of between 2.2 million and 3.3 million acres of land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service. Lands in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington state and Wyoming would be eligible. This represents a break with the House, which approved legislation that did not include provisions to sold off public lands, despite a push from some lawmakers to add land sales provisions. Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) in particular has opposed the public land sales push. In a video accompanying the newly released text on Wednesday, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Mike Lee (R-Utah) lamented federal control of public lands – and also stressed that the measure would not apply to national parks or other similar protected lands. 'We're opening underused federal land to expand housing, support local development and get Washington D.C. out of the way of communities that are just trying to grow,' Lee said. 'This does not touch national parks, national monuments or wilderness. We're talking about isolated parcels that are difficult to manage or better suited for housing and infrastructure,' he added. The move, as well as other provisions in the legislation, drew pushback from Democrats and conservation advocates. 'Senate Republicans have finally said the quiet part out loud: They want to put millions of acres of our public lands up in a fire sale, destroy the investments that have created thousands of manufacturing and clean energy jobs – including in their home states, and obliterate programs that lower energy costs for everyday Americans,' said Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) in a written statement.
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Move over, Rolls-Royce – America's first homegrown ultra-luxury vehicle in almost a century is here to steal its crown
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Dacora is the first female-founded and led automotive brand The debut model has been designed with Pininfarina Group Swappable upholstery is just one of many unique traits Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Mercedes-Maybach… soon you'll be able to add another, albeit far less recognizable, name to that list of the world's most luxurious car makers. US start-up Dacora is here and wants a piece of the ultra-high-net-worth pie. Founded in New York's Hudson Valley by MIT-trained engineers Kristie and Eric D'Ambrosio-Correll, the fledgling brand is the first of its kind to be founded and led by a female CEO, as well as the first to have the confidence to command $500,000 (around £370,000 / AU$770,000) for a highly-personalized electric vehicle without hundreds of years worth of history to back it up. The price point is set as such because Dacora claims each vehicle is 'meticulously handmade' using American-sourced components and materials. The 1930s-inspired design, produced in collaboration with Italy's renowned Pininfarina Group, pays homage to the glamorous streamliners of Hollywood's Golden Age. Long hoods, shapely fenders and the option to specify real metal and hardwood inlays on the exterior are just a few of the stylistic talking points. Inside, you won't find any nasty plastics or cheap scratchy surfaces, as Dacora is only turning to natural wood, leather and woven wool for its interiors. Image 1 of 3 Image 2 of 3 Image 3 of 3 In fact, the company says there will be twice-yearly 'drops' that will allow customers to completely swap out the interior fabrics with the changing seasons – wool for winter, linen for summer, for example. The currently unnamed debut model will be available with anything from three- to seven-seat configurations, with each seat including its own independent lighting and climate controls. Money No Object We're all about offering practical buying advice at TechRadar, giving our readers expert tips and insights on how to choose the right gadgets. But every so often, we also like to celebrate some of the more ridiculous tech on the market – the luxurious, high-end products that are simply fun to dream about buying. That's the kind of kit we cover in our regular Money No Object column, which you can read more of here. Dacora wants to take us back to a time when driving was a sensory experience, so has ditched today's screen-dominated cockpit, relying on just one, non-touchscreen display to take care of infotainment duties. When not in use, this screen apparently disappears behind a semi-transparent wooden panel, while all controls are mechanical. Quite the analog move for two MIT-trained engineers. As for performance, Dacora is yet to announce exact EV powertrain details, but says it is aiming for over 800hp and a projected 400-mile all-electric range. There will also be the option of a hybrid powertrain on request. Image 1 of 2 Image 2 of 2 Co-founder and CEO Kristie D'Ambrosio-Correll was the former CTO of Mirror, a smart fitness product that proved a popular lifestyle product with the very wealthy. Building on this blueprint, Dacora will open its 100-acre Hudson Valley Garage next year, complete with on-site production, design atelier and rooms for guests to stay. Every car will be a bespoke, personal commission, with the brand's designer on-hand to guide them through the process. Customers will also get to enjoy curated events, 'immersive experiences' and all of the other lovely things rich people like to fill their spare time with. Dacora will have to nail this side of things, because early images of the vehicle reveal divisive styling and half a million US dollars buys a lot of Rolls-Royce, which remains the final word in automotive opulence and the ultimate show of wealth. I've tried Apple CarPlay Ultra – it fixes everything that's irritating about CarPlay, but there's a catch The myth of Megawatt charging – and why Porsche doesn't think it's the answer to smoother EV journeys Forget Rolls-Royce – after living with the new Lexus LM350h, I've decided we have a new king of luxury
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Economic Anxiety: 64% Looking to Get Second Job or Start a Side Hustle in the Next Year
28% of Employed Home Renters Would Have Less Than One Month of Savings if They Were Laid Off Today ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --More than six in 10 employed U.S. adults are likely to supplement their income with a second job or side hustle over the next year, according to a new Workforce Monitor® survey from the American Staffing Association conducted by The Harris Poll. The major divisions found in the findings were by Parental Status: Three-quarters (75%) of employed parents with minor children are likely to get a second job or side hustle in the next year, compared with 55% of employed adults without children under 18. Generation: Employed Millennials, aged 29–44 (76%), and Gen Z, ages 18–28 (73%), were more likely to get a second job or start a side hustle in the next year than Gen X, ages 45-60 (59%), and Baby Boomers, ages 61–79 (37%) Social Media Use: A staggering 84% of employed daily social media users were likely to look for a side hustle or second job in the next year, compared with 65% of both weekly and monthly users and 50% of those who aren't on social media accounts. "For growing numbers of Americans, a side hustle can be a good way to build savings, pay off debt, find a new job, or change careers. However, for others, a side hustle means having enough money to make ends meet," said Richard Wahlquist, chief executive officer at ASA. "With economic uncertainty dominating the headlines, it's not surprising to see Americans looking for ways to create some breathing room in their budgets." A significant portion of employed Americans are living with a minimal financial cushion. When asked how long their household could live off of their savings or other income in the event of a layoff Just 19% of employees said their savings could support less than one month of expenses, while 32% said their savings could support them for one to five months. Nearly three in 10 employed home renters (28%) would have less than one month of current savings to live off if they were laid off today, compared with 14% of employed homeowners. "With nearly one in five American workers reporting they don't believe their households could survive a month if they were laid off, there needs to be a renewed focus on ensuring that financial education is required part of every high school curriculum," added Wahlquist. "Financial literacy is a foundation upon which young adults can build a path to success in life on their own terms." Survey Method:This survey was conducted online within the U.S. by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Staffing Association April 21–23, 2025, among 2,093 adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data are accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Megan Sweeney at msweeney@ About the American Staffing AssociationThe American Staffing Association is the voice of the U.S. staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry. ASA and its state affiliates advance the interests of the industry across all sectors through advocacy, research, education, and the promotion of high standards of legal, ethical, and professional practices. For more information about ASA, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE American Staffing Association Sign in to access your portfolio
