Foreign visitors to Japan in April set monthly record at 3.9 million
KYODO NEWS - 31 minutes ago - 20:26 | All, Japan, Travel/Tourism
The number of foreign visitors to Japan in April hit a single-month record of 3.91 million, government data showed Wednesday, as arrivals were bolstered by the weak yen and high travel demand due to the country's cherry blossom season and Easter holidays overseas.
Foreign arrivals surged 28.5 percent from a year earlier, surpassing the previous record of 3.78 million in January, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.
Japan received some 14.45 million foreign arrivals from January to April, exceeding the 11.60 million recorded in the same period in 2024.
Foreign visitors to Japan topped 36 million last year, with authorities struggling to take measures against overcrowding in popular areas and encourage tourists to disperse into the countryside.
The number of foreign visitors this year may reach 45 million or 46 million, Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner Naoya Haraikawa told a press conference.
"We are going to start taking action now," he said.
By country and region, 765,100 people visited Japan from China in April, up 43.4 percent from the same month last year. Visitors from South Korea totaled 721,600, up 9.1 percent, and 537,600 came from Taiwan, an increase of 16.9 percent from a year earlier.
Inbound tourists from Canada and Britain hit record monthly highs, with 72,600 and 69,500 arrivals from those countries, respectively, while visitors from South Korea, China and Singapore were the highest recorded for April.
Meanwhile, the agency said that Japanese domestic travelers spent 5.65 trillion yen ($39.1 billion) in the January-March quarter, up 15.5 percent from the same period last year. Expenditure on travel with accommodation totaled 4.59 trillion yen, while spending on day trips amounted to 1.06 trillion yen.
Related coverage:
Local reaction to Mt. Fuji photo hunters causing major regrets
Visitors to Japan most frustrated with lack of trash bins: survey
Japanese-style inn operator eyes U.S. expansion after N.Y. listing
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kyodo News
5 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Japan's Princess Kako leaves for Brazil to mark 130 years of ties
KYODO NEWS - 2 minutes ago - 21:19 | All, Japan, World Japan's Princess Kako, a niece of Emperor Naruhito, departed for Brazil on Wednesday to promote ties between the two countries, which mark 130 years of diplomatic relations this year. The younger daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko will arrive in Sao Paulo on Thursday and plans to visit eight cities, including the capital, Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro. During her fourth official overseas visit, the princess will pay a courtesy call on President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and attend a commemorative event related to the anniversary, according to the Imperial Household Agency. She will also meet with locals of Japanese descent before returning to Japan on June 17. Brazil is home to the largest Japanese community outside Japan, with about 2.7 million people of Japanese descent living there, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry. The first group of Japanese immigrants arrived in Brazil in 1908 under a government policy at the time to encourage emigration in the wake of an economic downturn and a growing population. Emperor Naruhito visited Brazil in 2008 as crown prince to mark the 100th anniversary of Japanese emigration to the South American country. The princess's older sister, Mako Komuro, also traveled to Brazil in 2018 for the 110th anniversary. In 2015, Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko visited Brazil for the 120th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. Related coverage: Japan imperial couple, Princess Aiko honor war dead in Okinawa Japan's former Princess Mako gives birth to 1st child Princess Aiko to make 1st official overseas visit in Nov. to Laos
5 hours ago
Japanese Princess Kako Leaves for Brazil
News from Japan Society Jun 4, 2025 20:37 (JST) Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Princess Kako left Japan on Wednesday to make an official visit to Brazil to mark the 130th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations. The Brazilian government invited the second daughter of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko to the South American country. She is expected to arrive in Sao Paulo on Thursday morning after stopping at Chicago in the United States. After visiting eight cities in Brazil, she is due to return home June 17. In Brasilia, Brazil's capital, she will attend a ceremony to celebrate the 130th anniversary, hosted by Brazil's National Congress, and visit President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. She will also interact with local Nikkei people of Japanese descent. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
The Mainichi
10 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Easy Japanese news in translation: Water lilies bloom in botanical garden in Miyazaki Prefecture
Water lilies, often likened to "water fairies," are now at their best at the Nobeoka botanical garden in the city of Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture. In the garden's pond, cute white flowers peek out from between the round leaves floating on the water's surface. According to garden officials, water lilies tend to close their flowers little by little after noon, so the best time to admire them is in the morning. They can be enjoyed until around August. Japanese original Easy Japanese news is taken from the Mainichi Shogakusei Shimbun, a newspaper for children. This is perfect material for anyone studying Japanese who has learned hiragana and katakana. We encourage beginners to read the article in English followed by Japanese, or vice versa, to test their comprehension. A fresh set will be published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4 p.m., Japan time. Click/tap here for past installments. Intermediate learners who do not need English assistance can directly access the Mainichi Shogakusei Shimbun site here. Furigana (hiragana) is added to all kanji in the text.
