According to government data, Japan saw 3.6 million foreign visitors in June, bringing the total number of visitors up to 22 million for the year. Inbound travel demand has remained strong, fueled by the weak Japanese yen, which currently sits at 147.37 JPY.
The nation is on pace for a record-shattering 44 million by the end of this year, beating out last year’s record of 37 million.
345,000 Americans arrived in Japan in June as summer vacation began across the nation, a 16.4% increase year over year. A total of 1.7 million Americans have visited Japan so far this year (up 26.7%), highlighting the resilience of international travel demand. Foreign visitor numbers from South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and several others posted record numbers for June.
Visitors from Hong Kong, however, decreased by 33% year over year, stemming from fears over a fictional earthquake prediction by a manga artist.
The number of Japanese residents traveling overseas remains low, but is also continuing to grow. A total of 6.7 million have traveled overseas so far this year, representing a 14% increase year over year.
Overtourism has increasingly become a topic in the nation, as some areas struggle with a high volume of tourism traffic. The government has encouraged tourists to visit the countryside, while implementing measures such as the pre-screening of visa travelers starting in 2028.
Japan has an ambitious goal of 60 million foreign visitors by the end of the decade, which will require additional government measures to tame the effects of overtourism. The language and planning that takes place in the government will be something to watch for the rest of the year.
All photos taken by the author.
