Japan saw 3.9 million foreign visitors in April, the highest number ever in a single month. This beats the record that was set just 3 months ago in January, which had 3.7 million visitors.
In a press release, the Japan National Tourism Organization cited the spring cherry blossom season and Easter holidays in many countries to have helped in pushing the number up last month. The April number is an increase of 28.5% year over year.
The total number of foreign travelers is up to 14.4 million. Japan is on pace to hit a record 43 million visitors by the end of this year.
Meanwhile, the number of Japanese residents traveling overseas remains low, but April saw a slight increase year over year. Approximately 961,000 traveled overseas, an increase of 8.2% compared to April 2024.
The weak yen continues to play a role in boosting foreign visitors while keeping its own residents from traveling internationally.
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With the increase in foreign visitors, the government is looking for ways to tame the effects of overtourism in certain parts of the country, while increasing efficiency at airports. Japan has an ambitious goal of 60 million visitors a year by the end of the decade, and taking measures in this area is key. Maybe it’s just my circle of friends and the information I follow, but a growing number of Japanese residents seem to be getting impatient of crowded places with tourists and rising hotel costs and air fares.
Authorities have encouraged visitors to disperse to the countryside, while announcing that they will begin prescreening visa-free travelers starting in 2028.
All photos taken by the author.
