In 2019, the number of foreign
visitors to Japan reached a record high of 31.88 million, up with about 700,000
from the previous year.
Visa restrictions have loosened and an increased amount of international
flights to and from Japan has led to more visitors coming from mainly Asian
countries. Tourists from Russia and Britain also increased significantly due to
the Rugby world cup.
One thing standing out last year is a sharp decrease in visitors from South
Korea since the bilateral ties have deteriorated. The number of flights
connecting Japan and South Korea has been cut due to reduced demand.
The Japanese government’s ambitious target is to reach 40 million tourists by
2020. To achieve this, tourism minister Kazuyoshi Akaba said: “We want to
make the most of the best opportunities, such as hosting the Tokyo Olympics and
Paralympic Games. We also want to encourage tourists to visit regional
areas.”
For the first time in 28 years, a new station “Takanawa Gateway” will
also open on Tokyo’s busy Yamanote line. It will be in service to Olympic
events held in the Tokyo Bay area.
