Japan posted record tourism numbers for the year 2015, nearly surpassing a goal of 20 million visitors that was initially set for the year 2020. An impressive 19.7 million travelers explored the archipelago, spending a staggering 3.5 trillion yen (US$30 billion).
A quarter of the inbound tourists hailed from mainland China, where even a weak market and poor exchange rate between the two countries couldn’t dim enthusiasm for all things Japanese. A significant uptick was also seen in visitors from southeast Asian nations. Other factors leading to the rise in tourists included an increase in cruise ship arrivals and a drop in airline fuel surcharges.
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Japan National Tourism Organization (Japanese only)
