Over 10 Million Foreign Visitors to Japan in First Half of Year... Koreans Rank First

As the value of the Japanese yen has fallen to an all-time low, the number of tourists visiting Japan is increasing. On the 16th, travelers at Seoul Gimpo International Airport were waiting to check their luggage. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

In the first half of this year (January to June), the number of foreign visitors to Japan exceeded 10 million for the first time in four years, with South Koreans accounting for the largest share.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) on the 19th, the total number of foreign visitors to Japan in the first half of the year was 10.71 million, surpassing 10 million for the first time in four years. According to Kyodo News, the number of foreign visitors to Japan in June also reached 2.07 million, exceeding 2 million on a monthly basis for the first time in three and a half years since January 2020.

By country (region) of origin, South Koreans accounted for the largest portion of foreign visitors in the first half of the year, with 3.13 million visitors, representing 29.2% of the total foreign visitors. Following South Korea were Taiwan (1.77 million), the United States (970,000), and Hong Kong (910,000). China, which had been the largest source of visitors before COVID-19, accounted for only 590,000 visitors.

As the Chinese government continues to restrict group tours to Japan, South Koreans have held the highest proportion among foreign visitors to Japan this year. The Japanese government has gradually reopened since allowing group tours for foreigners in June last year. In October of the same year, Japan resumed visa exemption measures for 68 countries and regions, including South Korea, which had been suspended due to the spread of COVID-19.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.