How many international tourists visited Japan in 2025?
Japan received 42.7 million international tourists in 2025, a record high. Total tourism spending by international visitors also reached a record in that year.
Questions about Tourism in Japan
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What percentage of Japan's GDP does tourism represent?
Total tourism consumption in Japan amounted to 34.3 trillion yen, or approximately $237 billion, in 2024, accounting for 5.6% of the country's GDP. International tourist receipts alone were 0.3% of GDP in 2013, rising to 1.0% by 2019.
When did Japan first run a tourism surplus from inbound visitors?
Japan ran a tourism surplus for the first time in 55 years in 2014, when income from foreign tourists exceeded the amount spent by Japanese tourists traveling abroad. This followed policy changes introduced by the Abe administration from 2013.
What is overtourism in Japan and how is the government responding?
Overtourism refers to the strain caused by the unprecedented surge in foreign visitors following the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions, amplified by the weakening yen. Yamanashi Prefecture capped daily Mount Fuji climbers at 4,000 and introduced a 2,000 yen entrance fee. Officials in some areas have also considered two-tiered pricing that would charge foreign tourists more than residents.
What is the history of travel and tourism in Japan before the modern era?
Travel literature in Japan dates to the Tosa Nikki of 935. By the late medieval period, a network of fixed-rate inns supported widespread domestic travel, and hot springs at Kusatsu, Arima, and Gero attracted notable visitors. During the Edo period, pilgrimage routes like the Ise Grand Shrine's Okage Mairi became major social phenomena, while Matsuo Basho's 1689 journey produced the celebrated work Oku no Hosomichi.
Which countries send the most tourists to Japan?
South Korea has repeatedly provided the largest number of inbound tourists; in 2010, South Korean visitors numbered 2.4 million, representing 27% of all arrivals. Travelers from China have consistently ranked as the highest spenders, with Chinese visitors spending an estimated 196.4 billion yen in 2011. As of 2017, three out of four foreign tourists came from East Asia, specifically South Korea, mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.