View source for Tourism in Japan

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{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2018}}
[[File:Chuurei-tou Fujiyoshida 17025277650 c59733d6ba o.jpg|thumb|[[Mount Fuji]], as seen from [[Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi]]]]
[[File:Tourists at the bamboo forest in Kyoto 2.jpg|thumb|Crowds of tourists at [[Bamboo Forest (Kyoto, Japan)|Arayashima bamboo forest]] in Kyoto]]

'''Tourism in Japan''' is a major industry and contributor to the [[Economy of Japan|Japanese economy]]. Foreigners visit [[Japan]] to see natural wonders, cities, historic landmarks, and entertainment venues. Japanese people seek similar attractions, as well as recreation and vacation areas. In 2019, Japan attracted 31.88&nbsp;million international tourists.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/ST.INT.ARVL?end=2022&locations=JP&most_recent_value_desc=true&start= | title=International tourism, number of arrivals - Japan &#124; Data }}</ref><ref>[https://www.unwto.org/tourism-data/global-and-regional-tourism-performance]</ref> Japan welcomed  2.78 million visitor arrivals in February 2024, surpassing 2019 levels.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Loh |first1=Matthew |title=Jimmy Kimmel says his trip to Japan last week made him realize that the US is a 'filthy and disgusting country' |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/jimmy-kimmel-visiting-japan-made-him-realize-us-disgusting-2024-4 |publisher=Business Insider |date=April 3, 2024}}</ref>

Japan has 21 [[World Heritage Site]]s, including [[Himeji Castle]], [[Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)|Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto]] and [[Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara|Nara]]. Popular attractions for foreigners include [[Tourism in Tokyo|Tokyo]] and [[Osaka]], [[Mount Fuji]], [[Kyoto]], [[Hiroshima]], [[Nagasaki]], ski resorts such as [[Niseko]] in [[Hokkaido]], [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]], riding the [[Shinkansen]] and taking advantage of Japan's [[Ryokan (Japanese inn)|hotel]] and [[onsen|hotspring]] network.

The ''2017'' ''[[Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report]]'' ranked Japan 4th out of 141 countries overall, which was the highest in Asia. Japan gained relatively high scores in almost all of the featured aspects, such as health and hygiene, safety and security, cultural resources and business travel.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017 |publisher=World Economic Forum |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_TTCR_2017_web_0401.pdf |date=April 2017}}</ref> In the 2021 edition of the report, now called ''Travel and Tourism Development Index'', Japan reached 1st place.<ref name=TTDI2021>{{cite web |title=Travel & Tourism Development Index 2021 - Rebuilding for a Sustainable and Resilient Future |date=May 2022 |publisher=World Economic Forum |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Travel_Tourism_Development_2021.pdf |accessdate=January 19, 2024}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Throngs of people walking towards Himeji Castle, Himeji, 2016.jpg|thumb|Throngs of tourists on their way to [[Himeji Castle]] in [[Himeji]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]])]]
The origins of early traditions of visits to picturesque sites are unclear, but an early sight-seeing excursion was [[Matsuo Bashō]]'s 1689 trip to the then "far north" of Japan, which occurred not long after [[Hayashi Razan]] categorized the [[Three Views of Japan]] in 1643.  During the [[Edo period|Edo era of Japan]], from around 1600 to the [[Meiji Restoration]] in 1867, travel was regulated within the country through the use of [[shukuba]] or post stations, towns where travelers had to present appropriate documentation. Despite these restrictions, porter stations and horse stables, as well as places for lodging and food were available on well-traveled routes. During this time, Japan was a [[Sakoku|closed country]] to [[Gaijin|foreigners]], so no foreign tourism existed in Japan.

Following the Meiji Restoration and the building of a national railroad network, tourism became more of an affordable prospect for domestic citizens and visitors from foreign countries could enter Japan legally. As early as 1887, government officials recognized the need for an organized system of attracting foreign tourists; the {{nihongo|''Kihinkai''|貴賓会}}, which aimed to coordinate the players in tourism, was established that year with Prime Minister [[Itō Hirobumi]]'s blessing. Its early leaders included [[Shibusawa Eiichi]] and Ekida Takashi. Another major milestone in the development of the tourism industry in Japan was the 1907 passage of the Hotel Development Law, as a result of which the Railways Ministry began to construct publicly owned hotels throughout Japan.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Rules of Play: National Identity and the Shaping of Japanese Leisure|page=[https://archive.org/details/rulesofplaynatio00lehe/page/59 59]|publisher=Cornell University Press|first=David Richard|last=Leheny|year=2003|isbn=0-8014-4091-2|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/rulesofplaynatio00lehe/page/59}}</ref>

For much of post-war period, Japan has been an exceptionally unattractive tourist destination for its population and GDP size. According to the [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]], [[World Trade Organization|WTO]], and [[OECD]], from 1995 to 2014, it was by far the least visited country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/ST.INT.ARVL?end=2014&locations=US-JP-DE-GB-FR-IT-CA&most_recent_value_desc=true&start=1995|title=International tourism, number of arrivals - United States, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada {{!}} Data|website=data.worldbank.org|access-date=2020-03-16}}</ref> As of 2013, Japan was one of the least visited countries in the [[OECD]] on a per capita basis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-countries-where-youre-surrounded-by-tourists/|title=The Countries Where You're Surrounded By Tourists|last=Silver|first=Nate|date=2014-08-18|website=FiveThirtyEight|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-16}}</ref> Within six years however, the number of international visitors has more than tripled, reaching a peak of 31.9 million visitors in 2019.<ref name="Jan2024PR">{{cite web | title=2023 Visitor Arrivals & Japanese Overseas Travelers(Compared to 2019) |website=Japan National Tourism Organization |date=17 January 2024| url=https://www.jnto.go.jp/news/20240117_monthly.pdf | access-date=19 January 2024}}</ref>

== Current status ==
Domestic tourism remains a vital part of [[Economy of Japan|Japanese economy]] and [[culture of Japan|Japanese culture]]. Across the nation, Japanese children in many middle schools see the highlight of their years as a visit to [[Tokyo Tower]], [[Yomiuriland]], [[Tokyo Disneyland]], [[Sensō-ji]], and/or [[Tokyo Skytree]], and many high school students often visit [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]] or [[Hokkaido]]. The extensive rail network together with domestic flights sometimes in planes with modifications to favor the relatively short distances involved in intra-Japan travel allows efficient and speedy transport. [[International tourism]] plays a smaller role in the Japanese economy compared to other developed countries; in 2013, international tourist receipts was 0.3% of Japan's GDP, while the corresponding figure was 1.3% for the United States and 2.3% for France. In 2019, the value was up to 1.0% of GDP, driven by an increase in international tourism, while the country's GDP has remained stable.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/ST.INT.RCPT.CD?end=2019&most_recent_value_desc=true&start=1995|title=International tourism, receipts (current US$) {{!}} Data|website=data.worldbank.org|access-date=January 19, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?end=2019&most_recent_value_desc=true&start=1960|title=GDP (current US$) {{!}} Data|website=data.worldbank.org|access-date=January 19, 2024}}</ref>

Tourists from South Korea have made up the largest number of inbound tourists several times in the past. In 2010, their 2.4&nbsp;million arrivals made up 27% of the tourists visiting Japan.<ref name=Dickie>{{cite news|last=Dickie|first=Mure|title=Tourists flock to Japan despite China spat|url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/6a76579a-2945-11e0-ab2f-00144feab49a.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210221236/https://www.ft.com/content/6a76579a-2945-11e0-ab2f-00144feab49a|archive-date=December 10, 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|access-date=March 16, 2012|newspaper=Financial Times|date=January 26, 2011}}</ref>

Travelers from China have been the highest spenders in Japan by country, spending an estimated 196.4&nbsp;billion yen (US$2.4&nbsp;billion) in 2011, or almost a quarter of total expenditure by foreign visitors, according to data from the Japan Tourism Agency.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tokyu Group in steadfast pursuit of Chinese tourists|url=http://www.ttgmice.com/article/tokyu-group-in-steadfast-pursuit-of-chinese-tourists/|publisher=TTGmice|access-date=April 18, 2013}}</ref>

From 2016 to 2020, Japanese government hoped to receive 40 million foreign tourists every year by 2020.<ref name="10year">{{cite web | url=http://www.ibtimes.sg/japan-offer-10-year-multi-entry-visas-chinese-part-tourism-push-1462 | title=Japan to offer 10-year multi-entry visas for Chinese as part of tourism push | work=[[International Business Times]] | date=May 17, 2016 | access-date=May 17, 2016 | author=Bhattacharjya, Samhati}}</ref> According to the [[Japan National Tourism Organization]] in 2017, 3 out of 4 foreign tourists came from other parts of East Asia, namely South Korea, mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/02/06/national/japan-tourism-agency-aims-draw-western-tourists-amid-boom-asian-visitors/ |title=Japan Tourism Agency aims to draw more Western tourists amid boom in Asian visitors |date=February 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107231243/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/02/06/national/japan-tourism-agency-aims-draw-western-tourists-amid-boom-asian-visitors/ |archive-date=January 7, 2019|publisher=[[Japan National Tourism Organization]]}}</ref>

[[Cinema of Japan|Japanese film]], [[Television in Japan|TV]], [[Video games in Japan|video game]], and [[manga]]/[[anime]] industries play a role in driving tourism to Japan. In surveys held by [[Statista]] between 2019 and 2020, 24.2% of tourists from the [[United States]], said they were motivated to visit Japan because of [[Japanese popular culture]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.statista.com/topics/7495/anime-industry-in-japan/#dossierKeyfigures|title=Anime industry in Japan - statistics and facts|website=Statista|date=26 February 2021}}</ref>

=== Overtourism ===
Following the easing of COVID-19-era travel restrictions, 2024 is on track to be a record-breaking year for the number of overseas tourists.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2024-05-15 |title=Japan visitors exceed 3 million for second straight month, tourism agency says |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/15/japan/foreign-tourists-3-million-second-month/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}</ref> This tourism boom can be attributed in part to the weakening [[Japanese yen]].<ref name=":0" /> The unprecedented number of foreign tourists has led to claims that some parts of Japan are suffering from [[overtourism]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Inoue |first=Yukana |date=2024-06-30 |title=Mount Fuji begins charging entrance fees as overtourism prevention measure |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/06/30/japan/society/mount-fuji-entrance-fee/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}</ref>

In response to this surge, officials in some parts of Japan have introduced measures to counter its negative effects. For example, [[Yamanashi Prefecture]] has set a cap of daily climbers of [[Mount Fuji]] at 4,000 people and began charging an entrance fee of ¥2,000.<ref name=":1" /> Also in Yamanashi Prefecture, a mesh barrier was set up to block a view of Mount Fuji behind a [[Lawson (store)|Lawson]] convenience store in [[Fujikawaguchiko]] due to tourist-caused disturbances in the area.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gardin |first=Caroline |date=2024-05-21 |title=Weary of overtourism, Japan town blocks one popular view of Mount Fuji |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/21/japan/society/mount-fuji-overtourism/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}</ref>

As of 2024, some Japanese officials have considered instituting a two-tiered pricing system which would have foreign tourists pay more than residents at certain tourist attractions in order to counter the effects of overtourism.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-06-19 |title=Japan’s Flood of Tourists Prompts Call to Charge Foreigners More |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-06-19/japan-s-flood-of-tourists-prompts-call-to-charge-foreigners-more |access-date=2024-07-11 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=In Japan, higher prices for foreign visitors come with caveats |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Comment/In-Japan-higher-prices-for-foreign-visitors-come-with-caveats |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Nikkei Asia |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Contribution to the national crises ==
Following the [[Fukushima nuclear disaster|triple meltdown of Fukushima nuclear reactors]] in [[Fukushima Prefecture]] caused by the [[2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami|earthquake and tsunami]], the number of foreign visitors to Japan declined for the first time since 2009. In September 2011, some 539,000 foreign tourisms visited Japan, 25 percent down compared with the same month in 2010. This decline was largely attributed to the natural disasters including Fukushima nuclear accident; also the stronger yen made a visit to Japan more expensive.
 
In October 2011, the Japan Tourism Agency announced a plan to give 10,000 round-trip air tickets to Japan to encourage visitors to come and to boost tourism. However, on December 26, 2011, the Agency reported on their site that the "Fly to Japan! Project", which would have given out 10,000 round-trip tickets to Japan, had not been approved by the government for fiscal year 2012.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Japan Tourism Agency |url=http://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/en/page08_000020.html |title="Fly to Japan! Project"(10,000 FREE FLIGHTS TO FOREIGNERS) &#124; Japan Tourism Agency |date=December 26, 2011 |access-date=March 16, 2012 |archive-date=September 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930112356/http://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/en/page08_000020.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

By 2012, free tickets would be offered if the winners would write online about their experiences in Japan. They also would need to answer some questions about how they felt while visiting Japan after the triple disaster and how interest in tourism in Japan could be renewed. About US$15&nbsp;million would be spent on this program.<ref>NHK-world (October 21, 2011) [http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/21_37.html Japan to give away air tickets to 10,000 visitors] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023204035/http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/21_37.html |date=October 23, 2011 }}</ref><ref>JAIF (October 22, 2011)[https://web.archive.org/web/20120618084546/http://www.jaif.or.jp/english/news_images/pdf/ENGNEWS01_1319257019P.pdf Earthquake report 242: Japan to give away air tickets to 10,000 visitors]</ref> International tourism inflows in Japan had recovered to pre-2011 levels.<ref>{{Cite web|title=International tourism, number of arrivals - Japan {{!}} Data|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/ST.INT.ARVL?end=2012&locations=JP&most_recent_value_desc=true&start=1995|access-date=2021-01-20|website=data.worldbank.org}}</ref>

In early 2020, Japan received only 4.1 million foreign tourists, as many countries tightened travel restrictions due to the global [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. This was the first time visitor statistics had fallen since the [[Great Recession]] in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|last=NEWS|first=KYODO|title=Foreign visitors to Japan in 2020 plunge 87.1%, biggest since 1964|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/01/9225cb7f9ae2-breaking-news-foreign-visitors-to-japan-in-2020-plunge-871-biggest-since-1964.html|access-date=2021-01-20|website=Kyodo News+}}</ref> In January and September 2021, tourism in Japan had also further dipped to 245,862 foreign visitors, which was a 88% decrease as compared to 2020.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} In October 2021, as the country lifted the fourth state of emergency up and ahead{{clarify|date=January 2024}} of the [[Endemic phase of COVID-19|endemic phase]], the Japanese government announced that many domestic visitors would be only resumed{{clarify|date=January 2024}} and waived from the pandemic, in a move to reopen domestic travel with the introduction of [[Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic|vaccinated travel lanes]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}}

In late November 2021, amid the spread of a highly transmissible [[SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant|COVID-19 Omicron variant]], many countries including Japan tightened travel restrictions, with some governments banning travel completely to curb transmission.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}}

In September 2022, the Japanese government announced that [[Visa policy of Japan|visa requirements]] from some countries would be waived from October 2022, in a move to reopen international travel after the pandemic border restrictions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Japan to waive tourist visa requirements as part of border easing: Report |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/japan-waive-tourist-visa-requirements-border-easing-2932466 |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=CNA |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Japan to waive tourist visa requirements as part of border easing: Report |url=https://sendstory.co/news/japan-to-waive-tourist-visa-16629560419931 |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=Japan to waive tourist visa requirements as part of border easing: Report - 'Channel News Asia' News {{!}} SendStory Singapore |language=en}}</ref> Prior to the pandemic, Japan did not require tourist visas for 68 countries and regions.

== Tourism statistics ==
[[File:Foreign tourist visited Japan.svg|upright=2|thumbnail|Foreign tourists to [[Japan]]]]
These are the top 35 nationalities that visited Japan from 2017 to 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jnto.go.jp/jpn/news/data_info_listing/pdf/160420_monthly.pdf|title=2017年推計値 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508231752/http://www.jnto.go.jp/jpn/news/data_info_listing/pdf/160420_monthly.pdf |archive-date=2016-05-08 |publisher=[[Japan National Tourism Organization]]}}</ref><ref>[https://www.unwto.org/tourism-data/global-and-regional-tourism-performance]</ref>

{| Class= "wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" |Country/Territory
! colspan="8" |Total
|-
!7/2024
!2023
! 2022
!2021
! 2020
! 2019
! 2018
! 2017
|-
| {{flagcountry|South Korea}}
|5,199,790
|6,958,494
|1,012,751
|18,947
|694,476
|5,584,597|| 7,538,952 || 7,140,200 
|-
| {{flagcountry|China}}
|3,849,376
|2,425,157
|189,125
|42,239
|1,069,256
|9,594,394|| 8,380,034 || 7,355,800 
|-
|{{flagcountry|Taiwan}}
|3,550,895
|4,202,434
|331,097
|5,016
|487,939
|4,890,602|| 4,757,258 || 4,564,100 
|-
| {{flagcountry|United States}}
|1,594,153
|2,045,854
|323,513
|20,026
|219,307
|2,187,557|| 1,939,719 || 1,756,732 
|-
| {{flagcountry|Hong Kong}}
|1,555,176
|2,114,402
|269,285
|1,252
|346,020
|2,290,792|| 2,207,804 || 2,231,500 
|-
| {{flagcountry|Thailand}}
|671,804
|995,558
|198,037
|2,758
|219,830
|1,318,977|| 1,132,160 || 987,100 
|-
| {{flagcountry|Australia}}
|510,607
|613,062
|88,648
|3,265
|143,508
|621,771|| 552,440 || 496,100 
|-
| {{flagcountry|Philippines}}
|457,233
|622,293
|126,842
|5,625
|109,110
|613,114|| 503,976 || 424,200 
|-
| {{flagcountry|Vietnam}}
|381,631
|573,916
|284,113
|26,586
|152,559
|495,051|| 389,004 || 308,900 
|-
| {{flagcountry|Singapore}}
|328,142
|591,267
|131,969
|857
|55,273
|492,252|| 437,280 || 404,100 
|-
|{{Flagcountry|Canada}}
|320,422
|425,874
|55,877
|3,536
|53,365
|375,262
|330,600
|305,591
|-
| {{flagcountry|Indonesia}}
|293,393
|429,382
|119,723
|5,209
|77,724
|412,779|| 396,852 || 352,200 
|-
| {{flagcountry|Malaysia}}
|261,057
|415,712
|74,095
|1,831
|76,573
|501,592|| 468,360 || 439,500 
|-
|{{Flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
|251,401
|321,482
|57,496
|7,294
|51,024
|424,279
|333,979
|310,499
|-
|{{Flagcountry|France}}
|221,678
|277,436
|52,782
|7,024
|43,102
|336,333
|304,896
|268,605
|-
|{{Flagcountry|Germany}}
|180,330
|233,410
|45,748
|5,197
|29,785
|236,544
|215,336
|195,606
|-
|{{Flagcountry|India}}
|136,834
|166,394
|54,314
|8,831
|26,931
|175,896
|154,029
|134,371
|-
|{{Flagcountry|Italy}}
|114,486
|152,305
|23,683
|3,527
|13,691
|162,769
|150,060
|125,864
|-
|{{Flagcountry|Spain}}
|84,622
|115,873
|15,926
|3,053
|11,741
|130,243
|118,901
|99,814
|-
|{{Flag|Mexico}}
|80,029
|94,684
|9,152
|1,124
|9,528
|71,745
|68,448
|63,440
|-
|{{Flag|Nepal}}
|65,375
|83,302
|75,200
|11,648
|17,191
|51,577
|44,297
|39,950
|-
|{{Flag|Macau}}
|63,233
|74,252
|1,359
|54
|12,234
|121,197
|108,694
|115,304
|-
|{{Flag|New Zealand}}
|61,593
|78,978
|12,107
|1,404
|16,070
|94,115
|73,208
|64,873
|-
|{{Flag|Netherlands}}
|58,581
|74,486
|12,064
|1,860
|8,481
|79,479
|72,069
|63,041
|-
|{{Flag|Brazil}}
|46,854
|50,570
|9,436
|2,731
|6,888
|47,575
|44,201
|42,207
|-
|{{Flag|Russia}}
|46,771
|41,965
|10,324
|3,723
|22,260
|120,043
|94,810
|77,251
|-
|{{Flag|Switzerland}}
|42,482
|53,395
|8,917
|1,387
|6,036
|53,908
|52,099
|47,154
|-
|{{Flag|Myanmar}}
|41,048
|45,815
|22,763
|1,531
|10,884
|30,977
|24,418
|22,915
|-
|{{Flag|Poland}}
|34,815
|40,634
|5,745
|1,350
|3,996
|38,534
|34,706
|28,727
|-
|{{Flag|Turkey}}
|34,232
|31,198
|7,129
|1,161
|2,886
|22,724
|19,762
|19,123
|-
|{{Flag|Sweden}}
|30,114
|39,245
|7,900
|1,112
|7,622
|53,836
|53,822
|50,805
|-
|{{Flag|Mongolia}}
|29,205
|39,916
|19,267
|1,685
|7,118
|31,513
|27,647
|23,365
|-
|{{Flag|Israel}}
|28,674
|45,143
|7,673
|619
|2,315
|44,214
|39,193
|32,758
|-
|{{Flag|Sri Lanka}}
|27,540
|36,742
|21,536
|3,127
|8,918
|28,380
|27,789
|27,904
|-
|{{Flag|Belgium}}
|25,897
|34,352
|6,611
|1,122
|4,074
|39,245
|34,387
|32,054
|-
|{{Flag|Denmark}}
|24,013
|30,780
|5,403
|794
|4,780
|32,893
|29,163
|25,235
|-
|{{Flag|Portugal}}
|21,987
|27,812
|3,176
|728
|3,179
|32,349
|26,506
|23,442
|-
|{{Flag|Austria}}
|20,717
|26,360
|5,025
|888
|3,605
|27,530
|24,187
|21,035
|-
|{{Flag|Ireland}}
|19,057
|22,985
|4,458
|820
|3,270
|39,387
|20,319
|18,591
|-
|{{Flag|Norway}}
|19,036
|21,541
|3,736
|557
|3,620
|24,838
|22,569
|20,786
|-
|{{Flag|Cambodia}}
|16,491
|27,067
|13,618
|784
|7,420
|28,492
|21,696
|17,857
|-
|{{Flag|Finland}}
|16,378
|21,404
|4,608
|736
|4,859
|29,437
|27,116
|25,310
|-
|{{Flag|Bangladesh}}
|14,143
|19,559
|11,981
|1,789
|4,444
|15,174
|13,971
|12,878
|-
|{{Flag|Pakistan}}
|13,869
|21,132
|11,423
|4,284
|6,145
|17,208
|15,802
|13,729
|-
|{{Flag|Romania}}
|13,371
|15,316
|2,376
|552
|1,409
|14,837
|12,250
|10,390
|-
|{{Flag|Argentina}}
|11,224
|13,177
|2,198
|798
|4,220
|23,805
|23,692
|18,610
|-
|{{Flag|Chile}}
|10,937
|13,808
|1,902
|276
|3,381
|13,370
|14,089
|11,027
|-
|{{Flag|Czech Republic}}
|10,808
|13,958
|2,487
|753
|1,679
|14,356
|12,255
|11,114
|-
|{{Flag|Saudi Arabia}}
|10,167
|12,380
|2,403
|1,039
|11,152
|7,403
|7,554
|7,587
|-
|{{Flag|Hungary}}
|8,636
|11,316
|2,511
|1,034
|1,302
|12,696
|10,440
|9,148
|-
|{{Flag|Colombia}}
|8,318
|9,598
|1,495
|476
|1,098
|11,745
|9,966
|8,795
|-
|{{Flag|Greece}}
|8,074
|9,969
|1,869
|744
|1,091
|9,494
|7,968
|6,703
|-
|{{Flag|United Arab Emirates}}
|7,728
|10,270
|2,705
|203
|770
|8,891
|7,782
|7,106
|-
|{{Flag|South Africa}}
|6,560
|9,357
|2,561
|838
|1,623
|19,543
|9,793
|9,057
|-
|{{Flag|Kazakhstan}}
|6,136
|8,571
|1,511
|601
|890
|5,431
|4,391
|4,125
|-
|{{Flag|Iran}}
|5,633
|7,145
|2,152
|746
|720
|5,252
|5,161
|6,457
|-
|{{Flag|Bulgaria}}
|5,475
|6,360
|1,024
|338
|627
|6,324
|5,106
|4,529
|-
|{{Flag|Ukraine}}
|4,981
|6,749
|3,795
|1,070
|1,466
|10,176
|8,458
|7,094
|-
|{{Flag|Uzbekistan}}
|4,853
|8,075
|5157
|1,567
|1,290
|5,243
|5,530
|4,380
|-
|{{Flag|Lithuania}}
|4,851
|6,226
|1,286
|272
|672
|5,260
|4,498
|4,177
|-
|{{Flag|Laos}}
|4,356
|6,359
|1,804
|150
|1,169
|6,154
|5,987
|5,398
|-
|{{Flag|Egypt}}
|3,604
|4,816
|2,223
|1,187
|1,294
|6,345
|4,942
|4,283
|-
|{{Flag|Brunei}}
|3,579
|6,292
|1,159
|23
|742
|4,866
|3,626
|3,699
|-
|{{Flag|Peru}}
|3,536
|5,195
|1,196
|254
|1,191
|6,022
|5,048
|4,549
|-
|{{Flag|Croatia}}
|3,390
|4,067
|634
|414
|470
|4,099
|3,407
|3,084
|-
|{{Flag|Slovenia}}
|3,347
|3,779
|676
|308
|493
|3,347
|3,187
|3,027
|-
!Total (all countries)
!21,075,024
!25,066,350
!3,832,110
!245,862
!4,115,828
!31,882,049|| 31,191,856 || 28,690,900 
|}

== Major tourist destinations ==
{{Expand Japanese|日本の観光地|date=October 2013}}
[[File:140829 Ichiko of Shiretoko Goko Lakes Hokkaido Japan01s5.jpg|thumb|Goko Five Lakes in [[Shiretoko Peninsula|Shiretoko]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]])]]
[[File:Sirakami santi.JPG|thumb|[[Shirakami-Sanchi]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]])]]
[[File:Skyscrapers of Shinjuku 2009 January.jpg|thumb|[[Shinjuku]] in Tokyo, and [[Mount Fuji]]]]
[[File:Ogi Shirakawa-gō, Gifu, Japan.jpg|thumb|[[Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama|Shirakawa-gō]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]])]]
[[File:Dakesawa.jpg|thumb|[[Japanese Alps]] from [[Kamikōchi]]]]
[[File:Daibutsu of Todaiji 2.jpg|thumb|[[Tōdai-ji]] Daibutsu in [[Nara, Nara|Nara]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]])]]
[[File:180504 Shimizudani Refinery Ruins of Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine Oda Shimane pref Japan03s.jpg|thumb|[[Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]])]]
[[File:Zentsu-ji in Zentsu-ji City Kagawa pref16s5s4020.jpg|thumb|[[Shikoku Pilgrimage]] ([[Zentsū-ji]])]]
[[File:Small tenshu & Uto turret & Large tenshu in Kumamoto-Csl.jpg|thumb|[[Kumamoto Castle]], [[Kumamoto Prefecture|Kumamoto]]]]
[[File:Kabira Bay Ishigaki Island41s3s4500.jpg|thumb|[[Ishigaki Island]], [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]]]]

=== Hokkaido ===
* [[Niseko, Hokkaido|Niseko Ski Resort]]
* [[Shiretoko Peninsula]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]])
* [[Teshikaga, Hokkaidō|Teshikaga]] – [[Lake Mashū]], [[Lake Kussharo]]
* [[Lake Tōya|Tōya Caldera]] and [[Mount Usu]] Geopark
* [[Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group]]
* [[Hakodate, Hokkaido|Hakodate]]
* [[Otaru, Hokkaido|Otaru]]

=== Tōhoku region ===
* [[Shirakami-Sanchi]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]])
* [[Mount Osore]]
* [[Lake Towada]]
* [[Hirosaki, Aomori|Hirosaki]] – [[Hirosaki Castle]], Nakacho Samurai District
* [[Hiraizumi, Iwate|Hiraizumi]] – [[Chūson-ji]], [[Mōtsū-ji]], [[Kanjizaiō-in]], Takkoku-no-Iwaya
* [[Semboku, Akita|Semboku]] – Kakunodate Samurai District, [[Lake Tazawa]], [[Nyūtō Onsen]]
* [[Yamagata, Yamagata|Yamagata]] – [[Yama-dera]] Temple, [[Zaō Onsen]]
* [[Matsushima, Miyagi|Matsushima]]

=== Kantō region ===
* [[Nikkō, Tochigi|Nikkō]] – [[Shrines and Temples of Nikkō]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]]), [[Kegon Falls]], [[Lake Chūzenji]], [[Cedar Avenue of Nikko]]
* [[Tomioka Silk Mill]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]])
* [[Kinugawa Onsen]] – [[Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura]], [[Tobu World Square]]
* [[Utsunomiya]] – [[Oya stone]] museum, [[Utsunomiya Futarayama Shrine]]
* [[Ashikaga, Tochigi]] – [[Ashikaga Gakkō]], {{ill|Ashikaga Flower Park|ja|あしかがフラワーパーク}}
* Tokyo – [[Tokyo Imperial Palace|Imperial Palace]], [[Asakusa]], [[Akihabara]], [[Ginza]], [[Harajuku]]/[[Omotesandō]], [[Nakano Broadway]], [[Shibuya, Tokyo|Shibuya]], [[Shinjuku, Tokyo|Shinjuku]], [[Tsukiji Fish Market]], [[Ueno Park]], [[Fujiko F. Fujio Museum]], [[Studio Ghibli Museum]]
* [[Tokyo Disney Resort]]
* [[Kamakura, Kanagawa|Kamakura]] – [[Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū]], [[Kōtoku-in]], [[Kenchō-ji]], [[Engaku-ji]], [[Meigetsu-in]], [[Hase-dera (Kamakura)|Hase-dera]]
* [[Kusatsu, Gunma|Kusatsu Onsen]]
* [[Hakone]] Onsen

=== Chūbu region ===
* [[Mount Fuji]]
* [[Japanese Alps]] – [[Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route]]([[Mount Tate]]), [[Hida Mountains]], [[Kiso Mountains]], [[Akaishi Mountains]]
* [[Kurobe Gorge Railway]]
* [[Shiga Kōgen]]
* [[Matsumoto, Nagano|Matsumoto]] – [[Matsumoto Castle]], [[Mount Hotaka (Nagano, Gifu)|Mount Hotaka]], [[Kamikōchi]]
* [[Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama|Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]])
* [[Takayama, Gifu|Takayama]] – Sanmachi Traditional Street, Ōshinmachi Traditional Street, Higashiyama Temple Area
* [[Kanazawa, Ishikawa|Kanazawa]] – [[Kenroku-en]] Garden, [[Kanazawa Castle]], Higashi Geisha District, Nagamachi Samurai District
* [[Sakai, Fukui|Sakai]] – [[Tōjinbō]], [[Maruoka Castle]]
* [[Nagoya]] – [[Nagoya Castle]], [[Atsuta Shrine]], [[Sakae, Nagoya|Sakae]], [[Nagoya Station]] (Meieki), [[Ōsu Kannon]] temple

=== Kansai region ===
* [[Kyoto]] – [[Kinkaku-ji]], [[Ginkaku-ji]], [[Kiyomizu-dera]], [[Ryōan-ji]], [[Sanjūsangen-dō]], etc., they are parts of [[Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)|Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]])
* [[Uji, Kyoto|Uji]] – [[Byōdō-in]] and [[Ujigami Shrine]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]]), Relation of ''[[The Tale of Genji]]''
* [[Ōtsu, Shiga|Ōtsu]] – [[Lake Biwa]], [[Hiyoshi Taisha]], Sakamoto Temple District, [[Mount Hiei]], [[Enryaku-ji]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]])
* [[Ōmihachiman, Shiga|Ōmihachiman]] – Traditional Riverside District
* [[Nara, Nara|Nara]] – [[Tōdai-ji]], [[Tōshōdai-ji]], [[Kōfuku-ji]], [[Yakushi-ji]], [[Heijō Palace]], [[Kasuga-taisha]] and [[Nara Park]], etc. They are parts of the [[Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]]).
* [[Ikaruga, Nara|Ikaruga]] – [[Hōryū-ji]] and [[Hōki-ji]] are [[Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]]).
* [[Yoshino District, Nara|Yoshino]] ([[Mount Yoshino]]) – [[Kimpusen-ji]], [[Yoshimizu Shrine]], [[Yoshino Mikumari Shrine]], etc. They are parts of the [[Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]]).
* [[Shingū, Wakayama|Shingū]] – [[Kumano Hayatama Taisha]] and Kumano River ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]])
* [[Nachikatsuura]] – [[Nachi Falls]], [[Kumano Kodō]], etc., they are parts of [[Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]])
* [[Mount Kōya]] – [[Kongōbu-ji]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]])
* [[Osaka]] – [[Osaka Castle]], [[Umeda]], [[Namba]], [[Dōtonbori]], [[Shinsaibashi]], [[Shinsekai]], [[Shitennō-ji]], [[Sumiyoshi-taisha]], [[Universal Studios Japan]], [[Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan|Kaiyukan]], [[Rinku Town]], [[Nipponbashi|Den-Den Town]], [[Expo Commemoration Park]], [[Kamagasaki]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Overseas-tourists-are-changing-the-face-of-Japan|title=Overseas tourists are changing the face of Japan|website=Nikkei Asian Review}}</ref>
* [[Himeji]] – [[Engyō-ji]], [[Koko-en Garden]], and [[Himeji Castle]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]])
* [[Kobe]] – [[Port of Kobe]], [[Rokkō Mountains]], [[Kitano-chō]], [[Arima Onsen]], [[Kobe Luminarie]]
* [[San'in Kaigan Geopark]] – [[Toyooka]], [[Izushi, Hyōgo|Izushi]], [[Kinosaki, Hyōgo|Kinosaki Onsen]], [[Yumura Onsen (Hyogo)|Yumura Onsen]]

=== Chūgoku region ===
* [[Hiroshima Prefecture]] – [[Itsukushima Shrine]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]]), [[Onomichi, Hiroshima|Onomichi]], [[Tomonoura]]
* [[Okayama Prefecture]] – [[Kurashiki, Okayama|Kurashiki]], [[Kōraku-en|Kōrakuen Garden]], [[Okayama Castle]]
* [[Tottori Prefecture]] – [[Tottori Sand Dunes]], [[Daisen (mountain)|Mount Daisen]], [[Mount Hyōno]], [[San'in Kaigan Geopark]]
* [[Shimane Prefecture]] – [[Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]]), [[Izumo-taisha]], [[Matsue Castle]], [[Oki Islands]], [[Tsuwano, Shimane|Tsuwano]]
* [[Yamaguchi Prefecture]] – [[Hagi, Yamaguchi|Hagi]]

=== Shikoku ===
* [[Shikoku Pilgrimage]] ([[Zentsū-ji]], [[Motoyama-ji]], etc.)
* [[Ehime Prefecture]] – [[Dōgo Onsen]], [[Matsuyama Castle (Iyo)|Matsuyama Castle]]
* [[Kagawa Prefecture]] – [[Kotohira-gū]] Shrine, [[Ritsurin Garden]], [[Shōdo Island]], [[Naoshima, Kagawa|Naoshima Island]]
* [[Tokushima Prefecture]] – [[Naruto whirlpools]], [[Awa Dance Festival]] in [[Tokushima, Tokushima|Tokushima]]
* [[Kōchi Prefecture]] – [[Kōchi Castle]], Cape Muroto (Muroto Geopark), [[Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park|Cape Ashizuri]]

=== Kyushu and Okinawa ===
* [[Fukuoka Prefecture]] – Mojiko Retro Town, [[Kokura Castle]], [[Dazaifu Tenman-gū]], Remains of [[Dazaifu (government)]]
* [[Ōita Prefecture]] – Many types of hot springs in [[Beppu, Ōita]] or [[Yufuin, Ōita]], [[Usa jingū]], stone bridges, small stonehenge on the top of Komekamiyama (mountain), Hello Kitty Harmonyland
* [[Nagasaki Prefecture]] – [[Ōura Church]], Higashi-Yamate, [[Minami-Yamate]] including the [[Glover Garden]], [[Huis Ten Bosch (theme park)]], [[Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region|Hidden Christian Sites]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]])
* [[Kagoshima Prefecture]] – [[Yakushima]] ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]]), [[Sakurajima]], [[Amami Ōshima]]
* [[Miyazaki Prefecture]] – [[Kirishima-Yaku National Park]], [[Takachiho]], Old Exculibur on the top of Takachiho-kyo mountain, [[Nichinan, Miyazaki]],　Chambered barrows of [[Saitobaru kofungun]], [[Heiwadai Park]]
* [[Kumamoto Prefecture]] – [[Kumamoto Castle]],　[[Mount Aso]]
* [[Saga Prefecture]] –  Pre-400 BC Yayoi archaeological site in [[Yoshinogari site]]
* [[Okinawa Prefecture]] – [[Shuri Castle]], [[Nakagusuku Castle]], [[Nakijin Castle]], etc. They are parts of the [[Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu]]. ([[World Heritage Site|WHS]]), [[Ishigaki Island]], [[Miyako Island]], [[Iriomote Island]], Traditional Ryukyuan Houses in [[Taketomi]] Island

== See also ==

*[[Groups of Traditional Buildings]]
*[[Japanese museums]]
*[[List of National Geoparks#Japan|List of National Geoparks in Japan]]
*[[List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites and Special Natural Monuments]]
*[[List of World Heritage Sites in Japan|World Heritage Sites in Japan]]
*[[List of museums in Japan]]
*[[National Treasures of Japan]]
*[[Omiyage]]
*[[Ryokan (Japanese inn)]]
*[[Visa policy of Japan]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}
*Travel with Smile. [https://travelwithsmile.com/best-places-to-travel-in-japan/ Best Places to Travel in Japan]

==Further reading==

* Graburn, Nelson HH. "The past in the present in Japan: nostalgia and neo-traditionalism in contemporary Japanese domestic tourism." in ''Change in tourism: people, places, processes'' (1995): 47–70.
* Henderson, Joan Catherine. "Destination development: Trends in Japan's inbound tourism." ''International Journal of Tourism Research'' 19.1 (2017): 89–98. [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jtr.2088 online]
* Ishimori, Shûzô. "Popularization and commercialization of tourism in early modern Japan." ''Senri Ethnological Studies'' 26 (1989): 179–194. [https://minpaku.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=3204&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1 online]
* Jimura, Takamitsu. ''Cultural heritage and tourism in Japan'' (Routledge, 2021) [https://books.google.com/books?id=xVI1EAAAQBAJ&dq=tourism+japan&pg=PP1 online].
* McOmie, William, ed. ''Foreign Images and Experiences of Japan: 1: First Century AD-1841.'' (Brill, 2021). [https://brill.com/display/title/19346?alreadyAuthRedirecting online]
* March, Roger. "How Japan solicited the West: the first hundred years of modern Japanese tourism." in ''CAUTHE 2007: Tourism-Past Achievements, Future Challenges'' (2007): 843–52. [https://www.academia.edu/download/67299214/western-travel-in-japan-1868-1964.pdf online]
* Robertson, Jennifer. "Hegemonic nostalgia, tourism, and nation-making in Japan." ''Senri ethnological studies'' 38 (1995): 89–103. [https://minpaku.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=3032&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1 online]
* Soshiroda, Akira. "Inbound tourism policies in Japan from 1859 to 2003." ''Annals of Tourism Research'' 32.4 (2005): 1100–1120.
* Takeuchi, Keiichi. "Some remarks on the geography of tourism in Japan." ''GeoJournal'' (1984): 85–90. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/41143328 online]
* Tokuhisa, Tamao. "Tourism within, from and to Japan." ''International Social Science Journal'' 32.1 (1980): 128–150.
* Uzama, Austin. "Yokoso! Japan: Classifying foreign tourists to Japan for market segmentation." ''Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management'' 21.2 (2012): 132–154.
* Yanagi, Miyuki. "Reconsideration of Japan's tourism innovation characteristics." ''Geographical Research Bulletin'' 2 (2023): 29–38. [https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/grb/2/0/2_29/_pdf online]
* Yasuda, Hiroko. "World heritage and cultural tourism in Japan." ''International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research'' 4.4 (2010): 366–375.

== External links ==
{{Wikivoyage|Japan}}
*[http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/ Japan National Tourist Organization]
* [http://www.japantourist.jp/ JapanTourist Travel Articles Database] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507044330/http://japantourist.jp/ |date=May 7, 2013 }}
* [http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/ttp/sta/PDF/E2018.pdf 2018 Foreign Visitors & Japanese Departures]

{{Japan topics}}
{{Tourism in Asia}}

[[Category:Tourism in Japan| ]]