Japan’s monthly visitor count reached a new high in June, according to official figures released on Friday. This increase in travel was fueled by the weakening yen, which is turning into a major economic driver.
According to figures from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), there were 3.14 million international visitors for business and pleasure this month, up from 3.04 million in May and surpassing the previous monthly high established in March.
The 17.78 million travelers through June set a record for the first six months of the year and are on track to surpass the previous yearly high of 31.9 million in 2019, which was set before the COVID-19 epidemic closed international borders.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Friday that tourist spending is expected to total 8 trillion yen ($50 billion) this year and that the government must take precautions against “overtourism.” With cars coming in second and electronic components first, the tourism sector is expected to overtake both industries as Japan’s largest export earner.
Due to the yen’s decline to a 38-year low against the dollar, Japan is now an alluring deal for tourists visiting other countries. Eighteen of the 23 markets that the JNTO tracks saw arrivals in June break new records by travelers. Taiwan and US visitors topped all other countries in terms of numbers for any given month.
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“Japan’s allure has definitely increased due to the weakening yen, which has encouraged impulsive travel plans,” said Naomi Mano, head of upscale travel company Luxurique. “We are also witnessing a more diverse mix of countries visiting Japan, a notable shift from 2019 when approximately 30% of travelers were Chinese.”
Although tourism has boosted the economy, the large number of visitors at popular tourist destinations has angered some residents and raised worries among authorities.
This month, authorities in Japan implemented hiker limitations and entry fees for the first time due to congested routes and a rise in pollution on the revered Mount Fuji.
Additionally, the mayor of Himeji, western Japan, proposed last month to charge visitors to the city’s well-known samurai-era castle around six times what locals pay.