Japan has set a new record for visitor spending, reaching an astonishing $39.27 billion in the first nine months of the year. This surge is largely attributed to the weak yen, making travel to Japan more affordable for international visitors.
Record-Breaking Visitor Spending
According to preliminary data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), travelers spent 5.86 trillion yen, surpassing last year’s total of 5.3 trillion yen, which had been the highest for any 12-month period. This impressive spending is positioning tourism as Japan’s second-largest export sector, right behind automobiles and ahead of electronic components.
On average, each visitor spent about 223,000 yen during their trip, with Italians leading the pack as the biggest spenders, followed by Spaniards and Russians.
Growing Number of Visitors
Japan welcomed 2.87 million visitors in September, a slight dip from 2.93 million in August. Despite this, the country has been breaking monthly arrival records since February, with July reaching a peak of 3.29 million—an all-time high for any month.
So far this year, 26.88 million tourists have arrived in Japan, already exceeding the total number for all of 2023. This pace suggests that Japan could surpass the record of 31.9 million visitors set in 2019, just before the pandemic restricted global travel.
Conclusion
With ongoing growth in tourism spending and visitor arrivals, Japan is clearly back on the map for international travelers. The combination of a favorable exchange rate and an array of attractions continues to draw tourists eager to explore the Land of the Rising Sun.
