Japan Shatters Visitor Records Amid Weak Yen and Holiday Surge

Japan saw a record number of visitors in July, driven by a weak yen and summer holidays. The Japan National Tourism Organization reported 3.29 million foreign visitors, surpassing June's record. East Asia and Europe significantly contributed to the rise. Japan is on track to surpass 2019's annual visitor record.

Japan set another monthly record for visitors in July, thanks to the weak yen and summer holidays, official data revealed on Friday.

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) announced that 3.29 million foreign visitors came for business and leisure, topping June's previous high of 3.14 million. Notable increases were seen from East Asia and Europe, driven by school holidays in those regions. To date, Japan has welcomed over 21 million visitors in 2021, positioning itself to break the annual record of 31.9 million set in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the yen has strengthened recently, it reached a 38-year low against the dollar last month, making Japan an attractive and affordable destination. Out of 23 markets tracked by the JNTO, 19 regions reported new records for July arrivals.

(With inputs from agencies.)