Japan sees record monthly number of overseas visitors in April
The Japan National Tourism Organization says an estimated 3,908,900 foreign travelers visited Japan last month, up 28.5 percent from the same month last year.
The monthly figure exceeded the previous record of 3.78 million posted in January this year.
The organization attributes the record number partly to the brisk demand for tours to Japan during the cherry blossom season.
China topped the list with 765,100 visitors, up 43.4 percent from the same month a year before and the highest ever for April.
For the first time in three months the figure for China was again the highest by country and region.
Visitors from South Korea rose by 9.1 percent to 721,600, partly due to an increase in the number of flights connecting Japan and South Korea.
Travelers from the Unites States came to 327,500, up 43.1 percent.
Both countries also posted the highest numbers for April.
The agency's commissioner, Haraikawa Naoya, said he intends to maintain the very favorable momentum. He said that if traveler numbers surge, the agency is expected to face problems such as tourists having to wait longer for entry procedures. He said it is important to put in place measures now to respond to such situations.
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