More tourists coming by way of the waves

20150512_Yokohama

Yokohama's Osanbashi Pier serves as a gateway to Japan for cruise passengers from China and the West.

RYOSUKE HATTORI and HIROYASU ODA, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- Japan is gaining popularity as a cruise destination.

     A total of 416,000 foreign visitors came to Japanese shores on cruise ships and high-speed ferries last year. The government, apparently recognizing passengers' proclivity for dropping large sums of money at the country's ports of call, aims to raise the figure to 1 million by 2020.

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