Japan received 25m tourists in 2023, reaching 79% of pre-COVID level

Visitors' spending hits record high, helped by weak yen

20240117 Tourists arrive in Kansai Airport

Tourists arrive at Kansai International Airport in Osaka. (Photo by Arisa Moriyama)

AKIRA KITADO, Nikkei staff writer

January 17, 2024 16:20 JST

Updated on January 17, 2024 18:10 JST

TOKYO -- Japan welcomed 25.06 million visitors last year, reaching 79% of the pre-pandemic level in 2019 due to the easing of border restrictions and the weak yen, according to official estimates released Wednesday by the Japan National Tourism Organization.