Japan sees record number of overseas tourists in October

[yuiyoshida]

A total of 1.82 million people arrived in Japan in October, a record high and up 43.8 percent from the same period a year ago, the Japan National Tourism Organization announced Wednesday.

The increase was aided in part by the continued depreciation of the yen and a surge in the number of Chinese visitors.

During the 10-months through the end of October, the number of arrivals reached 16.31 million, also a record high, which means arrivals for 2015 could hit the 20 million mark, the highest annual number ever.

The duty-free system for inbound tourists, an expansion of airline routes, a fall in fuel surcharges and the relaxation of visas are among the reasons contributing to the record arrivals, the JNTO said.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/11/18/national/japan-sees-record-number-overseas-tourists-october/#.Vkx9GF7E_Mp

[Art_from_Ark]

1. The relatively cheap yen is also a factor

as is Japan's reputation for being a safe place to visit.

And foreign tourists can buy a cheap rail pass and travel all over the country on all JR trains, even bullet trains.