Record 36.8 million tourists visited Japan in 2024

Published

11 months ago

January 15, 2025

Japan aims to attract a yearly 60 million tourists by 2030. Photo: Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP Source: AFP

Record numbers of tourists flocked to Japan last year, figures showed Wednesday, as the weak yen bolstered the appeal of the “bucket list” destination despite overcrowding complaints in hotspots like Kyoto.

The country logged more than 36.8 million tourist arrivals in 2024, topping 2019’s record of nearly 32 million, according to estimates from the Japan National Tourism Organization.

It marks a return to a boom that began over a decade ago before being interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, with numbers up more than four-fold from 2012.

That is partly thanks to government policies to promote attractions from Mount Fuji’s majestic slopes to shrines and sushi bars in more far-flung parts of the archipelago.

Authorities say they want to spread sightseers more evenly around the country. Photo: Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP Source: AFP

Another factor is the cheap yen, which has plunged against other currencies over the past three years, making everything from a bowl of ramen to a handmade Japanese kitchen knife more affordable.

Japan has long been a “bucket list” destination for many people, said Naomi Mano, president of hospitality and events company Luxurique.

But it’s “prime time because at the moment it’s like Japan is on a 30 percent off sale”, Mano told AFP.

Double trouble?

The government has set an ambitious target of almost doubling tourist numbers to 60 million annually by 2030.

Authorities say they want to spread sightseers more evenly around the country, and to avoid a bottleneck of visitors eager to snap spring cherry blossoms or vivid autumn colours.

Japan has long been a ‘bucket list’ destination for many people. Photo: Nicholas SHEARMAN / AFP Source: AFP

But as in other global tourist magnets like Venice in Italy, there has been growing pushback from residents in destinations such as the ancient capital of Kyoto.

The tradition-steeped city, just a couple of hours from Tokyo on the bullet train, is famed for its kimono-clad geisha performers and increasingly crowded Buddhist temples.

Locals have complained of disrespectful tourists harassing the geisha in a frenzy for photos, as well as causing traffic congestion and littering.

In a bid to improve the situation — and cash in — Kyoto on Tuesday announced plans to hike lodging taxes “to realise ‘sustainable tourism’ with a high level of satisfaction for citizens, tourists and businesses”.

“If there’s a burden on the infrastructure, I do think taxing tourists is a good idea” but Kyoto must find the “right balance”, Australian tourist Larry Cooke, 21, told AFP.

Capsule executives

Exasperated officials have also taken steps elsewhere, including introducing an entry fee and a daily cap on the number of hikers climbing Mount Fuji.

Last year a barrier was briefly erected outside a convenience store to stop people standing in the road to photograph a view of the snow-capped volcano that had gone viral.

Authorities have introduced a daily cap on the number of hikers climbing Mount Fuji. Photo: Richard A. Brooks / AFP Source: AFP

Some Japanese companies say they can no longer afford hotels in Tokyo and other major cities, as the high demand from tourists pushes up prices.

Several managers told AFP they are seeking cheaper alternatives, from Airbnb lets to Japan’s famously claustrophobic capsule hotels.

IT company chief Yoshiki Kojima told AFP that he had chosen one with slightly more comfortable bed-sized pods that his employees had liked.

“It’s clean, convenient and has a traditional shared bath house. My employees say it’s fun,” Kojima said.

Economy

The economic benefits are clear, however, with experts noting that tourism is now second only to vehicle exports in terms of earnings.

The economic benefits of tourism are clear. Photo: Philip FONG / AFP Source: AFP

Japan, population 124 million, still receives far fewer tourists than top destination France, which has a population of 68 million and welcomed 100 million visitors in 2023.

So its overtourism woes are mainly because the influx “is centred around specific cities”, Luxurique’s Mano said.

For example, the number of foreign visitors to Tokyo has doubled since 2019, and was up 1.5 times in Osaka.

But Mano thinks the government can take steps to change this by promoting other parts of Japan and “making it easier to access — having more information available, being able to book activities in other rural areas.”

EVENTS

PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES SENATOR IFEANYI ARARUME ON HIS BIRTHDAY

Published

1 hour ago

December 16, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

President Bola Tinubu felicitates Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Ararume, astute politician and accomplished businessman, on his birthday, December 16.

Senator Ararume’s odyssey in politics began in the late 1980s, when he served as the State Treasurer of the Liberal Convention in old Imo State. He later joined the National Finance Committee of the defunct National Republican Convention.

He represented Imo North in the 9th National Assembly. He was first elected in May 1999 and re-elected in April 2003. He also served on several committees and held other official roles.

President Tinubu commends the former senator for his years of service to the nation and contributions to its peace, unity, and progress.

The President describes Senator Ararume as a resolute and shrewd politician, highlighting his courageous and remarkable political journey through the years.

President Tinubu wishes Senator Ararume a happy 67th birthday and prays that God Almighty will grant him more years of good health and strength.

Entertainment

Daddy Freeze hosts actress Doris Ogala as she opens up on alleged relationship with Pastor Chris Okafor

Published

1 hour ago

December 16, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Daddy Freeze went live with Nollywood actress Doris Ogala as she shared her side of the ongoing controversy involving Pastor Chris Okafor, whom she claims she dated for years before things fell apart.

According to Doris, her relationship with Pastor Chris began in 2017, long before the public drama. She said they met by chance in Abuja and that he told her he was divorced at the time. She also claimed she didn’t even know he was a pastor when they first connected.

Doris said their relationship quickly became serious. She alleged that Pastor Chris introduced her to his parents, invited her to his village in Anambra State, and treated the relationship like a real commitment. She described their bond as emotional, physical, and deeply personal, insisting it was genuine love, not a casual affair.

She further claimed that while Pastor Chris preached publicly, he was privately very dependent on her, calling her often, sharing personal struggles, and even relying on her for medical prescriptions through her doctor.

Addressing why she later married another man, Doris said family pressure played a major role. She explained that her eventual husband was someone from her past who resurfaced during a vulnerable period after her father’s death. Despite not being in love, she said her family pushed her into the marriage.

Doris admitted that while her marriage was ongoing, she remained emotionally connected to Pastor Chris. She openly acknowledged engaging in phone intimacy with him during that period but maintained that there was no physical sexual relationship between them while she was married.

She described her marriage as abusive and toxic, alleging repeated physical violence and emotional distress. According to her, Pastor Chris remained her emotional support during that time, which is why communication between them never completely stopped.

Doris also claimed she has evidence to back up her story, including chats and videos, which she says Pastor Chris later shared with his lawyers.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSUdp3OjZll/?igsh=OTR2MjZlOG1rbWQy

News

Alleged N2.2bn fraud: Ngige to remain in Kuje Prison till December 18

Published

18 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Gwarimpa in Abuja has ordered that former Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, be kept at Kuje prison till December 18.

Ngige will be on remand till the date when his bail application would be decided by the court.

Justice Hassan issued the order on Monday shortly after taking arguments for and against the bail request of the former governor of Anambra State.

Ngige’s lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, pleaded with the judge to admit the former minister to bail, mainly on health ground.

He submitted that the former minister would not jump bail or interfere with witnesses if admitted to bail.

However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, represented by Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, vehemently opposed the bail request, insisting that Ngige was a flight risk.

Tahir told the judge that Ngige was granted administrative bail by the EFCC and allowed to travel abroad for medical care but never reported back to the Commission.

Besides, he said that the international passport released to Ngige; to facilitate the abroad trip was never returned till today.

The senior lawyer argued that it was when Ngige was re-arrested that he came up with a purported claim that he lost his passport.

He insisted that the claim of passport loss was an afterthought and should not be believed by the court.

After the submissions, Justice Hassan fixed December 18 to deliver ruling in the bail request.

Ngige was last Friday slammed with an eight-count charge bordering on corrupt practices.