Japan records 3.4 million foreign visitors in July

Visitors walk along Nakamise-dori Street as they visit Sensoji temple in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 9, 2024. Photo by Reuters

Japan, voted as “world’s most favorite destination” last year by readers of Condé Nast Traveler, received 3.4 million foreign visitors last month, up 4.4% year-on-year despite earthquake rumors.

China topped the list with 974,500 visitors, up 25.5% from the previous year, followed by South Korea with 678,600, a 10.4% decline, Japan Today reported, citing the Japan National Tourism Organization.

The organization said 15 markets, including the U.S., France, and Indonesia, set new visitor records for July.

Travel demand from Hong Kong and South Korea was affected by a social media rumor predicting a devastating natural disaster in Japan in July.

Speculation of an earthquake specifically on July 5 spread after a prediction in “The Future I Saw,” a manga by Japanese artist Ryo Tatsuki, even leading to the suspension of some regular flights between Japan and Hong Kong.

Japan welcomed a record 21.5 million tourists in the first half of the year, a 21% year-on-year increase, driven by tourism campaigns, a weak yen, and expanded flight connections.

The country logged more than 36.8 million tourist arrivals last year.