Tourism in Japan attracts millions of people each year, coming mainly from East Asia, North America, .Oceania and Europe to discover Tokyo, Kyoto and their surroundings..

Japan broke its tourist record in 2014 with 13.41 million foreign visitors1, against 10.4 million visitors in 20132. There were 8.35 million foreign tourists in 20123, 4.1 million out of 6, 2 million foreign visitors in 20114, down year due to the 2011 earthquake of the Pacific coast of Tōhoku, 6.4 million out of 8.6 million visitors in 20105, 4.8 million out of 6.8 in 20096 and 6 Million on 8.4 in 2008.7 In the months following the 2011 earthquake, the number of foreign tourists fell by half8.

The main countries of origin of foreign visitors in 2014 (tourists and immigrants) 9:

Flag of South Korea South Korea (2,755,300 visitors)

Flag of the People's Republic of China China (2,409,200 visitors)

Flag of the Republic of China Taiwan (2,829,800 visitors)

Flag of Hong Kong Hong Kong (925,900 visitors)

Flag of the United States United States (891 600 visitors)

Flag of Thailand Thailand (657,600 visitors)

Flag of Australia Australia (302,700 visitors)

Flag of Malaysia Malaysia (249,500 visitors)

Flag of Singapore Singapore (227,900 visitors)

Flag: United Kingdom United Kingdom (220 100 visitors)

In 2015, the number of foreign tourists arriving in Japan reached a record value of 19.73 million10, demonstrating a renewed tourist activity in the country of the rising sun, and that the country recovered from the earthquake of 11 March 2011 and its consequences. Moreover, in view of the summer Olympics of Tokyo in 2020, the country targets the 30 million visitors.

According to the Japanese Tourism Agency, Chinese tourists spend in 2010 each on average more than 115,000 yen while in Japan, compared with 70,000 for Taiwanese and 25,000 for Americans11.

All foreign visitors must be photographed and fingerprinted by landing in Japan since 20 November 200712.

Until July 2010, the granting of individual visas to Chinese tourists was limited to those with an annual income of at least 250,000 yuan (nearly 30,000 euros in 2010), in order to limit illegal immigration13 . These measures were relaxed in July 2010: limited to an annual income of 60,000 yuan (nearly 7,000 euros in 2010) per year, or possession of a gold bank card. For the Chinese who do not have this income, the holidays must be done in groups through travel agencies13.