Tourism in Japan

Tourism in Japan is a major industry and contributor to the Japanese economy. In 2024, the total number of domestic tourists in Japan, including day trips, reached 540 million, while the number of international tourists visiting Japan was 36.87 million. Total tourism consumption within Japan amounted to 34.3 trillion yen ($237 billion), accounting for 5.6% of the country’s GDP of 609 trillion yen ($4,208 billion). Of this amount, Japanese tourists spent 26.2 trillion yen ($181 billion) domestically, while foreign tourists contributed 8.1 trillion yen ($56 billion). From a statistical perspective, spending by international tourists in Japan is classified as exports. As a result, the inbound tourism industry ranks as the second-largest export industry after the automobile industry, which recorded 17.7 trillion yen ($122 billion) in export value. In that year, domestic tourism spending by Japanese nationals, the number of international tourists, and the total tourism spending by international visitors all reached record highs.

In 2025, the number of international tourists is expected to exceed 40 million, and their total spending is projected to surpass 10 trillion yen ($69 billion), both representing all-time highs.

Japan has 26 World Heritage Sites, including Himeji Castle and the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto and Nara. Popular attractions for foreign visitors include cities like Tokyo and Osaka, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki; ski resorts such as Niseko in Hokkaido; Okinawa; riding the Shinkansen; and experiencing Japan’s network of traditional inns (ryokan) and hot springs (onsen).

The 2024 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report ranked Japan 3rd out of 141 countries overall, which was the highest in Asia. Japan gained relatively high scores in almost all of the featured aspects, such as health and hygiene, safety and security, cultural resources and business travel.