With private travel resuming and border measures easing, the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan has been rising, registering 1.94 million in April 2023—the highest on record since COVID restrictions were lifted.

Not all foreign visitors are tourists, however, cautions, Research Director Nobuo Iizuka in the July/August issue of Japan Spotlight, who points out that foreign entrants include people on long-term stays, such as exchange students, technical interns, and business visitors.

Nonetheless, the main factor behind the most recent rise in the number of foreign visitors is the rise in foreign entrants on short stays, thought to be mainly driven by tourism demand.

“The Recovery in Numbers of Foreign Visitors to Japan,” Japan Spotlight
https://www.jef.or.jp/journal/pdf/250th_Economic_Indicators.pdf

Profile of Research Director Nobuo Iizuka
https://www.tokyofoundation.org/experts/detail.php?id=381