Foreign entries into Japan surge 12-fold in 2022

Meaningless data

Alternatively: "Tourism skyrockets in Japan in 2022!!"

Right, the country went from almost completely closed to more (mostly) open.

Pointless story.

The borders have been closed for 2+ years.

Shouldn't the article mention that?!

From 10 to 120…?.

Get rid of the stupid triple vax and PCR requirements for entry along with the useless masks then Japan may finally start catching up with the rest of the world…!

« Foreign entries into Japan in 2022 still less than 13.5% of 2019 figures »

Fixed it.

Wonderful news! Great to see a free and open Japan. Social media is full of people and promotions desperate to get back to Japan!

Is it possible to be a "short term visitor" without being a tourist?

fwiw, I am actually grateful for the story including "short term visitors" in the middle paragraph. Most stories only talk about foreign entrants like the first paragraph here. This is a meaningless number which also includes foreign residents temporarily leaving the country. I seem to remember Abe having a target of 40 million tourists. 27 million in 2019 (short term visitors) is much further off that than 31 million (the headline but meaningless "all foreigners" number the press usually quotes).

fwiw2, aside from the Mickey Mouse accompanied tours held in autumn, the border only opened around October 15, so the number is for about 1/5 of the year. 2.86 x 5 is about 14.3 million pace, so back up to half, though some of it will be pent up demand from people wishing to meet friends and family in Japan.

It would be the last place on earth where i would want to go on holidays for sure!

Why the obsession of reporting about foreign entries into Japan? As far as I know it doesn't happen in other countries.

Ironic, given the general reluctance of Japan (again compared to any other countries) to embrace foreigners.

There are other visitors other than tourists. Business people. Lectures. Culture, religion, and art studies. Visiting academics.

Today  06:26 pm JST “ Why the obsession of reporting about foreign entries into Japan? As far as I know it doesn't happen in other countries. Ironic, given the general reluctance of Japan (again compared to any other countries) to embrace foreigners. “

Well said; but of course, the way Japan looks at tourists/short term visitors/foreign students is completely different from the way Japan looks at long term foreign residents.

Japan is sooooo sugooooiiiii ne

Why the obsession of reporting about foreign entries into Japan? As far as I know it doesn't happen in other countries.

I've asked many times but never got a proper answer.

I suppose it's the need to feel that they're loved. It's like the numerous TV shows that go wild about foreigners saying something nice about Japan.

Adult baby syndrome

Peace is Precious.

It would be the last place on earth where i would want to go on holidays for sure!

You sound like someone who has never used social media. Or travelled.

Japan is where EVERYONE wants to go. From Kinkkaku-ji, to Fuji San, to Niseko to Kanazawa. The world wants to be in Japan.

Best place on earth. Fact.

rcchToday  08:50 pm JST

but of course, the way Japan looks at tourists/short term visitors/foreign students is completely different from the way Japan looks at long term foreign residents.

Sure, that's why we're all labelled with the adjective 'Foreign'-Japanese or 'Foreign'.

As many have already pointed out, these figures don't differentiate between any people 'Foreign' entering the country, and their reasons to do so, in 2022- disingenuous, to say the least.

Fighto!Today  09:23 pm JST

It would be the last place on earth where i would want to go on holidays for sure!

"You sound like someone who has never used social media. Or travelled.

Japan is where EVERYONE wants to go. From Kinkkaku-ji, to Fuji San, to Niseko to Kanazawa. The world wants to be in Japan.

Best place on earth. Fact."

YOU sound like someone who has never used social media. Or travelled.

I've been to many places I regard as nothing less than equally as good as anything Japan has to offer.

The world wants to be in Japan.

Best place on earth. Fact.

Nope !

That's ridiculous to read that you claim to know what the world wants.

It's impossible to know that ! ..and obviously not true.

Ya think putin wants to visit Japan ?

It's probably more accurate to say Japan wants to be part of the world, than the world wants to be in Japan .

There's never any actual intellectual competence in any of your comments.

Only squabbling and fighting.

Japan is indeed a beautiful and interesting place to visit.

However there's many beautiful and interesting places in the world.

So much negativity on here. People confusing facts with opinions. Most European countries like Italy, Spain, and Greece DO take tourist numbers into consideration in order to ana,yse its impact on the economy. Japan is a beautiful country which I have visited three times. It's a fact!

If you work in the tourism industry, you bet you will be looking at these figures. And guess what, there's a tourism industry is most developed countries. As to relative to predemic numbers, well ya gotta start somewhere.

Good for Japan. This will revitalize the economy that the stupid lockdowns have caused.

@Awa no Gaijin Wow I can believe you are waking up. I can honestly say twice now I can totally understand and agree with your logic!! What I did not agree with I deleted!

The world wants to be in Japan.

Best place on earth. Fact.

That's ridiculous to read that you claim to know what the world wants.

It's impossible to know that ! ..and obviously not true.

Ya think putin wants to visit Japan ?

It's probably more accurate to say Japan wants to be part of the world, than the world wants to be in Japan .

Japan is indeed a beautiful and interesting place to visit.

However there's many beautiful and interesting places in the world.

@Tobia, so your opinion stating “Japan is a beautiful country” is a fact!! I totally disagree I can argue that it’s solely your opinion!! If that’s the case they say “beauty is only in the eyes of the beholder” and being ugly is a sin!! Is that a fact or an opinion? I would argue an opinion!

"Can tell the Japan haters don't like news like this". Agreed! So much negativity on here. People confusing facts with opinions. Most European countries like Italy, Spain, and Greece DO take tourist numbers into consideration in order to ana,yse its impact on the economy. Japan is a beautiful country which I have visited three times. It's a fact!

Excellent news, and this is the begginning, the numbers will rise thin 2023!!!!..

GO JAPAN!!!!...

Look at all those downvotes to my previous comment for just stating a fact; lmao(!)

mammamia

It would be the last place on earth where i would want to go on holidays for sure!

Do you take them domestically or do you return to Italy?

@kaimycahl

Japan is a beautiful country - my opinion. I have been there 3 times - a fact! I hope this will make you feel less anxious and more positive.

Last week just returned in the evening from overseas and found customs empty and walked right through, and so I question these numbers that are reported here in this story.