Foreign visitors to Japan in 2021 fell to record low 245,900

Who were these 12,100 “foreigner visitors” in December — when the country was basically closed to foreign visitors? My guess would be temporary stays by foreign crew members of airlines flying internationally, in addition to foreign seafarers taking part in crew changes for oceangoing vessels calling Japanese ports. But the number still seems rather high.

Foreign visitors to Japan in 2021 fell to record low 245,900

In 2019 number of foreign visitor was 31.9 million, in 2021 down to only 245.9 thousands.

https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h00631/new-record-for-international-visitors-to-japan.html

Japan have travel ban, even for people who want to work and study in Japan. Nothing strange about that number that down to 245 thousands.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/01/974eab354bf9-japan-set-to-maintain-entry-ban-at-least-until-end-of-feb.html

The strange thing is that the number is so high.

Many foreigner ski lodge owners continued to come and go in 2021.

I personally know people who got in because they own a share in a restaurant in a ski town.

Considering the borders were closed due to covid it’s a bit of a given.

Foreign visitors to Japan in 2021 fell to record low 245,900

ya don't say!!!

Considering the borders were closed due to covid it’s a bit of a given.

Ne!

Are they counting foreign residents as “foreign visitors”? I can’t imagine the number could be so high otherwise.

"allowing to ask...." - how very Japanese. They couldn't 'ask' outside these times?

Many foreigner ski lodge owners continued to come and go in 2021.

I personally know people who got in because they own a share in a restaurant in a ski town.

If a foreigner owns part of a business in Japan, it means they earn income in Japan, so they would be liable for Japanese taxes, hence why they need to have a business visa to do this (its pretty straight forward to get with a business investment).

This is a resident visa, which would allow them to come and go just like any other established resident of Japan can do during the past year (whether they could bring family is not always certain). It also means they are not considered tourists or "visitors", which is what this article is about.

foreign visitors to Japan in 2021 dropped to 245,900

May be for Olympic? But I am not sure.

Is this a shock to anyone?

Soooooooooo, the boarders WEREN'T closed in 2021?

Well Duh! Since they locked up the borders...

Still seems like a lot though...

The government has maintained its target of attracting 60 million visitors from abroad in 2030. But Koichi Wada, who heads the agency, told a press conference that he could not predict at the moment whether it is an attainable goal.

No chance, Koichi.

For the next several years, people will travel to the usual places they couldn't go during the pandemic. France, Spain, Italy, etc.. This includes people in Japan. Not only for tourist reasons, but to reconnect with family.

So, not only will inbound tourist numbers be low, outbound numbers will be high. More people will leave Japan than come in. Just think about how many people are desperate to get out v. the number of people desperate to get in.

I can also imagine onerous pandemic requirements upon landing in Japan lasting well longer than they need to, which will suppress visits even more.

Japan will miss out on the post pandemic tourism boom. And people leaving here will hit domestic consumption more than now.

Japan faces some grim days post-covid, but it has only itself to blame.

Don't worry, Kishida said he would do better in 2022 and try for zero foreign visitors.

Meanwhile, hard-hit UK is lifting all COVID restrictions beginning next week, while barely-impacted Japan is adding more.

That's good in some ways.

I don't miss the hordes of Chinese tourists.

Shocker

upholding a blanket entry ban on foreign nationals may aggravate xenophobic sentiments

Read the following article please,

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/japan-covid-19-border-closure-pandemic-travel-2439946

Over tourism was wrecking Japan, this is a good thing.

The real news here is that the number of Japanese who traveled abroad, and likely came back, is double that of the foreigners (and interestingly decreased less…).

Hence the possibility that the different variants of the virus got to Japan with Japanese travelers is double that of it coming with foreigners. Oh wait, I almost forgot the special dna and unique manners of Japanese !

Obviously.....

Had to go to Shinagawa the other day to renew my alien registration card.

The last time I did it was seven years ago and those intervening years sure highlighted how much Japan has changed.

Back in 2015 the immigration office was crowded with many nationalities including more than a few English teachers renewing their visas and Filipina hostesses doing the same.

Fast forward to this week and there was hardly a westerner or hostess to be seen.

There seemed to be only Chinese,Vietnamese and other developing countries’ people applying for visas.

What a long way Japan has fallen.

In other words, if you got 1.000 people visiting the country, now you have 8. Hard times, but not as hard as Bali and many other places the entire populace feed their families from every tourist landing on their shores

As stated in other comments these numbers probably include all people who come into Japan.

The JNTO site gives more details of people arriving and from where. Last update is for November and some surprising numbers at the top of the list. Also if you look around the site you can see the number of Japanese travelling overseas each month during 2021, I know I should not be surprised at how many.

https://statistics.jnto.go.jp/en/graph/#graph--latest--figures

Covid gets the last laugh...

As a foreigner living in Japan, am I included in the numbers, I wonder? Because, yeah, the numbers do seem very high.

@Pukey2Today  11:10 am JST

As a foreigner living in Japan, am I included in the numbers, I wonder? Because, yeah, the numbers do seem very high.

This is about Visitors. I think you are working here or study for a long time.

No Chinese tourists in Kyoto and Nara is nice, make the most of it while you can.

As Billy Eilish might say,

Duh!

Here’s the answer to many questions above.

“Visitor arrivals exclude permanent residents having Japan as their primary residence and include travelers entering Japan for the purpose of transit. Foreigners entering or reentering Japan, such as expatriates and their families, and international students are included in Visitor Arrivals to Japan. Crew members are excluded.”

https://statistics.jnto.go.jp/en/graph/#graph--latest--figures

Still too many, the country should be completely sealed off. Only citizens, PR's and their families should be allowed in and out the country.

@El Rata Today  01:16 pm JST

Still too many, the country should be completely sealed off. Only citizens, PR's and their families should be allowed in and out the country.

Do it and see the results in next 10-15 years.

With the issuance of new visas suspended, the labour crunch will only compound. Industries such as engineering, metal work, construction and food manufacturing, which rely heavily on these trainees for labour, have been screaming about the shortage of manpower. And low birth rate.

ego:

No Chinese tourists in Kyoto and Nara is nice, make the most of it while you can.

Might be nice for you, but it's certainly not nice for those who have to make a living from tourists, especially those from abroad.

If they simply can not afford foreigner, why they are giving COE to students and workers.

students and workers are waiting to enter to japan since 2 years and yet to they think about it my request to government if you can not manage to these people why you are giving COE.

Japan is the only country in the world to not to believe in quarantine and PCR testing and banned foreigner to enter to japan

Do it and see the results in next 10-15 years.

I guess you are already resigned to a 15-year long corona circus.

With the issuance of new visas suspended, the labour crunch will only compound. 

I guess greedy corporations will have to start paying living wages to the locals instead of bringing modern day slaves disguised as "trainees"

There seemed to be only Chinese,Vietnamese and other developing countries’ people applying for visas. 

What a long way Japan has fallen.

That's not a nice attitude!

People from poorer countries also contribute to Japan, please don't look down on them!

With the Olympics on, it shouldn't be surprising a certain number of people came.

The Japanese travelling abroad number fell by 10% less that the inbound number, but you can't really say anything without knowing whether these are business or pleasure trips.

@El Rata,

*Still too many, the country should be completely sealed off. Only citizens, PR's and their families should be allowed in and out the country.*

Do you want us to leave from Japan? I mean all foreigners who are living in Japan at the moment should leave?

Do you want us to leave from Japan?

No, why would I want that? I was once a foreigner here too (and most probably I am still one in the eyes of the native Yamato) I'm only referring to new entries with no ties to Japan and non-PR residents who leave the country during these times. I couldn't care less about foreigners currently living here.

@El Rata

I'm only referring to new entries with no ties to Japan and non-PR residents who leave the country during these times. 

What a disgusting attitude. I’ve lived in Japan for over 12 years and speak the language fluently, but due to switching from a work visa to a spouse visa and getting trapped in a secret loophole, I still can’t apply for PR. Should I have been blocked from visiting my dying father last year??? Shame on you for thinking so.

who the hell are these people? Japan had been in total lockdown for tourist till now.