The FINANCIAL — The number of foreign tourists visiting Japan was estimated to have risen 24.9% on the year to 710,200 in March, the fifth straight month of expansion, the Japan National Tourism Organization said on April 26.
"The increase followed a plunge last year due to the financial crisis and the yen's appreciation. The recovering economy apparently contributed to the improvement as well," Nikkei.com informs.
By country or region, travelers from South Korea surged 56.3% to 169,400, as the number of individual travelers as well as tourist groups who visited the Tohoku region went up. They were prompted to see the northeastern part of Japan by a popular South Korean TV drama that features the region.
Visitors from Taiwan grew 18.7% to 89,500 due to local advertising campaigns. Some 123,500 people came to Japan from China, where the wealthy are eager to travel, up 22.3%.
