Popular travel destination disrupts the annual tourism record, sets the new goal of visitors 60 million

Visitors from afar have traveled to Japan, with the place that broke a tourism record in 2024.

Between January. 1 and November. 30, forecasts showed that nearly 33.4 million passengers visited Japan, according to the country’s government site.

Nearly three million Americans visited the country in 2024.

Hokuto Asano, the first secretary at the Japan Embassy, ​​told Fox News Digital that the number of visitors last year ended at 36 million.

Yukiyoshi Noguchi, who is the embassy adviser, said 2024 was announced the “year of American-Japanese tourism” by both government.

“So last year, in 2024, we got nearly 3 million Americans in Japan, which was a high record,” Noguchi said.

Asano said Japan has a plan for nearly double visitors in the next five years.

“In 2030, we want the goal [reach] 60 million people. … We will make an attempt to adult [and] Welcome more tourists from international countries. That is why we decided to invest in the local area. In addition to kyotos, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Osaka, we hope to encourage tourist[s] To visit these destinations, ”Asano said.

Thirty percent of visitors said they experienced overcrowding at well -known points, according to a Tourism Board Foundation in Japan and the Japan Development Bank report.

Japan is known for its hot springs and baths surrounded by inns, attracting tourists from all over the world.

Many of Japan’s Onessen cities have imposed so -called bath taxes, reported the Fox News Digital.

“Many local governments in Japan [are] Thinking about presenting a tourism tax. That’s because many tourists visit there, but they don’t … a public toilet for tourists or some did not have enough infrastructure for tourists, “Asano said.

“So they should invest in infrastructure. That’s why they [are] Thinking to raise these taxes, that taxi revenues make them more comfortable or suitable for tourists. I think this trend will continue, ”Asano added.

“In Japan or especially in Kyoto, there is a big debate about overurism. So to make a solution for the overflow, maybe taxation may be [the] Option, ”Noguchi said.

Noguchi said Americans would enjoy Japan’s visit during the spring.

“I recommend visiting Japan in the spring because there [are] The very beautiful cherry flowers growing in Japan… there [were] Cherry flowers donated by Tokyo in Washington, DC, in 1912. So American people will enjoy the knee flowers in Japan, “Noguchi said.

Asano said traditional culture that includes Buddhist religions and Shinto is attracting many tourists.

Characters like Hello Kitty, which is known in modern Japanese culture, is also attracting passengers in the country, Asano added.