In 2022, the contribution of the tourism industry to the gross domestic product (GDP) in Japan amounted to ************** Japanese yen. Tourism generated contribution to the GDP had increased in the past few years until the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic put an end to the trend.

Tourism Revenues in Japan increased to 27066990 JPY Thousand in March from 13567336 JPY Thousand in February of 2025. This dataset provides - Japan Tourism Revenues- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2023, the number of international tourists visiting Tokyo in Japan amounted to around ***** million. This was a record number, surpassing the hitherto high point from 2019 by several million visitors stays, continuing the upward trend that was observable before the COVID-19 pandemic. Why did foreign visitor numbers in Tokyo increase during the past decade? If we look at pre-COVID-19 times, foreign visitor numbers significantly increased in the whole of Japan during the past decade. One of the reasons for this might be the Japanese government’s endeavors to promote tourism and proliferate Japanese culture, perhaps best embodied by the marketing term “Cool Japan” developed by Japan’s government. Various policies and long-term projects, such as the “Inbound Travel Promotion Project”, or the “Promotion of MICE Hosting and Attraction”, had been devised and enacted to attract international tourists and make Japan a tourism hub. The government started investing substantially in tourism more than a decade ago, as it realized the potential of tourism to invigorate the Japanese economy. The improvement of facilities and infrastructure to meet foreign expectations were accompanied by the relaxation of visa entry requirements, which resulted in heightened inbound travel. How does Tokyo compare to other places in Japan? Tokyo was the most visited prefecture among international tourists , with nearly half of foreign travelers who came to Japan paying a visit to the capital. This situation was also reflected in data regarding airports. Narita International and Tokyo International (Haneda) were among the leading airports in terms of the number of passengers handled on international flights and together accounted for more than half the international entries by airplane to the country. Who is visiting? Most international visitors to Japan come from Asian countries, with China, South Korea, and Taiwan occupying the first three places. Visitor numbers from the U.S. are the only exception to the otherwise predominant Asian traveler base, with figures surpassing the one million mark regularly.

In 2024, the number of inbound visitors traveling to Japan amounted to approximately ***** million, setting a new record. The majority of international visitors arrived from East Asian countries. Travel during COVID-19Japan imposed international travel entry bans when COVID-19 had turned into a pandemic. In 2022, restrictions and stringent requirements that need to be fulfilled for those who wish to visit Japan remained in place. Inbound travel was difficult, resulting in the continuation of the low number of inbound travelers recorded. Travel bans were lifted in 2023 and entry to Japan was possible again with some restrictions still in place. Inbound tourism in JapanWhile domestic tourism comprises the lion's share of Japan's travel and tourism industry, inbound tourism is regarded as a promising source of income with potential for growth. Foreign tourism's contribution to the tourism GDP increased consistently in the years prior to the pandemic, as did the tourism expenditure by international visitors. Motivations to visit JapanThe island nation offers international tourists a range of holiday activities in the bustling metropolises, contrasted by the overabundance of nature-related activities in the suburban areas away from city life. The most common activity that motivated tourists to visit Japan was to try the local cuisine. While well-known Japanese dishes like ramen and sushi ranked high among overseas travelers, the most popular food during their stay in Japan was meat and meat-related dishes.

■Purpose and Overview (Summary):

• The application guidelines and application form have been revised. (Updated on February 19, 2020: Revised support plan by local governments, etc.)

In order to revitalize shopping districts and create attractiveness, the purpose of this project is to develop an attractive environment for commerce and service industries in cooperation with local communities by supporting shopping districts' efforts to effectively capture new demand from outside the region and from outside of daily demand, such as inbound tourism, which has been showing significant growth in recent years, and to stimulate consumption. ■ Purpose and Overview: Shopping districts have a wide variety of stores, making them attractive to consumers. On the other hand, the business environment surrounding shopping districts is becoming increasingly severe as they face structural challenges such as changes in local demand and consumer needs, and the need for measures in cooperation with local communities is increasing.

Under these circumstances, in order to revitalize shopping districts and create attractiveness, this project aims to improve the environment for attractive commerce and service industries in cooperation with local communities by supporting shopping districts' efforts to effectively capture new demand from outside the region and from outside of daily demand, such as inbound tourism, which has shown significant growth in recent years, and thereby stimulate consumption.

The Project consists of the following 2 Projects.

(1) Consumption Generation Business

(2) Professional Staffing Business

• Applicants must apply for both Consumption Generation Business and Professional Staffing Business at the same time. Also, it is not possible to apply for the specialist dispatching business alone.

• Please refer to the Recruitment Guidelines for details.

■ Remarks: * Since this project pertains to budget for grants in FY 2020, the prospective adopter will be decided before the establishment of budget for grants, and the project will be adopted after the establishment of budget for grants, etc.

• Please submit a complete application within the deadline.

• Application documents such as application guidelines, application forms, entry guidelines, Q & A, summary materials, and electronic application manuals can be downloaded from the following URL.

■ Contact: ● Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, Distribution and Service Industry Division, Commerce Promotion Office

Jurisdiction: Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Niigata, Yamanashi, Nagano, Ibaraki

Address: Chiba Building, Shintoshin Gunma - Saitama, Chuo-ku, Saitama-shi, Tochigi 330 -9715

TEL: 048-600-0317

FAX: 048-601-1295

E-mail: kanto-syoutengai@meti.go.jp

○ Business Support Department, Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, Commercial Division

Address: Kasumigaseki Kanagawa - Niigata - Yamanashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100 - 8912

TEL: 03-3501-1929

FAX: 03-3501-7809

E-mail: shotengai-kankoshohi@meti.go.jp

■ Reference URL: https://www.chusho.meti.go.jp/shogyo/shogyo/2020/200131kankou.html ,

■Purpose and Overview (Summary): * This project is an additional offering (15:00:00, November 4, 2020 to 17:00:00, November 24, 2020). (Updated on November 4, 2020)

This is a project to support initiatives that contribute to the expansion of consumption by foreign visitors to Japan in the region by promoting the multilingualization of products and services that meet the needs of foreign tourists and the provision of effective products and services through the sophistication of management using store data analysis, implemented by small and medium retailers and service industry groups in cooperation with private businesses (inbound ventures, etc.). ■ Purpose and Overview: The number of foreign tourists visiting Japan is increasing, exceeding 30 million last year and spending 4.5 trillion JPY. In order to promote Regional Revitalization's transformation, it is necessary to further expand tourism consumption, and to promote the creation of attractive products and services and an environment from the perspective of foreigners.

For this reason, this project will support initiatives such as the development and introduction of new products and services by small and medium retailers and service industry groups in the region in collaboration with various companies (inbound ventures, etc.), thereby leading to an increase in the consumption of foreign visitors to Japan in the region and an improvement in the productivity of small and medium retailers and service industries.

• Please refer to the Recruitment Guidelines for details.

■ Remarks: * Applications cannot be submitted after the deadline. Please submit it before the deadline.

• Application documents such as application guidelines, application forms, entry guidelines, Q & A, summary materials, and electronic application manuals can be downloaded from the following URL.

■ Contact: ● Commercial Promotion Office, Distribution and Service Industry Division, Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry

Jurisdiction: Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Niigata, Yamanashi, Nagano, Ibaraki

Address: Chiba Building, Shintoshin Gunma - Saitama, Chuo-ku, Saitama-shi, Tochigi 330 -9715

TEL: 048-600-0317

FAX: 048-601-1295

E-mail: kanto-syoutengai@meti.go.jp

○ Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, Business Support Department, Commerce Division

Address: Kasumigaseki Kanagawa - Niigata - Yamanashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100‐ 8912

TEL: 03-3501-1929

FAX: 03-3501-7809

E-mail: shotengai-kankoshohi@meti.go.jp

■ Reference URL: SME Agency website

https://www.chusho.meti.go.jp/shogyo/shogyo/2020/200622inbound.html ,