A record number of tourists visited Japan last year, according to the latest data.

Estimates from the Japan National Tourism Organization show that the country recorded more than 36.8 million tourist arrivals in 2024, surpassing the previous record of nearly 32 million set in 2019.

This surge in visits is attributed to the weakening yen, which has put Japan on the list of “must-visit” destinations, despite complaints about overcrowding at popular locations like Kyoto.

This marks a return to the boom that began more than a decade ago, only to be interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the number of tourists increasing more than fourfold compared to 2012.

The government has set an ambitious goal to double the number of tourists to 60 million annually by 2030.