According to JNTO, the number of visitors to Japan in May 2024 reached 3,040,100, a 60.1% increase compared to the same month of the previous year, and a 9.6% increase compared to the same month in 2019. This figure exceeds the 2,773,091 visitors recorded in May 2019 by over 200,000, marking the third consecutive month that the number of visitors to Japan surpassed 3 million.
The number of visitors to Japan in May 2024 significantly increased compared to the same month of the previous year. The number of visitors to Japan in May 2024 increased by 60.1% compared to the 1,899,176 visitors in May 2023. Compared to pre-pandemic May 2019, the number of visitors increased by 9.6% from 2,773,091 to 3,040,100 in May 2024. Additionally, although the number of visitors to Japan in May 2024 decreased by 2,800 compared to April 2024, the growth rate remained almost the same as in April. This suggests that the number of visitors to Japan is relatively stable.
As for the number of Japanese outbound travelers, there were 941,700 travelers in May 2024, a 39.4% increase compared to the 675,603 travelers in May 2023. However, compared to the pre-pandemic May 2019 figure of 1,437,929 travelers, there was a decrease of 34.5%. Furthermore, comparing the number of Japanese outbound travelers in April 2024 to May 2024, the number of travelers in April 2024 was 1,666,546, while in May it was 941,700, an increase of approximately 5.95%. This result suggests that many Japanese plan overseas trips during the Golden Week, contributing to the increase in outbound travelers in May.
Visitors from China showed a particularly notable increase. The number of visitors from China in May 2024 was 545,400, a 305.6% increase compared to 134,510 visitors in May 2023. This increase is likely due to the easing of border restrictions, increased flights including regional routes, and the impact of the Labor Day holiday. However, compared to May 2019, when there were 756,365 visitors, there was a decrease of 27.9%. Additionally, the number of visitors from China in April 2024 was 533,600, an increase of approximately 2.21% compared to May. In China as well, the difference in the growth rate from the previous month is not significant, indicating a stable presence of travelers.
Furthermore, the countries with the highest number of visitors to Japan this month are South Korea, China, Taiwan, the United States, and Hong Kong. Let’s look at these five countries in terms of year-on-year, month-on-month, and 2019 comparisons.
The number of visitors from South Korea reached 738,800 in May 2024, a 43.3% increase compared to the same month of the previous year, and an approximately 11.74% increase compared to April 2024. Additionally, compared to May 2019, there was an increase of 22.4%. This increase is attributed to factors such as increased flights, including charter flights to various regions in Japan, making the number of visitors from South Korea the highest for May on record.
The number of visitors from Taiwan, ranked third, was 466,000 in May 2024, a 53.6% increase compared to the same month of the previous year, and approximately a 1.37% increase from the previous month. Additionally, compared to May 2019, when there were 426,537 visitors, there was an increase of 9.3%. Despite the rising travel costs in Taiwan and the tendency to avoid visiting Japan during the Golden Week period, the increase in flights, including charter flights to various regions in Japan, contributed to the highest number of visitors from Taiwan in May on record.
The number of visitors from the United States, ranked fourth, was 247,000 in May 2024, a 34.7% increase compared to the same month of the previous year, and approximately a 7.91% increase from April. Additionally, compared to May 2019, when there were 156,962 visitors, there was an increase of 57.4%. The number of visitors from the United States reached a record high for May, influenced by an increase in direct flights, school holidays, and public holidays.
Finally, the number of visitors from Hong Kong, ranked fifth, was 217,500 in May 2024, a 40.9% increase compared to the same month of the previous year, and approximately a 17.89% increase from the previous month. Additionally, compared to May 2019, when there were 189,007 visitors, there was an increase of 15.1%. Despite the rising travel costs in Hong Kong and the tendency to avoid visiting Japan during the Golden Week period, the increase in flights, including regional routes, contributed to the highest number of visitors from Hong Kong in May on record.
The number of visitors to Japan in April and May 2024 is almost at the same level, with both months showing an increase compared to the same month of the previous year and 2019. The increase in visitors from China is particularly notable, with a significant increase compared to the same month of the previous year, but a decrease compared to the same month in 2019. The number of visitors from South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the United States has also increased compared to the same month of the previous year and 2019, with a noticeable increase in visitors from Asia. From these data, it is clear that the number of visitors to Japan in April and May 2024 has shown a significant increase, indicating a clear trend of recovery in the tourism industry.
