Number of foreign visitors to Japan hits 2nd highest level in 2012

The estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan in 2012 rose 34.6 percent from the previous year to 8,368,000, reaching the second-highest level since comparable data began to be compiled in 1964, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Friday.

The figure, following the record of 8,611,000 in 2010, shows Japanese tourism has almost recovered from the impact of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Lower airfares due to the market entry of budget airlines also contributed to the rise in foreign visitors, the organization said.
[link to english.kyodonews.jp]
.