Popular travel destination breaks annual tourism record, sets new goal of 60M visitors

Visitors from far and wide have been traveling to Japan, with the country breaking a tourism record in 2024.

Between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, projections indicated that nearly 33.4 million travelers visited Japan, according to the country's government site. Nearly three million Americans visited the country in 2024.

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

"So last year, in 2024, we received almost 3 million Americans in Japan, which was a record high," said Noguchi.

Asano shared that Japan has a plan to nearly double visitors in the next five years.

Thirty percent of visitors said they experienced overcrowding at popular spots, according to a Japan Tourism Board Foundation and the Development Bank of Japan report.

"So they need to invest in infrastructure. That's why they [are] thinking to increase these taxes, that tax income makes more comfortable or convenient for the tourists. I think this trend will continue," Asano added.

Noguchi said Americans would enjoy visiting Japan during spring.

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

Characters like Hello Kitty, which is popular in modern Japanese culture, are also drawing travelers to the country, Asano added.