TOKYO – The Land of the Rising Sun welcomed 818,700 visitors from the Philippines in 2024, a 31.6% increase from the previous year, according to preliminary data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
December saw the highest number of Filipino arrivals, with 108,500 tourists, driven by the Christmas and New Year holidays. November followed with 87,100 visitors, while October and March recorded 80,200 and 78,800 arrivals, respectively.
Months with fewer than 70,000 Filipino tourists included April (68,500), May (67,400), February (65,200), June (65,000), January (56,800), July (55,500), September (46,600), and August (39,000).
The Philippines ranked eighth in visitor arrivals to Japan, following South Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the U.S., Thailand, and Australia.
Japan hosted approximately 36.87 million international tourists last year, a new all-time high.
Meanwhile, the Japanese Embassy in Manila has advised Filipino tourists to file visa applications at least two months before their departure, citing longer processing times due to increased demand. - Florenda Corpuz
(File photo: Ninenzaka Street in Kyoto | Din Eugenio)