Pinoys emerge as 7th largest group of foreign visitors to Japan
How much do Filipinos love Japan? A lot apparently.
Statistically speaking, the Philippines ranked seventh in tourist arrivals in Japan with an estimated 622,300 Filipino visitors in 2023, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization's (JNTO) recent data.
This marks a 1.5 percent uptick from the levels recorded in 2019—the first time the annual figure has surpassed pre-COVID-19 benchmarks.
Aside from the Philippines, Japan's market for visitor arrivals also includes South Korea, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, the USA, and Thailand. The country recorded approximately 25,066,100 foreign tourists last year.
According to JNTO, visitor arrivals to Japan are calculated based on the "number of travelers of foreign nationality entering Japan provided by the Ministry of Justice."
Foreigners residing in Japan and crew members are excluded from the figures. Expats and their families, international students, and transit travelers are included in the numbers.
Why do Filipinos love to travel to Japan?
Besides the food, Belden Yñiguez, the deputy marketing manager of JNTO in the Philippines, noted that safety and security are the top reasons why Filipinos love to visit the Land of the Rising Sun.
"There are two major points that make Japan attractive based on our feedback: safety and security. It's easy to go around using public transportation," he said, adding that the country has plenty of "photogenic locations."
But JNTO hopes to bring more Filipino tourists to lesser-known cities like Fukuoka, especially for travelers who are looking for gastronomic delights.
"Fukuoka is another stop to add to your travel bucket list if you're looking for gastronomic delights. It's located near ports, giving travelers access to fresh fish. But more than that, Fukuoka is an entry point to Kyushu—the commercial center of Fukuoka and Nagasaki, which is popular among the Catholic faith," Yñiquez said.
He added that dolphin watching and the Obama Onsen hot springs are a "no-miss" in Nagasaki.
In October 2022, Japan opened its borders to leisure tourists and eased its travel requirements, making it a top choice among travel junkies.
During that time, 126,900 Filipinos were recorded visiting the country—4,775 in October, 21,700 in November, and 40,000 in December since its border's opening.
Meanwhile, Misaki Tatsuga, director of JNTO-Manila, said in 2022, that "Japanese products are still popular among Filipinos," adding Osaka and Tokyo "as the top favored destinations by Filipinos, especially among first-time visitors," according to travel agencies.
JNTO is set to join the 31st Travel Tour Expo (TTE) and International Travel Trade Expo 2024 this Feb. 2 to 4 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, offering packages and deals on Japan destinations.
If you wish to discover Japan, you might want to book a flight from Japan's low-cost airline, which started servicing between Manila and Narita in July 2023.
Read up to know when you can catch cherry blossoms in bloom in Japan this 2024. And if you are looking for an adventure, make sure to read this TRAVEL GUIDE: The ultimate guide to paragliding in Japan.
You can also read other Japan-related articles here.