Chinese tourism to Japan bounces back after diplomatic tensions

The number of Chinese arrivals in Japan in the first eight months of the year hit 1,542,400, up 84 per cent from the same period last year and already topping the annual all-time record, government data showed.

The numbers suffered a big dip last year, amid diplomatic tensions. The previous annual all-time high of 1,425,100 was recorded in 2012.

The estimated number of all foreign visitors to Japan in August soared 22.4 per cent from a year before to about 1.11 million, a record figure for the month. The growth was attributable to expanded international flights at Tokyo's Haneda airport and more charter flights from Asian countries to regional airports in Japan, the Japan National Tourism Organisation said.

Chinese visitor numbers jumped 56.5 per cent from a year earlier to 253,900 in August, mainly due to 14 port calls to Japan by large cruise ships and chartered flights to Hokkaido, Okinawa and Niigata prefectures.