The line chart illustrates the various reasons why overseas visitors came to Japan from 1990 to 2010.
The most prevalent purpose for visiting Japan was for business, with the number of individuals increasing significantly from about 6 million in 1990 to a peak of just under 10 million in 2000. The figure fluctuated between almost 10 million and approximately 7 million from 2000 to 2010.
The trend for visitors coming to Japan for holidays showed fluctuations. The number of holiday visitors sharply declined from about 5.5 million to 4 million between 1990 and around 1993, then steadily grew to 8 million around 2008. However, there was a drop of almost 1 million in the figure from around 2008 to 2010.
The number of visitors wanting to visit friends in Japan saw a rapid increase from just under 4 million in 1990 to around 7 million in 2005. Subsequently, the figure slightly decreased to slightly over 6 million by 2010.
In summary, between 1990 and 2010, the total number of overseas visitors to Japan, whether for work, to visit relatives, or for leisure, experienced significant growth.
