Most popular prefectures among foreign visitors in Japan 2023, by visiting rate

Tokyo Prefecture ranked first among Japanese prefectures in 2023 in terms of visiting rates by foreign tourists, with a visiting rate of over 52.9 percent. The second most visited prefecture was Osaka, followed by Chiba, which is neighboring Tokyo Prefecture. 

Tourism in Japan
Inbound tourism strongly increased in the past decade, as the Japanese government actively engaged in projects to boost inbound tourism, setting high goals for the near future. However, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted everything. Nevertheless, the newest inbound annual figures suggest a continuation of the rising trend of inbound tourism. Tourists from neighboring countries accounted for the largest share of visitors.

Sightseeing in Tokyo

The Japanese capital, Tokyo, is the largest city in Japan in terms of population. It consists of 23 wards, of which many have a unique appeal for tourists. The most popular destinations in Tokyo for foreign visitors include districts such as Shinjuku, where the headquarters of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government are located, the shopping-district Ginza, and the electronic town Akihabara, which attracts overseas fans of Japanese popular culture. One-day trips to places outside of Tokyo, such as Kamakura, Nikko, or Yokohama, are also a possibility and add to the appeal the city has as a destination for inbound tourists.