Japan Tourism Rebounded In 2012; Dollar Gains Against Yen

Above, nighttime at the JR Niigata Station.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A new report by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) reported today that tourism rebounded in 2012 after the March 11, 2011 earthquake, tsunami and radiation crisis.

The New York Daily News reported:

TOKYO - The number of foreign visitors to Japan in 2012 surged 34.6 percent from the previous year as the tourism sector rebounded after the 2011 tsunami and nuclear disaster, the government said Friday. 

Overseas arrivals totaled more than 8.3 million, just short of the record 8.6 million seen in 2010, the Japan National Tourism Organization said.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/foreign-visitors-flock-post-disaster-japan-article-1.1247547#ixzz2J0rfG3dl

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Also, the U.S. dollar continues to gain value against the Japanese yen.

According to Jiji Press:

Tokyo, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)--The dollar climbed above 90.50 yen for the first time in about 31 months in Tokyo trading Friday, aided by hopes for overseas economic recovery and speculation over additional monetary easing in Japan.