July 17 (UPI) -- More than 16 million foreigners visited Japan in the first half of 2019 -- an increase of nearly 5 percent over last year, official data said Wednesday.
Government figures showed relaxed visa restrictions increased travel from China, from which 4.5 million visitors came in the first six months of this year -- an increase of 12 percent. Visitors from South Korea declined by nearly 4 percent and Taiwanese tourists by 1 percent.