CHINA.WIRE
Japan tourism hits record despite China spat, Iran war
 Tokyo, April 15 (AFP) Apr 15, 2026
 Foreign tourists coming to Japan hit a new record in March despite another huge drop in Chinese visitors as well as a fall in those from the Middle East, official data showed Wednesday.

The number of international visitors was 3.6 million, up 3.5 percent year-on-year, a new record for the month, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

Chinese visitors dropped 56 percent to 291,600 -- Beijing warned people from visiting last year -- while those from the Middle East fell 30 percent to 16,700 because of the Iran war.