Visitors Staying in Nara Reach Record High

Jul 16, 2025 | News On Japan

NARA - The number of people who stayed overnight in Nara City in 2023 reached approximately 2.04 million, the highest figure in the past 15 years.

According to the city of Nara, a total of 2.038 million people stayed overnight in the city last year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels in 2019 and marking the highest number since record-keeping began 15 years ago.

Of this total, foreign tourists accounted for 445,000, setting a new all-time high.

City officials attribute the growth to increasing recognition of Nara as a destination worthy of extended stays, as well as the active development of hotel accommodations, including lower-priced options.

The total number of tourists who visited Nara in 2023, including day-trippers, reached 14.87 million—up 21.9% from the previous year.

The city government emphasized that offering travel plans that match public interest will be essential going forward and aims to work closely with the tourism association to better understand visitor needs.

Source: 奈良テレビNEWS

Typhoon No. 6 Approaches Okinawa Bringing Destructive Winds

As of 3 a.m. on May 31st, Typhoon No. 6 (Chan-hom) was moving north-northwest south of Okinawa and is forecast to pass near Okinawa Main Island between June 1st and June 2nd as a strong typhoon, with meteorologists warning of destructive winds, torrential rain and dangerous seas across Okinawa before the storm tracks northeastward along Japan's Pacific coast.

Bear Sighting Hoax Posts Trigger Police Investigation in Aomori

A series of false bear sighting reports posted to an online alert system operated by Aomori Prefecture has disrupted schools, prompted a police investigation, and raised concerns about the growing impact of misinformation on public safety.

Saw, Iron Pipes and Shovel Seized as 30 Teens Get Ready to Rumble

A social media dispute between a 17-year-old high school student from Tokyo's Itabashi Ward and a 16-year-old boy from Edogawa Ward escalated into a planned group fight involving around 30 youths, some of whom allegedly brought weapons including a rusty saw, iron pipes, a special baton and even a shovel.

Japan's Population Falls by 3.1 Million in Five Years to 123 Million

Japan's population stood at 123.05 million in 2025, according to preliminary results from the national census released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, marking a decline of 3.097 million people over the past five years.

Japan Volleyball Player Busted Over Marijuana Possession

Volleyball player Shunichiro Sato, a member of Japan’s men’s national team, was arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of possessing marijuana after allegedly leaving a bag containing the drug at a pachinko parlor in Tokyo.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Typhoon No. 6 Disrupts Flights as ANA Cancels All Okinawa Services

Typhoon No. 6 is disrupting air travel across southern Japan, with All Nippon Airways (ANA) canceling all flights arriving at and departing from Naha, Ishigaki, and Miyako airports on June 1st as the storm approaches.

JAL Plane Makes Emergency Landing After Tire Failure

A Japan Airlines passenger aircraft that made an emergency landing after suffering a tire malfunction has prompted the discovery of runway damage at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, with authorities now investigating whether the two incidents are connected.

Kansai Airport Completes First Major Renovation Since Opening

Kansai Airport has completed its first large-scale renovation since opening, 24 additional stores, including a Universal Studios Japan outlet, marking the theme park's first airport store in Japan.

Osaka Suspends New Special-Zone Minpaku Applications

Osaka City will stop accepting new applications for its special-zone minpaku program on May 29 as complaints over noise, garbage disposal and other issues involving guests continue to increase.

Kyoto Company Targets Beef Cutlets as Inbound Tourism Strategy

Sanmarc Holdings is betting on Kyoto's global appeal and the growing popularity of gyukatsu among foreign tourists as it accelerates overseas expansion, with President Yuki Fujikawa positioning the beef cutlet chain as a key driver of the restaurant group's inbound tourism and international growth strategy.

Work While Traveling: 'Otetutabi' Gains Popularity in Hokkaido

A new travel style known as “Otetutabi,” which combines short-term work with tourism, is rapidly gaining attention across Japan as both travelers and local businesses search for new ways to address changing social and economic realities.

Debate Reignites Over Western Japan Bullet Train Route

The route dispute surrounding the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Osaka has been thrown back into uncertainty, with the long-discussed "Obama-Kyoto Route" effectively returned to square one as ruling coalition lawmakers consider eight alternative plans, including a route via Maibara Station in Shiga Prefecture.

Traditional Rice Planting Festival Held in Shirakawa-go

Traditional rice planting was held on May 27th in Shirakawa-go, Gifu Prefecture, where women dressed as saotome carefully planted Koshihikari rice seedlings as traditional rice planting songs echoed across the historic village.

< 2 3 4 5 >