Japan saw a record 6.4% increase in visitors to Japan in February, with nearly 3.46 million in total, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). This increase was largely attributed to ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two countries. South Korea remained the top source of visitors with a 28% rise in visitor numbers to 1.08 million in February. Despite this, the Kawazu Sakura Festival in eastern Japan saw a significant increase in attendance, with about 630,000 visitors, marking its highest attendance since 2022.