The number of overseas visitors to Japan posted a record fall last year, due mainly to the March 11th disasters and the nuclear crisis in Fukushima Prefecture.

The Japan Tourism Agency said on Friday that an estimated 6.2 million foreign tourists came to Japan in 2011. That's down 28 percent on the year -- the biggest slide since records began in 1964.

The Agency said the yen's appreciation to record levels against the dollar and other major currencies was another reason for the drop.

The number of tourists from South Korea was down by 32 percent; from China by 26 percent; and from Taiwan by 22 percent. But the Agency said the number of Chinese tourists started to pick up again from November.

Agency commissioner Hiroshi Mizohata said the number of foreign tourists is steadily increasing after it nosedived in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.

He also said, as levels have not yet fully recovered, the Agency will step up promotional activities to hit its target of attracting a record 9 million tourists from abroad this year.

News credit: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120120_35.html

Image credit: http://www.virtourist.com/asia/japan/tokyo/imatges/010.jpg