A record 19,374,000 foreigners visited Japan in 2015, a 47.1% increase over the 13.41 million who visited Japan in 2014, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Tuesday.
The JNTO said spending by foreign tourists amounted to around 3.48 trillion yen, compared with 2.03 trillion yen in 2014, Fuji TV reported.
The highest number of visitors were mainland Chinese who accounted for 4.99 million, up by 50% over 2014, despite political tensions between the two countries. South Korea was next with about 4 million, followed by Taiwanese tourists at 3.68 million. The number of visitors from the U.S. was also up by 16.6%, surpassing 1 million.
Tourism officials attribute the hike in tourism numbers to the weak yen, more international flights in and out of Haneda Airport by low-cost carriers, as well as the easing of visa regulations for countries in Southeast Asia.
Japan’s target for 2016 is 20 million tourists, but government officials say this will depend on what happens with the Chinese economy.
Japan Today
Yes, we have seen lots non-Japanese people in Tokyo especially since last year... but wow lots people came to Japan!!
I just started to introduce about Japan, but I hope this blog helps somebody!!
Hello!! How are you doing??
It was snow in Tokyo area in the last Monday morning!!
Of course we have few snow in the winter, but it become less by less cause of global warming or some reason in central Tokyo.
Every time when we have snow here, one of biggest worry is transportation!!
Lots people in Tokyo use train or subway go to office or school, so trains not working means dead of social activity here!!
But as we worried, lots trains delay or stopped and lots people fulled at station or town...
Some people who left home much earlier than usual like getting the first train, they got office on time but if we left home usual time some people took hours more than usual.
I will show some of example.....
It started rain Sunday night.... then about midnight rain changed to snow.....
5 a.m.
news about Tokyo snow.
6 a.m. at Shibuya by twitter
7:28 am in Keio line from twitter.
described this picture like zombies on this train lol
7:38 a.m. at Denen Toshi line
This person waiting to come inside of station...
described this situation as if people are waiting on queue in comic market!
8:24 a.m in Machida station??
This picture described waiting people behind rope like starting point of horse race.
8:35 a.m. at Mizonoguchi station on Denen toshi line
9:25 a.m a station on Denen toshi line
9:32 at Kokubunji station
10:10 at Chofu station
others
The end of waiting line in the supermarket next to station!
Until next station..... 70mins on Chuo line!!
Next train is 17:46 after 9:40 !!!
Weather forecast says this Saturday also snow.... if somebody want to see these, morning train!!
Of course weekday morning is recommended but lots people upset with this..... so be careful!! lol
I uploaded trial version how to learn Japanese by watching Detective Conan last week.
Of course this is my first trying too... and a little bit tough work,
So I am going to upload about once a week.
But I hope you like it!!
OK, Let's start to leaning Japanese by watching real stories.
Maybe lots words keep repeating after watching episode but that will be helpful for keep remembering new words.
Episode 001 Roller coaster murder case
In the attached movie time 0:00-21:03
Today's point
Important, frequently-appearing NOUN in Detective Conan.
TANTEI : Consulting Detective, Operative.
*note MEI TANTEI : MEI means well-known.
KEIBU : Detective officer. *note; police man who is high class.
HAN NIN : Criminal, guilty HIGAI SHA : Victim
YOUGI SHA : Crime suspect, subject
HAKASE : Doctor OTO SAN : Father, man and woman, kids use.
KOUKOUSEI : High school student
YUU JIN :Friend
KOI BITO : Girlfriend or boyfriend in relationship
JO SEI : Woman in polite way
ONNA : Woman a bit impolite way
SATSUJIN : Murder JIKEN : Case SOUSA : Investigation IRAI : Request, order
KEISATSU : Police
SHINJITSU : The true, trueness
Appearing order in the movie.
0:03 KEIBU : Detective officer. *note; police man who is high class.
0:09 SOUSA : Investigation
0:23 HAN NIN : Criminal, guilty
0:30 HAN NIN : Criminal, guilty
1:06 HAN NIN : Criminal, guilty
1:19 KEIBU : Detective officer.
1:44 HAN NIN : Criminal, guilty
2:18 SHINJITSU : The true, trueness
2:30 KEIBU : Detective officer.
3:01 TANTEI : Consulting Detective, Operative.
*note MEI TANTEI : MEI means well-known.
3:02 IRAI : Request, order
3:08 SATSUJIN : Murder 3:08JIKEN : Case
3:27 HAKASE : Doctor
3:46 HAKASE : Doctor
4:24 OTO SAN : Father, man and woman, kids use.
4:25 KOUKOUSEI : High school student
4:27 TANTEI : Consulting Detective, Operative.
4:42 MEI TANTEI : Famous Detective
5:50 TANTEI : Consulting Detective, Operative.
6:00 MEI TANTEI : Famous Detective
6:23 MEI TANTEI : Famous Detective
6:25 OTO SAN : Father, man and woman, kids use.
6:29 TANTEI : Consulting Detective, Operative.
6:38 HAN NIN : Criminal, guilty
6:42 TANTEI : Consulting Detective, Operative.
6:46 TANTEI : Consulting Detective, Operative.
10:51 TANTEI : Consulting Detective, Operative.
11:58 TANTEI : Consulting Detective, Operative.
12:16 SATSUJIN : Murder
12:17 HAN NIN : Criminal, guilty
12:19 HIGAI SHA : Victim
12:32 KOUKOUSEI : High school student
TANTEI : Consulting Detective, Operative.
12:34 KEISATSU : Police
12:45 YOUGI SHA : Crime suspect, subject
12:46HIGAI SHA : Victim YUU JIN :Friend
12:50 HIGAI SHA : Victim
12:53 YUU JIN :Friend
12:54 KOI BITO : Girlfriend or boyfriend in relationship
12:57 HIGAI SHA : Victim
13:06 HIGAI SHA : Victim
13:10 JO SEI : Woman in polite way
13:13 TANTEI : Consulting Detective, Operative.
13:26 KEIBU : Detective officer.
13:27 JO SEI : Woman in polite way
13:40 HAN NIN : Criminal, guilty
ONNA : Woman a bit impolite way
13:44 JO SEI : Woman in polite way
YOUGI SHA : Crime suspect, subject
13:47 KEIBU : Detective officer.
13:48 HAN NIN : Criminal, guilty
13:57 SHINJITSU : The true, trueness
14:01 HAN NIN : Criminal, guilty
14:24 JO SEI : Woman in polite way
14:46 HAN NIN : Criminal, guilty
14:47 HIGAI SHA : Victim
15:10 HIGAI SHA : Victim
15:51 HIGAI SHA : Victim
19:04 TANTEI : Consulting Detective, Operative.
19:12 TANTEI : Consulting Detective, Operative.
19:35 MEI TANTEI : Famous Detective
Let's watch anime with try to listening words above!!
In Japan, especially in the school, people establish their goal for the year after new year come.
So I decided to read famous books as much as I can in 2016.
But I found out some books very difficult without background stories... then I found easy way to understand with very complicated story!!
I read BUSHIDO, in Japanese other day.
You know BUSHIDO is written in English first by Inazo Nitobe.
His theory is still very new and exciting way for today and I was kind of shocked Mr, Nitobe found out them in long long time ago.
This book helps us to understand ourselves also other countries people for sure.
I had read in Japanese already, but next step for me in English book!!
If somebody read in English one already, how about read MANGA one in Japanese???
OF course I will read comic one in English before proper English book!!
MANGA (Comic) is sometimes very useful way to understand easily or cutting time shorter!!
If you are interested in reading BUSHIDO, or reading books in Japanese but not have a enough time, why don't you try comic one like me??
KONNICHIWA (Hello)! OGENKI DESUKA (How are you doing)??
We see lots lovely foods when we watch ANIME like scene characters eating.
Specially when we are starving they make us feel more hungry!!!
Today, I will introduce some popular and famous menu in the ANIME among Japanese people who like ANIME.
Popular and famous menu in the ANIME.
1. Egg toast from CASTLE IN THE SKY
Maybe some people know what I was mentioned before looking picture...this is one of food people say "OISHISO (looks yammy)!!". Of course it's easy to cook is another good point!!
KON NICHIWA (Hello)!!
OGENKI DESUKA(How are you doing)??
Today is just about the day to take off decoration for new year in Japan.
I will tell you about "SHOUGATSU KAZARI" (SHOUGATSU; new year, KAZARI; decoration) today. SHOGATSU KAZARI What is SHOGATSU KAZARI??
They are decoration for new year and usually decorate before 31st Dec.
Some different kinds of SHOGATSU KAZARI, for entrance, door, etc.
KADOMATSU : Pine decoration
Usually they decorative gate of house, put both side like this.
This shows welcome to God for new year.
But these days, it's not so often can see in Tokyo because lots house is smaller than before and lots apartment here in Tokyo,
SHIMEKAZARI : Sacred Shinto rope with festoons
This is made by twisted straw rope with fern leaves, an orange and other items of good omen.
Usually that on a entrance door.
KAGAMIMOCHI ; Round rice cake
Two rounds of rice cakes and an orange on top.
Usually it decorate in Japanese room.
These 3 are famous and popular OSHOGATSU KAZARI, and if you come to Japan around new year, you will see everywhere.
Some people stop traditional celebrate for any event here, maybe not only here though.
That's why some people doesn't know the meaning of each decoration.
Long time ago, lots people make these by themselves at home, but these years lots people buy them at shops.
Not traditional way to decorate but these are very popular among young generation family!
Hi! How are you doing??
I went to "HATSUMOUDE" yesterday.
It was very very crowded with lots people but this is one of new year event for us!! at Kanda Myojin (Ochanomizu, TOKYO)
Can you see lots people on a line to the under hill?
I will introduce you about HATSUMOUDE today!
HARSUMOUDE is the first time visiting to temple or shrine into next year.
It's pray for appliciation for last year or safe and peace for new year.
The way of HATSUMOUDE.
Go and pray at temples or shrine, getting a charm, an amulet, windmill at shrine office, writing hopes or goal of year on wooden plaque.
Wooden plaque
The last year's charm, amulet brings with you and enshrine to temples or shrine.
Generally we say "HATSUMOUDE" for visiting there between 1st day to 3rd of Jan., but at same time some people think whenever during Jan. is fine or the first time of year is "HATSUMODE".
Some temples or shrines set temporary shops like summer festival, so these days "HATSUMODE" seems new year event for young people.
The Best 10 of Popular "HATSUMOUDE" temple or shrine in Japan.
(the data of 2006, because stopped counting data)
![天空の城ラピュタ / Castle in the Sky [DVD] [Import]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uxMRhy9wbL_qlaOGUZOjyGhW60MaGEy7rVzaSHM63980DbMw7TgOQayybRLRi4gHBnPLTP546FGtQo9Vz_OPfhl1H6pOI1YY16fDA1mSKdTLvDK2csfwA_=s0-d)
![Japanese New Year's Rice Cake (Osonae Mochi) with Sanrio Kitty Decoration 1.765oz [Japan Import] by Osonae Mochi [並行輸入品]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tFYvIPSI2nZc58rtiH4CUvNUNYA3UEWXea2EjZ2hVdVMZCPqlgnNTWGBswzMyqpWjA6P27J2aCKeSmU7Ge_WSbQm8zOiHrtDPlZx12BxUsnjlgGknS3NNt=s0-d)
Can you see lots people on a line to the under hill?
