JAPAN WSJ
 
apan is on course to see a record 13 million visitors by the end of 2014, the latest figures released by the Japan National Tourism Organization show.
 
Between January and November this year, 12.2 million travelers from overseas visited Japan, the organization said Wednesday, putting the nation on a pace to hit the 13 million mark.
 
Supported by a weaker yen and an easing of visa requirements for some countries, the number of foreign visitors in Japan reached a record high of 10.4 million in 2013.
 
The Japanese government has set a goal of doubling the number of foreign visitors to the country to 20 million by 2020 and then to 30 million by 2030.



Overseas tourist numbers were up 39% in November from the same month a year earlier. Nearly 240,000 of the 1.17 million visitors in the month were South Koreans, followed by 236,000 from Taiwan, the organization said. Travelers from China doubled from the same month last year to 207,500.
 
The JNTO said strong numbers are expected for the month of December as well, with tourists traveling to Japan during the Christmas and year-end holidays.