All-time high of 8.34 mil. foreigners visited Japan in 07

   Foreign visitors to Japan in 2007 totalled an all-time high of 8.34 million, according to statistics provided by the independent administrative agency Japan National Tourist Agency on Jan. 28, 2008. The number represented an increase of 13.8% over the previous year. Of the visitors, those from South Korea, Taiwan, China and other areas in Asia accounted for 70%. This is believed to have reflected lower commodity prices in Japan due to decline in the exchange value of the yen and economic growth in Asian countries.