Japan has seen a rapid rise in tourist number in the last several years, with a record number of over 31 million visitors in 2018, a third of which were Chinese nationals.

As part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic growth strategy, Japan boosted its efforts to achieve its target of 40 million visitors by 2020. 

With the upcoming 2020 summer Olympics and Paralympics, officials are hopeful that the goal can be achieved.

Japanese tourism officials said Asian visitors, in particular, Chinese tourists contribute a lot to the economy as they were not shy of spending.

Japan sees a steady rise in the number of Chinese tourists each year, but in recent years changes were seen in the Chinese visitors' pattern. More and more of them choose central Japan as their vacation destination, in particular, Osaka, Japan's third largest city.

Now 80 percent of foreign tourists in Osaka is said to be from China and South Korea. Officials attribute this to the increase in LCC flights (Low-Cost Carriers) landing at the Kansai International Airport.

Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau President, Hiroshi Mizohata, said: "Osaka is in central Japan, and it offers one of the top tourist attractions in the country. Thirty percent of Japan's world heritage sites are located in central Japan, within a one-hour train ride from Osaka."

The historical city of Nara and Kyoto are neighboring prefectures to Osaka, and it takes even less to go to the beautiful port city of Kobe – home of delicious Kobe beef.

Osaka has been a merchant's city for centuries, and experts say that good food, abundant shopping areas, and lively atmosphere may be more appealing to Asian visitors than rather shy and reserved residents of eastern Japan.

"Osaka has a long history which developed its hospitality and generosity. Moreover, it has so much to offer anything from food, shopping, and theme parks," Mizohata said.

Many Chinese visitors say they find comfort in Osaka as the lively hustle and bustle reminds them of a Chinese downtown area.

The city is at the center of the country, which makes it very convenient to travel east or west for another vacation destination.  

Osaka tourism officials said they had increased more than 20,000 hotel rooms in the last few years and are planning to increase the capacity for reasonable accommodations.

Officials expressed hope that there will always be a steady number of Chinese visitors to the Osaka area.

(Cover: Tourists in the traditional shopping area in Osaka, Japan. /CGTN Photo)