Tourists take photos in front of Tokyo Tower in Tokyo, April 26. The number of Korean visitors to Japan last month was more than 661,200, a record high in April. Reuters-Yonhap

The number of Korean visitors to Japan last month reached more than 661,200, a record high in April, as Korea cemented its position as the top source of foreign tourists to Japan.

According to data released on Wednesday by the Japan National Tourism Organization, the number of Korean travelers increased by 16.7 percent from the same month in 2019 before the global coronavirus pandemic.

Mainland China, which had been Japan's most important tourist market for years before the pandemic, came second with 533,600 visitors, followed by Taiwan with 459,700.

Since the beginning of 2024, Korea retained that top spot for the fourth consecutive month. The number of Korean visitors the previous month was 663,100, a record high in March. For January and February, a total of more than 1,650,000 people flocked to Japan.

The Japanese yen's slide to a 34-year low made the country a bargain destination for travelers from Korea and other countries, with the number of arrivals this year projected to exceed the previous record of 31.9 million in 2019.

While the surge in arrivals is generally good news for Japan's economy, it has caused friction with local residents, according to Japanese media reports. Complaints about noise and other issues have prompted authorities to tackle them with new rules and measures.

Starting this summer, fresh trail restrictions and a 2,000 yen ($13) fee will go into effect for Mt. Fuji climbers after a rise in pollution and accidents during last year's hiking season.