BY THE NUMBERS: Japanese visas soar with tourism push

TOKYO (AP) — As Japan steps up its efforts to attract overseas tourists, the number of visas issued hit a record high in 2015.

Not all foreign nationals require visas to enter Japan, but data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reflect the overall growth in tourism and the sharp rise in travelers from China.

Visas for Chinese nationals: 3,780,773

Visas for Chinese tourists (under the most common visas): 3,156,259