An estimated 86.22 million people visited Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples across Japan during the first three days of the year, up by some 1.31 million from last year, the National Police Agency said Tuesday.
The number of visitors to sightseeing and leisure spots decreased by an estimated 20,000 to 4.44 million, the agency said.
It said Tokyo's Meiji Shrine retained its position as the most popular shrine, with 3 million visitors, though the number was down by 150,000 from last year.
Shinshoji Temple in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, was second with 2.65 million visitors, followed by Kawasaki Daishi Temple, in Kawasaki, with 2.6 million, Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Shrine with 2.4 million, and Atsuta Shrine, Aichi Prefecture, with 2.18 million, the agency said.
Among sightseeing and leisure spots, Tokyo Disneyland in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, remained the most popular attraction, with 376,000 visitors, up 14,000 from last year.
Next, with 120,000 visitors, was Universal Studios Japan, the movie theme park in Osaka, down 20,000 from last year, and the Naeba ski resort in Niigata Prefecture, with 110,000, down 20,000.
During the yearend and New Year's holidays from Dec. 29 to Friday, 18,829 climbers visited popular mountain spots, down 2,217 from last year.
Twenty-three climbers were involved in alpine accidents, including four deaths, and 11 others were injured, the agency said.