The number of U.S. visitors to Japan last year hit a record high of 822,000, up about 30 percent from 2003, when the "Visit Japan" campaign got under way, the Japan National Tourist Organization said Wednesday.
"The strong growth apparently stems from the effect of the campaign," a JNTO official figured.
Prompted in part by the campaign, some U.S. travel agents began to offer Japan travel packages last year, according to the New York office.
The long-stay packages that take in different parts of Japan and integrate shinkansen and ferry travel are particularly drawing the interest of American travelers, JNTO said.