The number of foreign tourists visiting Japan, which hit a record-high 19.73 million last year, is still surging at a rapid pace. The number has already reached 11.7 million between January and June this year, a 28.2 percent jump on the same period last year.
Facing this surprising growth in inbound tourism, 59 major bus companies have joined forces in a bid to boost business from the flood of visitors.
On July 20, the companies officially launched the Japan Bus Lines consortium, with a plan to start selling unlimited ride passes for foreign tourists that will cover as many as 100 expressway bus routes nationwide.