Q.How many tourists visit Nara each year? Has it recovered to pre-COVID levels?
Published 2026-06-19
Answer
Nara Prefecture recorded 43.62 million tourist visits in 2024, up 9.3% (3.71 million) year on year. That was 1.40 million, or 3.1%, below the 45.02 million recorded in 2019 — a recovery to about 96.9% of the pre-COVID level. Tourism spending, meanwhile, reached a record ¥206.0 billion, 14.0% above 2019.
Visitor numbers recovered to about 97%; spending set a record
According to the Nara Prefecture tourism dynamics survey, the prefecture recorded 43.62 million tourist visits in 2024 — up 3.71 million, or 9.3%, from 39.91 million in 2023. Compared with the pre-pandemic 45.02 million in 2019, however, the 2024 total was 1.40 million (3.1%) lower, a recovery rate of about 96.9%. Tourism spending moved differently: it reached a record ¥206.0 billion in 2024, 14.0% above 2019.
43.62MNara Prefecture tourists (2024, cumulative)
96.9%recovery vs. 2019 (pre-COVID)
+9.3%vs. previous year (2023)
¥206.0bntourism spending (2024, record high)
- 2023399110k people
- 2024436210k people
Nara City alone is still at about 85%
Nara City also remained below its pre-COVID level. The city tourism survey put 2024 visitor numbers at 14.87 million — a strong 21.9% jump year on year, but still only about 85% of the 17.41 million recorded in 2019. The recovery rates differ — about 96.9% for the prefecture and about 85% for the city — but neither had fully regained its pre-pandemic visitor volume.
14.87MNara City visitors (2024)
17.41MNara City visitors (2019, pre-COVID)
~85%2024 recovery rate vs. 2019
- 2019 (pre-COVID)1741.110k people
- 2024148710k people
Lodging hit a 15-year high; foreign visitors are nearly there
Breaking down Nara City's figures reveals a split. Overnight visitors reached 2.038 million in 2024 — surpassing the 1.956 million of the 2010 Heijo Capital 1300th Anniversary and marking a 15-year high — and topping the 1.738 million of pre-COVID 2019. Foreign overnight guests also hit a record 445,000. Total foreign visitors (including day-trippers), however, rebounded sharply to 2.977 million in 2024 (up 61.4% year on year) but still fell short of 2019's 3.318 million, at about 90%.
2.04MNara City overnight visitors (2024, 15-year high)
2.98MNara City foreign visitors (2024)
3.32Msame, 2019 (pre-COVID)
445kforeign overnight guests (2024, record high)
Datasets behind this article
- 入込客数観光庁
Common-Standard Tourist Visitation Statistics (JTA)
Tourist visitation counts and spending-per-visitor figures surveyed by every prefecture under a common national standard and compiled by the Japan Tourism Agency. Its key value is comparing Nara’s visitation with other prefectures on the same yardstick.
Questions this data can answer
How does Nara’s tourist visitation compare with other Kansai prefectures?
XLSXPDFUpdated2026-08-23 - 観光客数奈良県
Nara Prefecture Tourist Dynamics Survey Report
Annual survey reports on tourist movements in Nara Prefecture, covering visitor numbers by major tourist site, day-trip vs. overnight ratios, and foreign visitor counts. Reports are available from 2006 onward, enabling long-term time-series comparison.
Questions this data can answer
How has the annual number of tourists to Nara changed over time?
PDFXLSXUpdated2026-08-23 - 奈良市奈良市
Nara City Tourist Visitation Survey
The city’s annual count of tourist arrivals, more granular than the prefectural survey. Published as PDF reports plus Excel open data, covering the overnight/day-trip split and international guest numbers.
Questions this data can answer
How many tourists visit Nara City annually and how is it trending?
PDFXLSXUpdated2026-08-23