TOKYO – The number of foreign visitors to Japan’s parliament building reached 13,697 in 2025, the highest since record-keeping began in 1993, according to data compiled by both houses of the Diet.
The number, nearly doubling from 7,261 in 2024, comes amid surging inbound tourism, with a record 42.7 million foreigners visiting Japan last year.
The total number of visitors to the National Diet Building, including Japanese nationals, has only once exceeded 1 million — in 2013 — and has generally fluctuated between 600,000 and 900,000, according to data compiled by the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors.
The number fell to about 80,000 in 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic. It has since gradually recovered, reaching around 735,000 last year.
Before last year, the highest numbers of foreign visitors to the parliament building were recorded in 2005 and 2007, at just over 10,000 in each year. Since then, figures have ranged from around 4,000 to 9,000. The number plummeted to just four in 2021.
The percentage of foreigners among the total number of visitors also reached a record high, at 1.86 percent, according to the figures.
A Diet official indicated that one factor behind the rise in foreign visitors is the building’s proximity to Tokyo’s Ginza and Akasaka districts, which are home to many tourist attractions.
Staff provide guided tours in Japanese for both chambers, but the lower house also offers tours in English.
