Japan was chosen by international travelers as the country they most wish to revisit due to its food, culture and natural landscapes, according to a recent survey by Japanese ad agency Dentsu Inc.
In a multiple-response question of the online survey, conducted in 15 countries and areas from January to March, Japan topped the list at 34.6 percent, followed by Singapore at 14.7 percent and the United States at 13.0 percent.
South Korea ranked fourth at 10.5 percent and Britain fifth at 10.4 percent, according to the survey that collected responses from 7,460 people aged 20 to 59.
The 15 countries and areas surveyed were the United States, Australia, Britain, China, Germany, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.
Asked what respondents looked for in their visit to Japan, 28.6 percent cited the diverse food scene, while 27.9 percent were drawn to the country's culture and 25.6 percent to unique natural landscapes.
Activities for which they are willing to pay include going to down-to-earth restaurants serving Japanese cuisine, accounting for 41.4 percent. A rural experience and riding the shinkansen bullet train were also popular, the survey showed.
The top five destinations where tourists tend to flock -- Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Hokkaido -- have not changed since 2016, Dentsu said.
On what prevents them from traveling to Japan's countryside, many respondents cited the language barrier, lack of knowledge about areas other than big cities such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, as well as lack of information about what activities available in rural areas.
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