Foreign visitors to Japan in August fall 9.6% to 3.10 million

TOKYO - The number of foreign visitors to Japan in August fell 9.6 percent from a year earlier to 3.10 million, government estimates showed Wednesday, amid a sharp decline in Chinese visitors due to deteriorating bilateral relations and seasonally weak travel demand from some Southeast Asian countries.

Rising fuel surcharges following the United States' war with Iran and flight cancellations caused by typhoons also contributed to the decline, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.