The number of South Korean visitors to Japan reached a record high of five-point-two million during the first nine months of the year.
 
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization on Monday, around five-point-22 million South Koreans visited Japan from January to September, up more than 40 percent year-on-year, a record for the nine-month period. 
 
The rise is attributed to the effects of China's economic retaliation over the THAAD antimissile system, as South Koreans traveled to Japan rather than China.
 
If the current pace continues, the number is likely to reach seven million this year, up two million from a year ago.  
 
The number of Chinese tourists came to five-point-56 million during the first nine months of the year, taking up the largest share of foreign travelers to Japan.