TOKYO — The estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan plunged 97.7 percent in November from a year earlier to 56,700, declining for the 14th straight month, due to the global coronavirus pandemic, Kyodo cited government data as showing Saturday.

The figure, however, exceeded 50,000 for the first time in eight months and marked an increase of 29,300 compared with October, spurred by the gradual easing of Japanese entry restrictions, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

Visitors from China totaled 18,100, followed by 14,700 from Vietnam, 3,400 from Indonesia and 2,800 from South Korea. Japan received over 4.05 million travelers from January to November, around 10 percent of the government's goal of 40 million in 2020.

The Japanese government in October allowed businesspeople, students and technical interns to enter the country under certain conditions. In November the government lifted its entry ban on foreign travelers from several countries including China and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the number of Japanese nationals departing the country dropped 98.1 percent from a year earlier to 30,700. — SPA