Japan was the most popular overseas destination for tourists from the Chinese mainland departing from Shanghai during the seven-day National Day holiday period, according to a report from news portal chinanews.com on Wednesday, which cited data from the Shanghai local exit and entry inspection department.

In the first six days of the National Day period, the number of mainland-based visitor arrivals to Japan reached 48,200, accounting for 21.4 percent of the total number of outbound travelers, up 68.53 percent year-on-year, Shanghai data showed.

From October 1-4, Japan topped the overseas holiday destination list ahead of other countries and regions such as South Korea, Thailand, the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, Taiwan island, the US and Singapore, according to a statement released by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) on Sunday, citing data from Ctrip, China's leading online travel agency.

"The depreciation of the Japanese yen … and simplified visa procedures are reasons that encourage more Chinese mainland tourists to visit Japan," Jiang Yiyi, director of the international tourism development at the China Tourism Academy, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Also, Japan raised its consumption tax to 8 percent from 5 percent in April last year, meaning that foreign visitors can get more tax refunds.

South Korea used to be one of the top choices of Chinese mainland tourists. "But a fear of (the disease) MERS in South Korea means they are losing mainland consumers to Japan," Jiang noted.

In the first six days of the holiday, the number of mainland visitor arrivals to Hong Kong reached about 1 million, increasing 3.26 percent year-on-year, according to data released by the CNTA on Wednesday.

The number of people shopping was less than the same period in the previous year, which will bring some pressure to the retail industry in Hong Kong, Gregory So Kam-leung, secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong, was quoted as saying by Hong Kong media on Tuesday.

"Political agitation in Hong Kong is part of the reason for the decline in visitors," Wang Fude, a professor specializing in tourism at the Beijing International Studies University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. Most visitors prefer to choose a shopping and tourism destination with lower costs and a better environment, Wang said.

Media reports said many mainland visitors have shifted to purchasing medicines and other daily commodities in Japan instead of toilet seat covers.

"Mainland visitors' diversified consumption reflects their diversified demand," Wang said.