Mount Fuji. Photo provided to China Daily

"To keep these customers, travel agencies have to offer inexpensive and charming tours. They have also prepared three- or four-day itineraries, to meet these customers' flexibility."

According to the Japanese embassy in Beijing, more than 250,000 Japanese visas of all types were issued to the Chinese in January. Chinese tourists have to apply for a Japanese visa through agencies accredited by the embassy.

"Applicants should communicate with the accredited agencies. The rejection of a visa application is rare. The agencies will tell applicants the requirements, how to prepare the needed documents, and won't send us ineligible applications," says Keiji Kamei, a consular official at the embassy.

"The new visa policy saves time and money for independent Chinese travelers. The number of those enquiring about visas and purchasing tours to Japan is increasing," says Dai Yu, marketing director of the tourism department at Ctrip, a major Chinese online travel agency.

Ctrip's independent and group tours for Spring Festival became the most popular in recent years, and sold out immediately. Dai says that with the announcement of the new visa policy, Ctrip has been developing independent and group tours such as in-depth travel, theme tours and development of new destinations.

He says the agency recently unveiled its cartoon-themed itineraries that combine famous scenic spots in Japanese cartoons. In Tokyo, holidaymakers can visit Ghibli Museum to enjoy the scenes and characters from Japanese film director and animator Hayao Miyazaki and play with Hello Kitty in the indoor theme park, Sanrio Puroland.