Gov. Neil Abercrombie was in Japan on Tuesday for the first part of his trip to Asia.

Abercrombie wrapped up meetings Monday in Tokyo with representatives of the Japan Association of Travel Agents, Japan Airlines and media who cover the travel industry before heading to Okinawa.

Visitors from Japan are a key part of Hawaii’s tourism industry. Although the number of visitors has dropped following the tsunami, spending by Japanese tourists is up 4.9 percent over last year, to $1.3 billion, so far this year.

Abercrombie was scheduled to participate Tuesday in a parade on Okinawa as well as meet with officials from the Okinawa prefecture government.

Abercrombie is also set to attend a meeting of the National Governors Association in Beijing before returning on Oct. 20.