Why Tourism Anxiety is Surging in Japan
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- In contrast to the Japanese government's plan, which aims to increase more tourists, many residents are anxious; "No! We are not capable of handling any more tourists!" "I don't want my city to become another Kyoto!" "Japan is being taken advantage of by gaijins!" "With weak yen, please don't bring more gaijins here!" "Tourists are causing problems more than immigrants!" etc.
These comments have been so common to see among Japanese people both in person and online throughout this year.
2024 was quite tough for Japan in the sense that the country faced a lot of problems related to tourism in many forms (rising prices, graffiti, vandalism, littering, etc) especially in Kyoto.
I've met many locals who were concerned that they would get the same or even worse in 2025.
But what should be really done to minimize the tourism problems?
■Typo:
04:19s: are not 'used' to gaijins at all.
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Get more strict with misbehaving tourists. Do what you have to do, some of us who love the country and would be far more respectful would still like to visit one day. And we dont want to be around those types either.
I helped my city back in 2010's to boost tourism by taking surveys for the city. We really want to make it more attractive city. It worked but the influx of misbehave tourists was unexpected... and we aren't prepared for it.
It's honestly sad that when one visits another country that they even cause problems and not have respect for the other country and their people.
@@Confederate115 I don't think so western do this kind of stuff in Africa 🤔
Rather than hunger for diamonds
I’m also tired of it! The number of right wing losers from the US and Europe need to stop coming to Japan. I also don’t want to be around them!
" some of us who love the country " that some smug bs
Tourist aren't the problem. Selfish, ignorant and disrespectful people are..
Mass tourism is shit. It also depends on the type of tourism and, why not say it, the origin of those tourists.
For example, I am Spanish and I live near a very touristy area and cheap beach and party tourism is very noisy, dirty, problematic, especially when they are british tourists.
Obviously, you haven’t been. The problem is the rapid increase in tourism has overwhelmed the cities capabilities. For example, food consumption has risen by 300% causing price surge. Also transport system is dramatically overwhelmed. Prices are rising everywhere in Japan, including the Onsens.
I have been to Japan many times, but i have never seen this many tourists. I was also surprised to see Japan having a lot of translators and multiple languages in their atm machines.
95% of tourist behave appropriately. It’s just With the Yen being down, it caused a massive influx of tourists.
I think what they were saying was that even if everyone behaved well, the number is still too high. They’re two separate issues.
While it is partly true. The quantity also plays a major part. With massive numbers, housing becomes even more unaffordable, more traffic, former quite beautiful places gets overcrowded, etc. So even if hypothetically all tourist would be respectful, all those things mentioned dont disappear.
@@efalien5926 if they were respectful, at least they would be more welcomed instead of being seen as a burden. And if they're welcomed, all those other problems could be resolved.
Eg. If your restaurant was too busy, you don't ban diners, you build a bigger more efficient restaurant.
All of this is the bad behaved tourists fault. You should always respect your host country's rules in the same way that you would expect a visitor in your house to respect your rules.
100%
If you can’t respect that country’s rules, you shouldn’t go there.
@@Basedapple Exactly.
Well. Most of those rules are lame and bullshit and i will not comply with them cause thay make no sense
@@mariomaslik Imperious, arrogant, culturally insensitive and ethnocentric at its finest
Japan really needs to implement strict laws to the bad behavior of tourist so they didn't do it again and future tourist won't do it.
We literally need this every fucking where, it's been worse in Europe for like 50 years of mass immigration but people act like it's normal in Western countries. Japan is just experiencing 1% of what countries like USA, Sweden, Germany, France, are experiencing for decades now.
@@RavusNox-z5i Amen.
Or ban tourists from specific countries.
@@R0BEARTHUS, China and India 😆😆
There should be like 3 days of arrest and a gigantic fine for misbehaviour. Years ago we had terrible trouble with drunk British tourists making noise, disrespecting monuments and such. The saga ended when it's become famous that our police would arrest them and give them cold showers before night on jail's concrete floor.
My wife and i visited Japan a month ago. Was our second trip in 5 years. And we were shocked how some tourists behaved. It was a shame. Taking fotos without asking and more.
The japanese people were again very friendly and helpfull. We really enjoyed our stay. If you stay to the rules, know some basic japanese language the japanese people are thankfull, the best of the world. For us there are no better people in the world. We went to Shin Koenji were they nearly speak no english but the people tried the best to help us and we tried our best speaking japanese. It was really friendly and respectfull. Also, Shin Koenji was so quiet and peacefull. Sure, Tokyo Shibuya Shinjuku and so on are exciting but the more quiet Japan felt more like the real Japan for us.
My wife and i can only hope that Japan goes on welcoming tourists and we try our best to fit in the time we are there.
Thank you for your hospitality people of Japan and we would love to see Japan again in 2-3 years.
ありがとうございます。
Guy’s don’t be fooled, Japan is a beautiful HELL HOLE!!!
STAY FAR AWAY FROM JAPAN, or even far eastern countries, there all terrible! You’ll be doing yourself a favor that can save your life. If you absolutely have to see them, try taking a digital tour.
thank you! you are welcomed person!
Thank you so much.@@ken1735
What kind of mental state do those people have to land on the newspaper headlines with the title "Foreigner climbs onto FamilyMart roof in Shibuya and yells 'I did it'"? This is no "Lost in translation" or misunderstanding the culture. This is being disrespectful, being an attention seeking egoist and selfish person.
It's also an incredibly minor incident
I agree with you. But if somebody were to climb on top of a Family Dollar in America and yell "I did it!", it would never make the news, and nobody would care. Nobody respects Americans. We shouldn't put up with this misbehavior, either.
@@BonVoyage861 Compared to what?
@@YadraVoat Murder? SA? Kidnapping? Armed robbery?
@@YadraVoat I did list out so e actual crimes, but as UA-cam is mostly for sheltered dweebs like yourself thesedays the message was blocked
I always wanted to go visit Japan when I was a teen in the 2000's and I still do now, but man... people have become so awful they're ruining it for everyone else and the locals. And the busybodies in my country sucks too... like let other countries have their culture. Stop trying to change it!
I hope one day things get better because I want to visit Japan one day and check out the sights. Even go walking up the mountain trails.
The amount of tourists in mountain trails is close to 0. If you want to visit Japan - there is planty of places where no one is around.
Watch out for the bears. If you go hiking do be prepared.
When I was in Japan I hated each and every foreigner, especially my Tokyo Station incident when some European (maybe Brazilian for all I know) walked in front of me to hijack the ink stamp station I was using, and documenting. They forced their way in and were rude about it. Or when I was pushed off a sidewalk by their closeness causing me to smack my toe into a tree trunk (Amanohashidate), or how a stupid Spanish Lady shoved her way into a window while viewing the Shibuya crossing from within a building.......
Every issues I have is always with another foreigner tourist. Just as long as you're humble, and proper you have nothing to worry about. I had nice gesture nodding moments in Fukuoka, and etc. If you can gesture, speak, etc, you're viewed as human. If you go to high density areas you're hated. Just be the proper you and you're good. Just watch out for not being viewed as "rude" by certain Japanese, that gets embarrassing.
But there culture should change. That's the problem.
No matter how much we don't want it to change, it will eventually be. Globalization can't be stop. I just hope Japanese will find a way to adapt while maintain the good culture that they have
It's not "people ruining it for everyone" but just typical tourism stuff that Japan is not prepared for on this scale.
They have attitude "you visit us, spend yourself dry and go home" and now it is challenged by the weak yen.
Anyway, it could easily be mittigated by the dispersion strategy. Longer hours of operation for tourist attractions, lighting up temples (like the dude said on the video) and actually promoting the rural areas instead of Kyoto (yes, Kyoto/Osaka/Tokyo are giving off cognitive dissonance vibes due to their super active promotion of tourism while also complaining about it). Also, in case of Kyoto (in which I've lived for about a month), they should actually fix their transport network which is awful by Japanese and European standards (what even is this metro line? And freaking change these bad bus designs that waste 1/4 of an already limited space on way over-the-top handles/bars as if it was a monkey park).
Been living in Japan for 23 years.
The most beautiful Kyoto I've ever seen was during the pandemic.
Sad to say but it's just the truth.
And yet you were there. I wonder what others thought of you staining their city.
@@alukuhito for japanese you are and always will be a tourist.
Like all cities, they were most beautiful during pandemics. Free of people and littering.
Then why were you there
I'm curious, what makes you say that? Was it that the city seemed more peaceful?
When I went to Japan I spent a year trying to learn as much Japanese as possible and read a few books on how to behave. It was well worth it as everyone was so kind to us and I made two friends that I still talk to. I was even honored enough to have someone close their bar to continue talking to myself and my friends while we were there and we'd hardly spent much money (as one of us didn't even drink). It was a great experience and I think of Japan a lot everyday.
People have lost respect for the rule of "when in Rome". You MUST obey the laws and ways of the people you are visiting, even if it inconveniences you, that is the whole point of travel.
Guy’s don’t be fooled, Japan is a beautiful HELL HOLE!!!
STAY FAR AWAY FROM JAPAN, or even far eastern countries, there all terrible! You’ll be doing yourself a favor that can save your life. If you absolutely have to see them, try taking a digital tour.
Yes, I think this attitude should be taught more.
I'm a quiet Canadian who just spent a month in Japan-I rented an apartment in Chidoricho so I wouldn't be in the thick of things. I loved being by the Tama River and the shops around Shimomaruko. A couple of little girls were staring at me on the sidewalk and when I said hello they broke into huge smiles! I kept out of people's way as best I could and never copped attitude. The "empty seat" on the subway never happened to me. I even have a nose ring and dress in goth loli clothing! I went to places like Itabashi to visit parks and little zoos. Everyone was kind and I was very careful to be respectful. What people need to remember is that Japan or anywhere else isn't a playground. It's people going to work, taking kids to school etc. There is no reason to be crazy-just relax, have fun and be mindful of people who LIVE there!
ひとつ言えることは、あなたは日本で上手くやっていけるタイプの人間ということです
いや、日本だけじゃなく世界中で
Very well said. I do fear the Japanese government will not be firm enough with disrespectful foreigners. They need to learn from the mistakes and poor governance in Europe. The Japanese government must value their own culture and people and warn foreigners there will be no tolerance of foreign religious practice, littering, damage to infrastructure and disrespect shown to monuments, places of worship, parks and natural habitats or Japan too will face the same demise as western democracies. Yes, place a tax on hotels and restaurant visits and charge a relatively high fee for a visa to enter the country. Disrespectful behaviour should be met with an immediate collection of the tourist's belongings and an escort to the airport where the person can be placed on a flight back to their country of origin.
@@あぷる-k5r ありがとうございます😊
So nice! I stayed not far from there, but it was a long time ago. I'm glad I'm not the only one who made good memories there.
@ I think I could have stayed there….forever….
Just recently got back from japan we had 40 people in our group and only 4 of us happened to be American then others were all canadian. They didn't care about any of the rules of japan they just did whatever they wanted it was embarrassing. They also complained the entire time and compared everything to canada and talked about how much better it was in canada. They also constantly talked about politics and how trump is so terrible.. like, dude, you're on vacation in a beautiful country. Just follow the rules and enjoy what it has to offer! Also, everyone talks about "American pride" but some of the canadians had canadian flags on their clothing every single day, and it was a 2 week trip, lol
Canadian here. Our reputation as respectful and polite went out the window a long time ago unfortunately.
first mistake is going on a trip with other 40 people
@@haitolawrence5986 your country is indian now
Yes, Canadians are rude and ridiculously nationalistic
That's cos despite the stereotype, Canadians are basically just Americans.
This whole situation makes me so sad. I dreamed of going to Japan my entire life, and finally managed it last year at the age of 40. I speak a little Japanese, know the cultural etiquettes for common situations, and generally try to be a non-intrusive and respectful guest.
I'm finally in a position in life where I can go almost every year, but now feel like I'll be viewed as just another problem tourist.
As others have said, I think the answer is to be more strict with poorly behaved tourists - Large fines, travel bans, even jail time.
I think it really depends on which area you’re in, as long as you show respect, I think the trip can still be enjoyable and they would still be fine with you.
This idea that there are “bad” tourists and you’re a “good” tourist is just wrong. You are no better than anyone else who wants to visit. Whether you like anime or learnt their language a small amount really makes very little difference. I see this attitude a lot and it comes over as very snobby - “I am not the problem it’s everyone else”. Sorry to break it to you but it’s whoever is denying a young Japanese schoolgirl a place on her train home and that includes you.
@@jaybee4288 wrong, a good tourist doesn't ride the train during rush hours, they deny no workers or students their spots on the trains. I happily take the title of snob because tourists like me ARE better than everyone else.
If you don't act like a douchebag, nobody but the hopeless racist idiots (and though those do exist, they are blessedly few of them) are going to view you as a problem.
All this stuff is blown way out of proportion by the media. In reality Japanese people tend to be extremely friendly towards anyone who makes even the slightest effort to follow the local customs.
@@jaybee4288 Nobody is denying a Japanese schoolgirl a place on her train home. Crowding on Japanese trains has gotten better in the last twenty years, not worse.
I lived in Japan for 6 months last year and I was fortunate enough to have my apartment in a non touristic area, the locals were all super friendly and the place was peaceful and clean. But I remember the change of atmosphere once I went to visit the more popular places. It made me reflect a lot on how tourists are perceived in Japan, and I tried my best to be respectful of the people and the culture. However I think the issue about "How to tell foreigners about Japan's rules" that is mentioned in the video is really a difficult one to tackle, since in other countries a lot of people grow up thinking that rules apply only as long as someone is checking up on you. Since Japanese people are not likely to call them out, tourists may perceive like it's OK (and even fun) to break the rules. Unfortunately not everyone cares about learning how the culture works, since it's a once in a lifetime trip of just a few days, they may feel like it's just an amusement park. This being said, I'm not trying to defend them, just trying to point out where I think that the problem is and I hope people agree. Thanks for the video, very insightful as always!
> ong as someone is checking up on you
it's a low context culture, and Japan is a high context culture.
Yes, this is a good observation. Japanese people tend to be conflict avoidant. I find it difficult to imagine a random random Japanese person correcting a tourist. But it might be a good lesson for both parties where the Japanese person gets out of their comfort zone and the tourist learns a kind lesson.
Are there any places to live in Japan you might recommend where there aren't many tourists?
@@TheAirlock Basically everywhere besides Kyoto and a few neighborhoods of Tokyo (Asakusa, Shinjuku, Shibuya). You definitely see more foreign people around Japan than you did 20 years ago, much less 40, but they are still a tiny minority of the population in almost all areas.
Nah, it happens everywhere.
There's "quality tourism" and "mass tourism".
Just ask people from Barcelona about that. Quality over Quantity.
1:29 I admire how "brave" are some Japanese guys, when talking about remaking SAKOKU and not daring to show their face in front of the camera. To be more direct is something that East Asians can't learn in last 400 years (since Edo jidai started).
これで外国人を批判したら人種差別って言われるんだもんね。もうどうしたらいいか分からん。
My opinion as someone who lives in and loves Japan is this: If Japan wants to attract fewer tourists, they should implement a tourist visa that people need to apply for.
If Japan aims to reduce issues caused by unruly visitors, it could adopt stricter measures against bad behavior resulting in fines for all people (not just tourists)
Lastly, I wish that Japanese people would also consider what it's like to travel abroad. If they visited France, would they be content with NOT going to Paris? Would they be comfortable paying 2x more than a French person?
Just some food for thought.
You'll be surprised by how many Japanese people that don't travel internationally. As an American, I usually keep up with what's going on back in the states. I'm usually up to date with other world affairs, like in the middle east, eastern Europe or even here in Asia. Talking to some Japanese people, it's like they are in there own bubble.
There has to be stricter laws for misbehaving tourists. I have been going to Japan for the past 15 years for work and pleasures and it's really one of the prettiest and safest countries. It sickens me when people come to trash a country and not really understand it.
You're commenting as an USAmerican, of course. There was a time I got stopped for speeding along the highway between Anaheim and Las Vegas. The smart looking cop took down all my particulars and added "Japan" to the address. I am ethnically Chinese who lives in SEA, so I never got to see the ticket in my mailbox. Goes to show that lotsa USAmericans live their entire lives in North America as well.
East Asians won't visit france anymore because it's a shithole, not even french anymore just blacks.
@@sjv9147s Stop speeding and follow the law
Part of the reason why Japan's yen is weak is due to how the Japanese central bank monetizes its debt.
That is a much bigger issue.
@@xcjsmith5310 I'd say so.
Funny though that before 1985 their currency was more than 240 per dollar.
it's 100% the fault of the corrupt and evil central bank - Richard Werner explains it all.
It’s not about looking different but about behaving different. Some rough and ignorant tourists with inappropriate etiquette and manners are everywhere and can come from any countries. I feel so sorry for the Japanese who still want to preserve peace and harmony in the country while the others welcome tourists to improve the economy.
Guy’s don’t be fooled, Japan is a beautiful HELL HOLE!!!
STAY FAR AWAY FROM JAPAN, or even far eastern countries, there all terrible! You’ll be doing yourself a favor that can save your life. If you absolutely have to see them, try taking a digital tour.
All those companies making profit with the tourism are keeping to themselves (bosses, CEO’s, etc) so obviously nothing of that fortune is going to the other layers of society. If anything, those companies are milking their workers even harder in order to make them more profit.
yep, the increase in tourism has only made my life worse in many ways and not to mention I live in an area now popular with tourists and prices for everything gone up.
@@NarugaAre you Japanese?
@@thecrimsondragon9744 Half.
Guy’s don’t be fooled, Japan is a beautiful HELL HOLE!!!
STAY FAR AWAY FROM JAPAN, or even far eastern countries, there all terrible! You’ll be doing yourself a favor that can save your life. If you absolutely have to see them, try taking a digital tour.
Fr. Who knows how many of those companies are just foreign owned opportunities.
That's what happened to Europe, like Paris, Roma or Barcelona 30 or 40 years ago. Nobody still lives in the touristic spots of Paris and the tourist behavior (including Japanese who didn't know how to behave) was a problem. That's sad, but it looks like that the Japan's turn... :(
I am a frequent traveler to Japan and I often feel embarrassed by the behavior of some tourists. On one occasion, I confronted a tourist on a train who was acting inappropriately and making noises. He assumed I was a local and told me to "shut up and chill." I raised my voice and responded in English, letting him know that I'm also a tourist and that he was being disruptive. Once he realized I could speak English, he apologized.
あらまあ😯傍若無人に振る舞いたい人が傍若無人に振る舞うこと目当てで英語で注意する能力のない人たちの住む国にやってくるんですね😨
英語話者の観光客ヤバすぎですね😱
これは一種の侵略行為でとても怖いです😭
来るのは純粋に観光目的の人だけにして欲しいです
@@花形満-r8v I agree, it's very sad.
I love Japan for what it is (nowhere is perfect, mind you), but I definitely feel as if the government and prefectural police agencies need to enforce the laws with misbehaving foreigners. If something is illegal, ARREST AND FINE the individuals responsible. Serious or repeat offenses should be met with a 10-year ban. If they return and do the same again, then lifetime ban. Society needs to adapt and be willing to call people out for wrongful behavior as well. There are levels to all of this but change needs to start somewhere.
America is *_not_* the best country by any means, but the law is the law, and it is enforced (unless you're extremely rich and/or have connections). Staffing and language barriers are issues, and I feel as if that needs to be addressed first and foremost. Time will tell how everything works out. People have been really bold everywhere when it comes to being assholes, but I feel as if the problem is exacerbated in societies that people view as "nice" or "submissive". Not in the sense of violent crime, mind you. Just being generally disrespectful nuisances.
Oh no!
God bless you and thank you. Thanks from a Japanese resident.
@@花形満-r8v In the 1980's, it was the opposite.
Millions of Japanese visited Europe, staring and taking pictures inappropriately. It's a cycle.
I live in Bali, and face the same problem too. Overtourism, cultural problems, littering, not only from foreigner but also from locals who visit.
I realize in one hand we don't need overtourism. But in the other hand, thats what keep the economy going. Lifting the price only for foreigner only works at few tourist spot, because they always have a way to find more affordable option.
The goverment and locals have to works together to spread the crowd so they are not fill up just one or two cities.
Wife and I took a mid-life crisis gap year world trip from July '23 through June '24, visited a lot of places including a month in Japan.
Overtourism was evident in Kyoto to an extreme, as well as Dotonburi near the canal/Glico sign, and Tokyo had a lot of tourists, but hey, it's also got a lot of people as well. So it's already crowded. Meanwhile Nara had a few, Shizuoka, Sendai, Morioka was possible to go a day without seeing more than a couple westerners (if any). Not sure what you can do to get people to spread out. .
1. Tourist Visa - maybe time to introduce one. A lot of countries we visited (outside Europe) required us to file for a Visa in advance and pay for the privilege of entry. Annoying and a total pain to do with antiquated sites (looking at you, Kenya) but would cut down on some of the annoyance factor and bring in more revenue that could be used for infrastructure. Further, have this process include a short page or so of basic norms, from the obvious (Don't use Torii gates as exercise equipment) to the less obvious. Simple stuff that lays out how visitors should behave. Make checking a box (like a video game EULA) part of the process to acknowledge they have read and understood it.
2. Bad Behavior - time to punish people who engage in bad and illegal behavior. Japan missed the boat with Johnny Somali. Should have locked him up. Trespassing is a criminal offense, use all his other horrible behavior as grounds for max punishment. Make an example out of him. By going soft to look nice, you've sent the message to similar tourists that they can do whatever they want without consequence. Let's see how many people act the jackass in South Korea after he's bankrupted awaiting trial and spends a year or two picking cabbages.
Fine bad behavior, if someone damages a cultural landmark (Torii gate, temple, shrine, etc) make it a $10,000 fine on top of a criminal offense. Commit a criminal offense, jail them overnight then boot them. If a serious offense, treat it VERY seriously. And make things like Livestreaming an aggravating factor which increases penalties.
Going back to 1, remember they checked the "I understand and promise to behave while in Japan" in the tourist visa. No need to go full Singapore and cane people for trivial violations, but drive home the point it's a country, not an amusement park and you will act accordingly while here.
Kyoto is it's own beast. That place was hell near the heavily touristed areas, meanwhile Toji temple, a short walk from the station was just a dozen or so locals and my wife and I. Biggest things I can think of to at least make life easier for locals is create tourist bus routes with special buses that go non-stop from site to site. Keep it cheap. This might cause more tourists to use this rather than hop on a city bus that has 14 stops to make between where you are and want to be. (Sendai has the Loople, for example) I'd also strongly consider having two English-speaking staff on hand by the ticket gates at the train station. Took longer to get the ticketS (what's with two tickets for one trip? streamline that process. Nowhere else does this) than to actually ride the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Yokohama. Hordes of tourists clogged both the machine lines as well as the line to the help desks. Having a couple people on hand right by the vending machines to answer questions would speed things up immensely. (Osaka airport had someone right there on hand to help new arrivals get on the train into the city. Kept people moving quickly.) Maybe even have split lines, some for locals, some for tourists so at least our delays wouldn't impact the poor salary man (or woman) just trying to go about their daily business.
Have plain clothes officers in the areas where the Geisha are. Someone harasses or interferes with them, charge them on the spot. (Insert Parks & Rec "Straight to jail!" meme here)
Sadly this is the state of the world, it's not unique to Japan. Internet era of influencers and social media clout seem to have morphed travel into some sort of monster where people don't care about anyone but themselves. Post-Covid "Revenge Travel" after a year and change locked down has exacerbated this, making it worse. While the same behaviors are everywhere, it just seems so much worse in Japan (as well as South Korea) due to the cultural differences between group-first and MEMEME first societies.
This. 👏🏻
And really use technology to their advantage even if they don't have English-speaking fact, there was a number of things that was not translated, so having to use my phone. For translation was an added hassle VS having emergency signs procedures to-do list. Or things not to do in mostly Japanese. Instead of having like a third party translation team so they don't have to hire that much more staff because of their low population and making sure that it's posted for easy people to read and access. Even a large posting of f a q's or a digital signboard that you could do a quick simple search through
10000 is a year salary for some countries. It should be in proportion. Much bad behavior is done by very young people who don't think straight.
@@toydigger Well, too bad so sad. If you vandalize something of cultural significance, whether a centuries old sacred shrine in Japan or the Colosseum in Rome, the price SHOULD be heavy.
@@toydiggerSeen multiple articles where much older adults were vandalizing architecture. Even, an article about a 60yr old man doing the deed at a well known shrine. Plenty of people of all ages don’t know how to act.
Come to Thailand. We are always welcome tourists. We love tourists.
As someone who grew up in a popular tourist destination, I feel their frustration. I finally visited after wanting to go for more than 10 years, but the overcrowding really took its toll. My personal solution was walking around at night and avoiding hot spots which worked out for me (Gion at night is beautiful). Next time I think I'll visit in the least busy period possible.
Yes, I'm looking for 2nd tier (in popularity) places to visit. And I chose February for my 2nd visit because I hoped there would be fewer tourists.
Yeah we get the massive surge of tourists in an already crowded country, but in all honesty outside of the Toyko/Osaka/Kyoto triangle theres hardly any noticeable tourists - Remember the biggest inbound tourist numbers come from other parts of Asia.
Japan should offer extended stay packages to cities that are in need of tourism at a discounted price to spread the tourism across the country. It might even change peoples' minds on the fact that Japan isn't just comprised of big cities, it is quite a beautiful place outside of them.
I'd even say, once you get out of the specifically touristy area of Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto you don't see any tourists. When I was staying in Akabane a few times ago, me and my friend were always the only white persons on the trains.
most tourists are Asian, but most annoying people are Non-Asian. 米国人観光客はちょっと苦手です。
@@oleksandrfabry8497 Kinda not true. I've visited tons of other cities/towns. Perhaps you won't see the tourist hordes but I do see other tourist. Maybe if you are not asian you don't know they are Chinese and Korean tourist XD.
That's a bad idea for the locals.@@z0tw
I lived in Tokyo teaching ESL 1989-1994 it was magic. No internet or cable or satellite tv, no stupid social media, no cell phones, and rare to see any signs in English, with only a few of us living there in comparison to now. It would be horrible now. We tried to fit in because we lived and worked there and we were adored as exotic.
U African?
There were tons of English signs in Tokyo in the 90s.
i'm 63 and love the internet and cell phones because they've improved my quality of life immensely. I don't understand this anti technology narrative. if you don't like "social media" then don't use it
@@gregh7457 its so funny when people post how technology sucks... on UA-cam
Not to mention how bad the wages are for “English teaching jobs” these days.
Dispatch ALT companies and Eikaiwas are paying 180,000-280,000 yen per month now.
I’ve visited Tokyo 6 times since late 2022. The first time, right after it reopened for individual tourism was by far the best. No disruptive and disrespectful tourists. I’m in Tokyo now, December 2024 and it’s like night and day. It’s totally overrun. All we can do is increase our kindness and respect and stay self aware of being incredibly considerate visitors because my god are there mainly tourists here who are doing the polar opposite. It’s such a shame what is happening to Tokyo and how this is negatively impacting the residents here. You’re only part of the problem if you don’t practice considerate tourism, which unfortunately is what most visitors I see seem to subscribe to.
I'm a foreign worker in Tokyo, I live near Shibuya and it is HELL now. I almost don't go out to Shibuya unless necessary because whenever the time or day it is always overcrowded. Tokyo and other popular destinations are already crowded with locals before the tourism boom. Now, I don't make any plans for holidays because I don't want to go anywhere.
And yet 95% of Tokyo is basically the same as it was 20 years ago in terms of crowding, or actually in some cases better (e.g. trains on most lines are less crowded than they used to be, not more). It's only a very few areas where the tourist presence is overwhelming. Shibuya certainly being one of them.
Just like Times Square in New York and New York during the holidays.
I really want to visit but if they dont want me, i wont go.
I thought that too 😢
Leaving Japan today after a 2 month trip. The Japanese people have been very good and patient with me. I've made a fool of myself a few times, misunderstanding a payment process, and other little things like that, but the people were very kind. I think i only ever really annoyed 2.
Voice of reason., Glad you had a good time. If you don't mind, can you give an idea of what parts of Japan you visited?
You're small faux pas pale in comparison to the absolute horrible behavior, e.g. vandalism, trespassing into private homes, arson, etc, of many tourists. Stiff fines, travel bans and jail time are the only deterrents these jerks understand.
people like u, tourists, keep japan afloat... the entire country is in a 35 year decline...
@@earlysda that guy is not gonna reply cause he is an asshole.
@@earlysda hell even his username "ignore this" lol. ok I will ignore his nonsense, not exactly hard! lol
The problem with some tourist is they think they can do whatever they want as if they bought and own the whole country.
Same with migrants !
I think it's natural that it came to this point.
Most of Asia live in a nearly homogeneous society, to see a few foreigners is okay, but when it's become too much that whenever you go, they're there - then it's enough.
So like Europe with Africa ?
But Asians are the largest migrants in the world you guys are in every country, city and village of every continent 😅
As a quiet and nervous black foreigner from the U.S. who doesn’t like bringing attention to myself or being troubling to others, these worries from Japanese natives make me worried myself as someone planning on moving there
I’m in Tokyo right now as a tourist. The amount of lack of consideration by other tourists should be called out BY OTHER TOURISTS. A bunch of euros got into a tiny elevator with their big backpacks on and I was like “guys come on wtf you should take those off before getting in” after they smashed into us all. They apologized claiming “they forgot” and I just shook my head.
All tourists should call out pooor tourism mentality here. It’s not the responsibility of Japanese people who typically would not comment. Japan must be protected at all costs from these locust horse tourists coming here completely lacking respect and self awareness.
I live in Shinjuku, and have been in Japan since 2006. I like travel, but hate tourism. Japan is hosting fewer and fewer travelers, but more and more tourists. Even the Shinjuku Ikea is packed with tourists. Why do tourists come all the way from Croatia to buy a dish from a Tokyo Idea?! I had to wait for a bunch of tourists to clear the way just to buy a mop.
They just need to kick out all foreigners including you.
bruh yall complain about tourists while in America we got over 20 million illegals r****g the women, selling all the druqqs, stealing from the stores, and exploiting our social systems.
sorry but theres levels to this ish, yall don't even know what problems are lmao
You’re part of the problem
Awww.
Who the duck are you to tell people what to do? " I don't like tourism" 😢, what a clown
The downside of this mis-behaving tourist flood is that Japanese people will again look with distrust at long-time immigrants like me, who lived in Japan since 10, 20 years or longer, who have long integrated and respect the culture and country. Unfortunately stereotyping is very strong with the majority of Japanese.
So racist Japanese people what's new.
実際に行儀の悪い外国人を目の当たりにして”外国人は行儀が悪い”と認識することの何が固定観念なんだよ😂
@@花形満-r8v Well, it's not limited to Japanese people. We all tend to stereotype others sometimes, don't we? But now just being a foreigner in Japan I get more suspiciously looked at by Japanese than before and I'm no tourist.
@@花形満-r8v the point he was trying to make is that there are Westerners who have live in Japan for a very long time (decades) who have worked hard to gain the trust of Japanese people. But the presence of misbehaving tourists will damage the reputation of all Westerners, even ones who have lived there for a long time.
@@花形満-r8v 頭あまりよくないんですね。
I'm a Thai tourist from Bangkok and I can feel the stress and pressure the Japanese people are experiencing. Thailand, too, has the dilemma of over-tourism, but unlike Japan, Thailand is reliant on tourism for incomes and economic stability. Compared to Japan, Thailand has a lot smaller economy and population size and so most of us depend on tourists for the survival of our businesses. Thai people, including me, we love Japanese cultures, Japanese food, Japanese people and Japanese products as Japanese cultures were integrated into Thai cultures a long time ago and we have a lot of Japanese manufacturing companies who came to our country to teach us about technologies and know-hows. However, seeing this documentary kind of worries me somehow, because I am planning to finally take my mother to visit Japan next year, and to be honest I am a bit worried if we will be welcomed or not. Nevertheless, my family, my friends and I, we still love Japan no matter what, like we always do. TH❤JP
ปัญหา คือ นักท่องเที่ยวคุณภาพต่ำ กำลังเพิ่มจำนวนขึ้น ญี่ปุ่นต้องการนักท่องเที่ยวเหมือนกัน แต่เขาก็อยากได้นักท่องเที่ยวที่มีคุณภาพ เคารพวัฒนธรรมท้องถิ่น
I can't speak for Japanese people, but I'm absolutely sure you will be welcomed.
Visit smaller towns and city’s. Every foreigner knows Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara etc. but they haven’t discovered many other gems. Personally i recommend Nagasaki. It’s pretty much untouched by tourists. You will be welcomed. Japanese love Thai people.
観光客を他の地域に分散するのは反対ですね。円安続ける限り、観光客は減らない状況で、結局は他の平和の地域に問題展開してるだけ。
I have been to Japan 7 times:-
2007x2, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 & 2017. I learned a decent amount of Japanese and was meeting my Japanese friends. Even in 2013, the number of foreign tourists was changing what it was like to be there, with many behaving poorly and making things more congested. By 2017, it was such an issue that I didn’t feel like coming back so I can't imagine how bad it's got now with people using the country as a backdrop for their social media and the much larger amount of anime fans. Also, the amount of Chinese and other Asian tourists massively shot up in my later visits too.
来るな迷惑や
I've been living here for over 8 years in Japan and it never ceases to amaze me
during the pdemic: " Kyoto might go bankrupt bc zero tourism, we NEED IT!" after Pdemic: " there are too many gaijin we want them GONE! "
also now, we want them GONE but hey lets build a international village and promote Japan expo 2025.....🤣
They dont have anything to moving their economy but tourism yet now they throw tourist like a sh*t what a joke 🤣🤣
you are not japanese so shut the hell up or stay in your country barbarian.
They complain but they don't complain about the money.
Guess they're learning just now how it is to share the earth with others
@@rhezeqfirmanchung1172 that's a factually bullshit statement
This. It was hard to watch the japanese lady imply that if an earthquake should happen, the shelters would be occupied by foreigners instead of the locals. Im from Mexico where it's prone to have a lot of earthquakes, I've seen people help foreigners and any other person either local or tourist to take shelter even in their own home or office. Most of the people interviewed here have a strong bias and really don't know jack about anything.
The young lady that was talking about "there's a surge in tourists mostly because of anime" and that is simply not true. I can bet that most tourists are families, couples or single persons that are not into that, most of them are not aware or are not into that whatsoever.
The real issue with tourists is bad behavior overall. Blaming the JP economy to tourists or the US is simply shifting the blame while pretending that they (Japan) as a country don't have an issue internally. Just a few months back their economy suffered a heavy blow due to bad management of loans and many other things related to that. Sure, the yen is getting weaker and it probably will continue that way but most of the money that they are receiving it's in USD or converted from USD.
A few months back, there was a shortage of rice in Japan. Guess who was blamed for that?
Foreign tourists. Fuckin' foreign tourists ate all our rice
The yen issue is a real thing... It's my understanding that major institutions have divested from Japan in favor of US bonds, because we are borrowing money at a rate not seen since WW2. Our high interest rates on "guaranteed investments" is much more appealing to investors and the yen is taking a huge hit because of that. I really think the US needs to make Japan a premier trading partner. Their products are well made and durable unlike China.
Well, no thanks to a certain nuisance streamer who is now being stuck at neighboring Seoul right now, OR a CERTAIN GROUP of people who had the (self-proclaimed) deepest grudge against Japan since the Fall of Qing Dynasty...
Exactly
i don’t think it’s about the fall of qing.
The increasing Aussies drinking and being obnoxious in the streets haven't helped either.
whose the latter?
@@1Manimation1 chaina, taiwong, except taiwongoids behave themselves better and acknowledge that anger doesn’t change history.
I understand the sentiments. All throughout social media there are videos of tourists acting like children, from the west and the east. People like Johnny Somali and many Mainland Chinese people caught on video punching and kicking the deer in Nara Park, people harassing the Maiko in Kyoto.
The person kicking the deer is actually Japanese. He has a mental illness. The tourist that fed the deer lollipop is Chinese.
I don't want to imply Japan doesn't have the right to regulate their own Tourist/Immigration Industry, but... The way you increase the value of your currency is to increase demand for said currency... Which is usually done either through Trade or Tourism.
Also with all due respect this "overtourism" is pretty much guaranteed to alleviate in the next couple of years to the extent it hasn't already... Japan effectively shut itself off until April 2023, which means it built up a backlog of roughly 3 years worth of Tourists, who then would have naturally congregated when Japan reopened.
Traveling is not exactly inexpensive, and the current Large Economic picture is one of Financial Stress for Europe and the US. So it is not reasonable for Europe/US residents to be sustaining Travel Expenditures significantly above 2019 levels. Noting in turn that 2019 levels were such that while it wasn't impossible to see other non-Japanese...
So I'm sorry, but I have to take this as overreacting to a predictable Spike, and treating that as a Sustained Event when... that doesn't really make sense for it to be, and to the extent Currency Rates would be an issue it should be self correcting if Japanese Financial policy is being handled in a reasonable fashion.
@@jebe4563 October 2o22.
@@jebe4563 Yeah, plus when the next social media trendy destination blows up, people's sheep-brains will move on to swarm that place and Japan will hopefully a bit more at peace then.
@@jebe4563 Additionally, there are plenty of Japanese tourists that misbehave abroad, whether it's the s3x tourists in South East Asia or the hordes of tourists that crowd every major European city, I even saw a lot of them when I was in Mexico in November. Japanese love to travel and don't always adjust to the local culture, yet they like to act holier than thou now that they get a bit of tourists? Japanese men fondle young girls on the train and that can't be addressed for decades but when a tourist spreads their legs or whatever it has to be widely reported? Please, the hypocrisy.
Plus only a out 10% or so are western tourist. The vast majority are Chinese and other Asians. Their flights are much cheaper and closer than ours. And japan really need to up their trade. So many go to japan just for shopping alone
S Korea created a tourist visa that has to be paid for. Why hasn't Japan done this? Just don't make the visa free...
I'm a 3 time Gaijin tourist. I love Japan and have always honored the ways except once I crossed the road on a red light. From my perspective I always thought the weak Yen was good for tourists, but I also thought Japanese get more wages than they actually do. When I told my distant family that work there how much I earn they were shocked, and I don't even think I earn that much compared to others around me. The problem with Japanese is that they have high standards and the visitors do not. Just use your eyes folks, if they are not doing it, don't do it.
A true civilized nation, now a rare treasure on this planet, is being flooded by uncivilized individuals who lack morals and respect. This is an absolute tragedy.
Relax it not that deep. lol your probably from a uncivilized country 😂😂😂😂😂
It's not any better than any other first world nation.
Found the weeb.
Yeah, so civilized that it has one of the worst gender-disparity rankings in the world and still interrogates suspects without legal representation or even recording the interview.
@@thadtuiol1717 modern gender disparity is a myth
As a frequent visitor to Japan - more than 20 visits between 1991 and 2016 - I would like to suggest some simple ideas or raise questions to be politely discussed.
1. Increase sharply the landing rights to be paid at airports for inbound flights from certain origins, and sharply increase tourism taxes for accomodations in the most visited cities.
2. Re-instate some type of visa registration, with stop-gap measure allowing for life time ban on misbehaving tourists
3. Start a wide international public diplomacy and education programme, underlining Japan's positive role in non-violence and ecological sustainability, showing the leadership of the country in those domains, and focussing on this image signalling in the countries sending the largest tourist streams.
4. Ask oneself if the relative weakness of the yen is a result of the national, Japanese, sovereign debt, rather than framing it as an aspect of tourism.
5. Have a policy of exemplary tough and strict repression of act of vandalism againts cultural property.
6. Have limits on sales of alcohol and junk food in certain areas at selected moments.
7. Stop allowing just about anyone of starting an AirBnB
#7 is the one I’d like to address. Either you’re unaware of the situation, or perhaps you don’t use hotels or Airbnbs when you visit so frequently. There are already a lot of regulations on Airbnbs in Japan, particularly in Tokyo and Kyoto. One of the key reasons Airbnbs in these cities are priced similarly to 3-star or 4-star hotels-despite often not offering the same level of quality-is the strict regulations. One significant rule (though I’m not 100% sure if it’s at the federal level) is that hosts cannot list their properties for rent for more than four months out of the year. This forces them to generate an entire year’s revenue in just four months, which has driven nightly rates up to hotel-level prices, if not higher. This shortage of available Airbnbs in busy areas like Tokyo and Kyoto is actually one of the reasons commercial hotels are always sold out. In contrast, cities like Los Angeles have a much healthier competition between Airbnbs, VrBOs, and large hotel chains, offering a wide range of prices and options to cater to various budgets.
The weak yen is because of the rates differential. The sovereign debt is an indirect problem in that it is more dangerous to raise rates as the government will have to pay more to borrow but it's *one* aspect that didn't cause any problem before. This is also why the Bank of Japan is just buying all the Japanese government bonds when it reaches a certain level. Otherwise the market would've been pushing interest rates on bonds up.
Rates are gradually coming down outside Japan but the big boy (USA) is slow as its economy has been red hot according to official numbers and even if the FED is seemingly willing to cut, recently treasury bonds traders seem to be worried about an inflation resurgence there and made the 10 year yield go up. If you look at something like the New Zealand dollar / Yen rate, it's been returning to more sane levels. Still high but not outside of the historical rates.
> 4. Ask oneself if the relative weakness of the yen is a result of the national, Japanese, sovereign debt, rather than framing it as an aspect of tourism.
Governments addicted to fiat currency and debt, of which the Japanese government is the #1 in the world, will do anything before giving up on money printing
For private individuals, especially the Japanese: buy bitcoin
im much more frequent than you. i've been to Thailand 25 times between 2011 and 2024
you can't beat that. because now you're too old to travel that far. sucks, huh?
I think that Japan wouldn't have trouble with misbehaving tourist if they know that they would be immediately and propely punished for they actions.
This makes me sad. After 20 years I finally made it to Japan. I did my best to avoid over crowded places but sometimes it just can't be helped. Seems like some people didn't want to adapt. It was clear on the faces of locals how miserable they were with the over tourism. I did my best to adapt and blend in, but I am just one person. I sincerely wish there was something I could do to help. Japan deserves more respect than what gaijin have been giving it lately.
Lol , the bad ones are bad ones the good ones are ignored, so Japan need more respect from the good one because of the bad ones ? I mean , bad people will always be bad , so I don’t really get it sorry… how can you give more respect when you are already a normal person well educated ? You adore them ?
@@sekaiomiruhitokaminoyume5426 sorry for the confusion. I was referring to all gaijin in general, anyone visiting Japan, should show more respect. The reason I say that is because of the attitude of the bad ones who feel they don't need to adapt, respect, or show understanding of a country they are visiting. I would expect the same thing of a guest visiting my house and I would show the same respect visiting someone else's house. Bad gaijin in Japan are acting like bad house guests.
Guy’s don’t be fooled, Japan is a beautiful HELL HOLE!!!
STAY FAR AWAY FROM JAPAN, or even far eastern countries, there all terrible! You’ll be doing yourself a favor that can save your life. If you absolutely have to see them, try taking a digital tour.
You can only do your part. It sounds like you did well.
@@TamashiiRyu you are right obviously.
like I said I’m sorry, lately it’s been hard to cope with the amount of people mentally unstable we have nowadays,it makes me unstable myself. Read me as the person stating facts just to make sure that I’m not dreaming about common sense. I’m starting to think that technology is a monster feeding on our brains, the more it develops and the more we become ignorant and unaware or worse immune to simple concepts of reciprocity and reason. To be fair, it’s simple as what people do in front of their mirror before watching themselves in the eyes saying * im not the crazy one * I have just have more free time
Wouldn’t a stricter Visa system help alleviate the issue a bit? Limit the overall tourists allowed to visit throughout the year. At least for long enough to address some of the infrastructure issues that could be made to encourage tourism nationally so that Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, etc. wouldn’t be so overwhelmed and smaller towns could benefit from foreign tourism. I’ve never been able to travel much so I’ve only ever been a tourist within my own country but I hope in the future better systems can be put in place for everyone involved 😭💖
Americans are not required a visa thats the main problem
@@manuelmacalinao500 Ah ok that makes sense why it’s such an issue. Hopefully that changes and Japan implements a visa requirement for Americans. I’m confused as to why they haven’t done that yet.
@@Jaxalopi I'm guessing it's because Japan and US probably have an agreement where you don't need a visa to enter as a tourist short-term. If they add visa requirement just to stop tourists from coming, they could risk US getting mad or something.
@@Jaxalopi The entire shtick about all of this is that people such as the nuisance streamers keep doing things without even the understanding about the local cultures and the consequences of what they do. This is a problem.
I myself have to do some research about those places before I even LANDING on the airport. So, these folks have no excuse about anything.
If people across the world don't have even basic ettiquite, then even stricting the visa is useless.
@@manuelmacalinao500 Its not just Americans. My Australian and UK passport both have visa free access to Japan.
As a gaijin, yeah that's fair to be worried about misbehaving/disrespectful people :(
Good video. Covers many different viewpoints.
We have the same problem in Egypt but with illegal immigrants. Sometimes I feel like I am not in Egypt anymore because there are a lot of Sudanese, Syrians, Libyans, and Algerians. They get great houses, free food, free medical care, and education that Egyptians themselves don't get. They raise the expenses of everything from food to housing. They breed like crazy, outnumbering the natives until the natives feel like minorities in their own country. It's insane. Anyone who is not a native of the land should go back to their country. It's not fair.
Now you understand European native who are facing this for decades.
@arkasonus7678 stop wars and the immigration problem will stop. the only reason there is immigration is because of wars.
europeans have been experiencing this for a while
who sponsors your migrants if you don't mind me asking, I'm really wondering..
who pays for housing, medical, expenses, etc? The gov? or EU pays your gov to keep them in?
@@testdep juice
It's just sad Japanese people started hating tourists. Many people want to visit Japan and only a small percentage of them are problematic.
That's exactly the issue there. My every day life is incredibly peaceful until I spot a noisy/bad behaved tourist. It's called pattern recognition.
I would love to visit Japan too, but if they close door to braindead tourists I would be OK with that as well. It's their country and they should protect their beautiful society by any means necessary.
Fuk wat ppl think
Same thought
@@toruweber I'm originally from southern California, and if you cannot deal with tourists being annoying then you shouldn't be around a touristy area. Even Japanese can be annoying to a westerner in a place like Disneyland back in the day, but I never thought of them as annoyances. Social Media is probably the biggest part of the problem of bad actors around the world anymore.
They're right, although i love to see other countries and cultures, you can see how it became an industry which is destoying the local population. Be this spain, greek, italy, paris, etc
On the other side, we are modern people with modern needs so they also need people to spend on useless things, but in case of japan, they've got enough local visitors as 90% something percent of people have no Japanese passport for travel (unnecessary)
It's ridiculous for American tourists to get offended by lower prices for locals. We do the same exact thing here in the US. Museums and other attractions like botanical gardens are much cheaper and sometimes free for locals in many states.
Im in Japan too! Understand your point! But I have been here 24 years from America. Love your Video and look forward to more!
I am still saving in order to visit Japan in the future. Those who can afford it now, can you please behave when you are in Japan. We should always respect the laws, culture and it's citizen of every country we visit.
貯金をしても日本には来ないで下さい。日本に外国人はいらない。来るな。
Thank you for sharing! Japan was in my number 1 to visit next year. This is making me drop that plan entirely. I don't want to contribute to the problem, and there are so many other beautiful countries to travel to. I'll wait a few years before considering it again.
You might actually have an opportunity to solve the problem by showing Japanese locals how wonderful a tourist can be. Learn a bit about Japanese culture and language. Think of yourself as a diplomat. Who knows? You might inspire some locals to learn English and open a whole new door of possibilities for them.
He’s right that improving the economy and making the yen stronger would alleviate the problem a lot. People are traveling by the droves because it’s cheap right now.
The solution is easy.
If you misbehave as a tourist, you should be put on a blacklist.. and kicked out of the said country.
Just like with planes. If you create a scene on a plane, you're added to a no-fly list and can't fly anymore.
Just want to share this experience with you guys:
I and my cousin went to visit Tokyo as tourists a while ago, but I did my homework and studied the culture and practiced some basic Japanese language so that I don't struggle with the cultural shift as much. I've treated the country and its people with utmost respect (as it should be), and the feedback I got from the locals is heartwarming and wholesome. My cousin, however, he just did whatever he pleased without much consideration, and he had different feedback from the locals, not in a direct way, but it was in a passive-aggressive way. Given that experience, I think the Japanese have no problem with a well-behaved tourist, and their hospitality is just superb.
Another experience I'd like to share is this one time when I was taking the Shinkansen and there was this family that was being loud and annoying. The teenage kid was on FaceTime with someone while she was on the train and seemed to be unaware of the rules. The Japanese all around me said nothing to her, and they kept silent the entire time. Even the train officer who walked past her didn't do anything about it. I've gotten fed up and had to take a photo of the signage on the screen that literally says "no phone call" and showed it to her father so that he can correct her. Annoying as hell. Now I know why they want fewer tourists. I mean, even I got annoyed by the negligence of most tourists. But I think the Japanese need to find a way to speak up and correct the misbehaving tourists more. Because I believe that tolerating things that you don't deserve is just senseless suffering.
Love ya❤
Completely understand the frustration. I've seen tourist do things which are down right disrespectful and even embarrass me as a tourist. It doesn't take a lot of effort to learn some of the more important customs, especially the ones geared for tourist. For example, those huge suitcases. When you get to the airport, there are so many businesses there that will deliver your baggage to your hotel. There's no reason to take baggage on public transportation, and having your baggage delivered is very inexpensive. With just a little research, tourist can make their visit even more enjoyable. It's a shame that so many people don't make the effort.
Pretty easy to turn tourists away as a nation! That said a lot of money comes in from Tourist. Paris hated tourists when I lived in Germany for 12 years especially Americans. Then when ever tourism would decline they would cry about how much money they had lost or where losing! they would be very abusive to tourist often tossing egg's at their tour buses and such. No one is forcing any country to let in tourists and no one is forcing businesses in Japan to make money off of them! If it means that much to Japan let them shut down all of these businesses. Then we should likewise not allow Japan to visit other countries in Europe and the USA. Not a lot of Japanese tourists speaking world class English! Japan should probably worry about it's birth rate and economy though more than this. I will never hear me speaking ill of tourists coming to America it would hurt to many people that make a living off of that industry. I get it though as an American that spent 12 of my first 18 years of like in Germany I hated the way some American tourists acted. If people break Japanese laws while visiting Japan arrest them, fine them, cane them what ever it takes but do not punish all people not from Japan that visit because of a few ignorant people. I would say part of this is Japans fault for being too kind and patient at times and not speaking up right away when these poorly behaved tourists get out of hand!
Tbh, not a big fan of the price discrimination for tourists and non-tourists, and simply adding a “resident” discount will just cause inflation to go up. It may be worth having the government charge airlines extra taxes for those coming in on a tourist visa, at least then that money can help build up the infrastructure needed to support such an influx.
I believe that's part of the problem though. As I understand, Japan does not require a visa to visit for 90 days or fewer. Perhaps it's time for that to change. Get your fees that way.
It is not price discrimination . It is two-tiered pricing which occurs everyday in the USA. Disneyworld charges much higher prices to tourists than Florida residents. Is that capitalism for Americans, but discrimination when Japanese do this to a foreigner?
Rural Japan is magical and google translate still works when you're in the middle of nowhere. I recommend offering "cash back" Shinkansen fares unless people misbehaved and got a notch in their ticket from the conductor (or anyone with white gloves). Also pamphlets for tourists with the basic dos and don'ts.
Seriously, people skipping Tohoku are missing out. Beautiful region, the warmest, kindest locals and great food.
I Happy Nobita is back, we missed u
I often see people who justify illegal acts concerning Japan on the basis of prejudice against Japan. I judge this is just racism.
I just don't understand the lack of respect and common sense in alot of tourists or people in general these days. Whenever I visit another country, I try to learn as much as I can about mannerisms, culture and the language before going to be as little a burden as possible and not upset the locals. People nowadays just seem so obnoxious and downright stupid it's unbelievable. I think Japan should really crack down on imbeciles that misbehave - dancing in the train - goodbye, taking a picture of a Meiko/Geisha without consent - goodbye, climbing on anything - jail then goodbye. I don't think that type of "tourist" will learn otherwise.
ok north korea
@deadlypendroppingby 🤣🤣🤣 whatever
blame social media
I'm down to the US banning tiktok.
Japan needs to charge $1000 visa fees.
Not only in Japan. It’s in Spain, Italy, Greece, Thailand and many more. People's behavior is becoming increasingly pathetic.
Flights are too cheap
As a Greek I agree with you 100%. But Greeks will check you if you cross the line. Japanese are very shy people and non-confrontational.
Same here in France.
But the actual problem right now is not tourism but immigrants... Tourist are going back to their contries after a few days or weeks and they have money. Immigrants don't go back and they are here for your money.
I think this is blown out of proportion by social media.
Same tourism problems around the world. When the yen had a closer 1:1 value on the usd, Japanese tourist would spend 3 to 4 times as much in Hawaii than other tourist. Being bilingual in Japanese and English is prized. But it also contributed to the same problems that Tokyo and Osaka are facing right now. Every market on island except for the nooks and crannies, the backstreets, and outliers, raise their prices because high tourist traffic means customers with open wallets. Hole in walls seem to be the last place where locals can get a meal without paying the tourist fee. And too many of them get deleted in the face of chain stores and luxury brands.
Good on you Japan. At least most are not "permanent tourists" like in the EU...
Nobuyuki sounds just like a complainer and blaming other people for their mistakes without actually looking at how to fix it or take steps to acknowledge where Japan is falling short and also how we can help tourists understand the cultural difference. He keeps saying it’s not a communication problem, not Japan’s weak yen problem, etc. Dude, it’s all of it together. Putting up signs isn’t going to deter tourists from acting out. They have a different culture. That’s where Japanese high context society falls short and the blame falls on Japan. When dealing with tourists, you need a strong arm, not a weak arm that Japan has. You need to say things straight and strong, not “I hope you understand what I mean while I smile and act like your behavior is not a problem”… communication is weak even amongst Japanese people and they complain about it daily and yet… nothing changes and the cycle continues. With tourists it’s 1000% worse.
I agree, it's combination of issues, and do nothing for Japan or just close tourism is stupid. It's also requaried a tons of small decisions and not on ward level but on government. After all we have market regulation, if resource on low those resources became expensive. Tourism should be expensive enough to balance crouds. Goverment can use tons of ways.
Yea that's what i thought. Unfortunately when i watch Japanese youtuber talking about tourism/foreigner, some of them will 100% blame foreigners instead of evaluating themselves too. Sorry to say, reading their comments makes me feel those people have no idea what they're yapping but being too loud about it and act smart.
Finally someone understand, its their people problem
As an Italian, I am very familiar with the problems caused by mass tourism: dirtiness, rudeness, and little economic benefit. I visited Japan during Golden Week, and among the many tourists, there are unfortunately always those who (due to a lack of cultural awareness) do not know how to behave properly.
Japan has found itself in a situation that it did not handle well and is still struggling to manage. Around 90% of the tourism is "one-off" (given the cost of airfare, 3/4 of tourists will only visit once in their lifetime) and is overly concentrated in just three cities. This type of tourism does not promote the rest of the country, nor does it foster diverse tourism styles (e.g., sports, food and wine, religious tourism), attracting only low-quality tourists who leave behind litter and do not spend much money locally.
The same problem happens here in Italy, where tourists see snapshots on Instagram without doing any real research. They have a distorted image of Italy and expect to be treated like royalty, no matter how poorly they behave.
There are solutions, though:
Differentiated pricing for tourists and residents.
Raising the tax-free threshold for purchases above €100 (currently €25, if I’m not mistaken).
Development and promotion of other areas (rural parts of the country that are still well connected).
Stricter penalties (such as bans) for those who cause problems in the country.
Development of targeted tourism instead of catering solely to the masses.
イタリアの美しい観光スポットが、品のない外国人に荒らされる動画を見たことがあります
本当に遊園地のように遊んでいて、信じられません
@@NovaFrame12 You have much bigger problems than tourists in Italy buddy boyo. Have you seen the migrants in your cities?
@@gravityissues5210 didn’t say “only for the rich” but rather to diversify types of tourism, something Japan isn’t doing or is doing poorly. If you focus only on one type of tourism, you only get the negative side effects.
Before making a snarky comment, maybe make sure you understood what I wrote.
I am sorry that tourist bring many bad actors to japan. I miss being able to visit. Please know that there are those of us who love japan because it is japan. And that if we could can stop the foolish ones we would.
We can. When you are there keep the other tourists in line.
Born and raised in the USA (fully American) and the wife and I avoid doing a number of things during "tourist" times.
People's behavior is way to often out of line for us, even the little things like people walking around with blinders on like they don't impact those around them. You don't have to be loud or obnoxious to be a nightmare to be around but just lack self awareness can make you a nightmare to be around.
I can somewhat relate and understand what Japan is going through. When the locked down was lifted in Hawaii we had a flood of mainland tourists flooding our communities, trashing them, breaking private properties to get to the beaches and other erratic behaviors. It had calm down for us a bit but their is still a bit of us locals who dislike the tourist. Some of us would like our state government to open up other industries to not be so dependent on tourism.
I'm also sad because I want to visit Japan myself to learn my heritage. But how the tourists behaving now will make it more difficult when I get to visit. I hope the Japanese government will be able to find a solution that meets their communities' needs and be able to regulate the tourism as well.
BTW even if the Japanese yen become strong again, I would still visit.
I just got back. I did day trips almost everyday outside the cities. I went places either super early to avoid rush hour or after rush hour. Especially if I needed to get to destination with luggage. Ain't no way I'm getting on a packed train with that stuff. I will say I see a lot of places saying no tripods and I can see why. People blocking stairs and paths to take footage is annoying.
This report depresses me. 😢 Some friends and myself were planning to go back to Japan here in late fall of 25. Mind you, we understand the culture, we are doing our utmost to learn the language, and trying to be a minimal impact as a tourist while still experiencing all we can when we go. Just like our last trips. And now, saying all this. It's disheartening and (cannot speak for my friends) it creates a conundrum in my head like... do I go back or don't I?
I also feel for those that don't like tourism tho, I get it, I do. Just as one example. There was what was only presumed to be a British family on a rail system that was traveling on the same train we were. They were being much louder than the obvious environment around them just by talking between the 3 of them. I took it upon myself to say to them to "Treat the trains as you would a library." Because, it was apparent they didn't do any research before traveling to another country.
Keep in mind this is a UA-cam video and the extreme opinion is what will give it a click. This is a real issue, but the conversation is far more nuanced than a short video with some opinions from an angry ex-hotel worker can offer.
Come here and follow the rules, and you'll have fun. If you don't want the tourist chaos, don't visit the tourist chaos areas.
I live in Osaka and I barely step foot in Dotonobori.
My local area, yeah I'm assumed to be a tourist initially, but due to how I act it doesn't take people long to figure out I live here.
Things are never as simple as these videos make it out to be.
No no, please come here. Enjoy Tokyo, and then go take some risks and find some areas off the beaten path. Since you've been here before, I doubt it is a big ask, but avoid Kyoto and instead go to Tohoku, Kanazawa, Kyushu, or some other areas. There is plenty of room for more tourists outside of the main tourist traps.
Same, I also rlly wanted to go to Japan, that's the reason I am learning Japanese and I also try to understand the cultue
Don't come here, we are sick of you. 来ない方がいいと思うぞ
Don't let this discourage you. Learn about Japanese culture and study the language a bit. then go enjoy yourself and show the locals what a great tourist looks like. Make us proud!
I went to Japan last November and the most obnoxious kind of tourists were the Chinese by a long margin. They are loud, disrespectful and really annoying. Even talking with japanese people they complain about how annoying they are. You can see there is a relevant amount of American tourist, but no so much if you go a short distance from the main touristic areas. I am from Chile and i never detected another latin american people except a few mexicans one time. Ican comprehend the point of the local Japanese, some places are just overwhelming because of the quantity of tourists, and the most rewarding experiences are going out of the usual path. I studied quite a lot (including language) before traveling to be respectful to the people and culture and it was perfect. It isn't difficult to be a well behaved visitor.
They aren't chinese. There are not many chinese tourists these days due to country relationships. Most of the chinese speaking tourists are from hongkong or taiwan. The hongkong ones are quite loud.
This is an 'ideal' opinion, so I think, in legal terms, it might not be feasible. However, I believe Japan should have stricter visa requirements, where potential travelers must pass cultural tests and demonstrate a minimum knowledge of the Japanese language to be approved.
As a Thai, I know 100000% how the japanese feel
Oh, I fully understand. I was recently in Taiwan and met a woman visiting from Thailand. She asked me if I had ever been to Thailand. I told her that I hadn't, and that I was nervous about going, even though I think Thai people are wonderful and love Thai history, culture and pop music. She asked me why I was so nervous. I told her that it is because so many Western men go to Thailand for the sole purpose of being disgusting and doing disgusting things, and that because I stand out so much as a European man myself, being associated with people like that isn't exactly appealing. She encouraged me to go anyway.
@@Bunnyroo7 อคติมากเกินไป ...ผมไปเที่ยวญี่ปุ่นมากว่า 10 ปี แต่ผมไม่เคยไปย่าน kabukicho คุณกำลังดูหมิ่นนักท่องเที่ยวคนอื่น คนที่น่ารังเกียจน่าจะเป็นตัวคุณเอง
And also French, Italian, Spanish do! Overtourism killed all the historical cities of Europe. Nobody still lives there, that's just tourist. Japan started to understand what happened to Europe or Thailand...
@@diverstrucs6740 It really depends. There are cities in Europe that have been completely ruined by tourism. For example, Venice, Florence, Dubrovnik, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Prague and Lisbon. There are other cities that have not. Copenhagen and Stockholm, for example, are historic cities that are still perfectly pleasant -- at least outside peak season. There are parts of London and Paris that are unbearable because of tourist numbers. But... Go a mile or two away, even a few blocks away, and it's no longer that bad.
@@Bunnyroo7 You're right, but that's the same in Japan. Walk just 3 km away from the touristic spots, and there is absolutely nobody visiting the unknown (and really beautiful) temples.
I've lived in Japan for 14 years outside of the big metropolitan areas and major tourist spots. There are actually a TON of cities that DESPERATELY want tourists, foreign or otherwise, to help their local businesses. Tourists, Japanese and non Japanese, flock to bigger cities because they're convenient transportation hubs with plenty of things to do for everyone and get a lot of media attention.
I went to Kyoto my share of times before the pendemic and it was full of tourists with locals complaining not only about foreign tourists but especially Japanese ones. Tour buses full of elderly Japanese being elderly Japanese and tour groups clogging up famous spots.
With regards to vandalism and the like, let's talk local homegrown yankii, shall we. Obviously the person behind this channel is another middle aged Japanese guy pissed off with those darn foreigners who put into question the fragile Japanese sense of identity so widely promoted by other middle aged Japanese men.
Where once men railed against the rise in popularity of Korean actors and boy bands, now it's foreign tourists.
But in all this, they avoid talking about very much Japanese ruffians and delinquents who are and always have been an issue. While not glamorized as they may have once been, they are out there with their noisy motorcycles and enjoying underage drinking. The amount of petty crimes committed by these young people is likely costing Japan more than tourists misbehaving.
Moreover, influencers aren't just tourists. Japan has its own annoying would-be social media superstars and some are even having an impact on politics! (Often for the worse, see the Hyogo gubernational election fiasco) Yet, this channel tries hard to to blame outsiders for the problems because they represent an easier target.
You didn't pay much attention to the video, did you? The guy who makes these videos is nothing like you describe, and the video actually addresses the points you crudely make. As for Japanese delinquency, why on earth should that be covered in a video about the problems associated with foreign tourists? You're just a blowhard.
Or that the economy is so bad lots more underage activity going up
Careful of what you wish for. They’ll regret it once they get it.
Nice defense of tourists that are legitimately causing problems within Japan. No one isn't saying that Japan doesnt have crime. All countries do. But, the delinquents and the loud motorcycles aren't driving up the cost of food and pricing out hotels for Japanese tourists. Have you been paying attention to the cost of rice recently since you live here also. It sounds like you are excusing foreign tourist behavior. It wasnt Japanese delinquents on motorcycles harassing and assaulting geisha in Kyoto, they were foreigners. The shrines being vandalized in Tokyo and Kyoto were done by foreigners. The arson incidents last year in Tokyo were committed by a teenaged foreigner. At Mt. Fuji ,it was foreign tourists climbing on top of stores and dental offices. You say you live in Japan for 14 years but you are bashing Japan. Criticizing the delinquents , "annoying" social media, criticizing the elderly here for going on tours here. You have been here 14 years , so there must be something about it that you like. But I couldnt tell from your post. I have seen all the things you said. But the elderly have a RIGHT to go on tours. It is THEIR home, right? Not foreign tourists clogging up everything and making a mess. If Japan is this bad, why do you stay? It is a problem caused by foreign tourists. Asa resident who lives in the city, I am suspected as a tourist and treated differently until I speak in Japanese and then their behavior becomes much nicer. You are in an area where tourism hasnt spread to yet. So, you dont fully understand what foreign residents are going through because we are assumed to be tourists in the big cities. I havent lived here for 14 years, but my loyalty is to the people of Japan who opened their door and welcomed me in and will not take it for granted like some apparently have. If it is your home, you defend it. I wont bash the elderly or some kids behaving badly in return for defending some ignorant foreign Instagram tourists who run up our cost living and only here because its cheap and not because they love Japan like I do and you do as well if you lived here for 14 years.
Root cause though is that local government is just not even trying to adjust to tourism demand so consequently local people suffer from overcrowding
Or they have a bewildering harsh reaction like Shibuya forbidding events such as Halloween or New Years. With how rich that ward is, you would think they'd instead increase police presence or introduce traffic control policies to better handle large crowds. Kyoto is different in that it is just next-level incompetence.
Most municipalities and cities in Japan are close to bankrupt mainly due to an aging population. Even Kyoto is expected to declare bankruptcy any year now.
How do you expect these local government to do anything? They do not have the means. The 200 Yen hotel tax per day or the few extra bus tickets they sell cannot even finance one single additional bus! Let alone pay for bus driver salaries.
Improving the situation would have to be nearly fully paid for just by local citizens - and that won't go down well either, especially in the current economy in Japan.
There is literally *nothing* anyone can do to fix this.
@@andreasbauer7285 Stop lying. Japans economy is way better than most of worlds countries. Aging population is something government endured for long time and didnt try to fix, so now reprecussions for their ignorance are coming, simply put they chose to abandon their own population for profit.
@@andreasbauer7285 If central government steals too much of local taxes, then question is obvious...
@@andreasbauer7285Japan is still not a cheap travel destination. Tourists spend thousands of dollars per trip, into the Japanese Economy and Taxes.
I understand the Japanese, tourists can be a real plague 😢😢😢..
Japanese folks might seem super friendly on the surface, but there's often a hidden layer of jealousy and resentment towards foreigners, which seems to come from their own insecurities and strict way of life. After living and working in Japan for a decade and being married to a Japanese guy, I've seen this firsthand. Sometimes, their condescending or rude behavior feels like a way to push foreigners to leave sooner. Because of that, I’m totally set on sticking around for as long as I can, just to ruffle some feathers.
Let me guess, your Jo husband kicked you out, right? 😂
@@dearmary7654 Not at all. 😳 My Japanese hubby and I have been happily married for ten years and still going strong. 🤩💖 Why, is that what happened to you? 😂😂😂
@ no, I’m married for 15 years, we have children and I can’t even imagine what jp guys can jealous western foreigners , red faces, smelly sweat, fat? What exactly🤣
I absolutely understand the sentiment. I live in the UK and was planning on visiting Japan with my son next year, but now because of all this sh!tshow many disrespectful a$$holes have caused, we postponed it for now. I don't want to be associated with Johnny Somalis and similar.
Don't let this discourage you. Learn about Japanese culture and study the language a bit. then go enjoy yourself and show the locals what a great tourist looks like.
This ruins it for tourists who stick to the rules. My daughter has been to Japan 4 times and is going again next year. I haven't been yet, and I hope I will make it to visit Japan.🥺🥺🙏
Don't let this discourage you. Learn about Japanese culture and study the language a bit. Then go enjoy yourself and show the locals what a great tourist looks like.
It's what happens when currency value drops, everyone takes holiday there. 😊
People tend to forget, japans population is 127 million dealing with 35 million more tourists per year is quite a massive issue for locals , it places quite a large constraint on imports that would otherwise be used by locals , and then there’s the issue with transportation here in Japan. Nothing wrong with tourist but the government needs to keep it in check and also make sure they tax tourists cause keep cities clean and adding stress to the infrastructure is expensive.
I think part of it is exacerbated by the fact that during covid almost no one visited. So a couple years of that creates a more extreme contrast.
35 Million is the estimate for total Tourists for 2024, not the increase. Also mind that they're only there for like two weeks a pop, and that figure isn't the number of tourists that were present at any given time in 2024.
Also mind that Japan processed 31.9 Million in 2019, pre-CoVid, and only released CoVid restrictions for travel in April 2023. Hence while people did rush in in 2023, the per annum total was only 25 Million. So it makes sense you had a backlog of tourists due to shutting off for ~3 years, and some spike activity as a result, but... If we recognize that... The per annum changes are only significant in light of the Lockdown period reducing it to basically nothing.
Also do note that... the 2023 numbers had the major source of tourists being... In order South Korea at 7M, Taiwan at 4.2M, China at 2.4M, Hong Kong at 2.1M, and then the US at 2M. So over 60% of the tourists in 2023 were Korean or some flavor of Chinese, not Europeans or Americans... In turn I have a sneaking suspicion the tourists most causing issues, aren't European or American in origin.
@@jebe4563nope. Definitely westerners
Who's the prime minister of Japan? If he's not doing a good job, then the people need someone to put Japan first like how Trump is voted to put Americans first.
No, your view is mistaken.
As a brit, I totally, completely 100% understand. In fact most Europeans feel the same way in Europe. At least in Japan it's just tourism and not immigration.
My friend went to Japan recently for a holiday after his last holiday 10 years ago. And said it felt "not Japanese" in the same way as 10 years ago. But when he went to Hokkaido he said it was more authentic, with less tourism.
In addition, don't forget, even Japanese can be xenophobes.
That's an understatement
I totally understand Japan’s frustration regarding tourists and most of you will not understand to the fullest extent why they seem to live so well in harmony. Unlike them, most countries kids are not taught public manners/behavior or don’t even value it at all. They often litter, are noisy/annoying and have no clue that they are disturbing others. Fact is that Japanese people have to deal with lots of bs from tourists who are ignorant so I would actually support higher prices in general for non-residents.
Mass tourism has always been awful everywhere. Just ask someone from Paris about Americans, or someone from Barcelona about Brits. When the mass comes, it inevitably includes the minority that ruins everything for everyone.
I love this super emphasis on manners, while turning a blind eye to everything else. Peace? Are you sure? Why are "black companies" still operating if they systemically violate the law? What's been done about rampant infant bullying, except swiping under the rug? Elderly bulling? Consumer bullying? Caretaker bullying? Employee bullying? Kohai bullying? What about all forms of hrssment? The raise in prostitution? The raise in host schemes? Kurobaito? What's been done about the police not tending to women's calls on partners or parents? What has been done to Johnny Kitagawa's victims? Please do pardon me for my ignorance, but I cannot fathom any form of "peace" when there's so much suffering, of your own people, no less, being merrily ignored and maintained under a lid, no matter how pretty the enamel is. "Peace" isn't such a light word. Oh, but of course, as per japanese values, all that matters is that the streets are clean and people are quiet.
Every country has their issues. Everyone can come up with a wall of text like yours for each country in this world. No need to feel so offended lol
@@CerridwenAwel Japanese values are akin to American values... part of the past, sadly. A lot of what I saw as bad behavior in this video was from social media addicts, and there are just as many of them per capita in Japan. I'm not dissing Japanese that feel this way about tourists, but either grow a thicker skin or lock up the bad actors; the world isn't getting any better anywhere not even in Japan.
@toruweber Is reading so cumbersome? Why I'm not impressed. To whom is used to write more than 100 pages a day, that "wall" of text is a post-It note, but I digress.. People too attached to form can't overcome it into essence, perhaps? You're mistaken. it's not me who is, or even should be offended. Nor is it even about countries. It's about something beyond, alas seemingly too opaque for you. That's the problem. Japanese's lack of humanity and boundless indifference is mind boggling. Unfortunately that's costing them, and will cost more.
Responding from Japan. Areas in Japan had issues with overcrowding in transportation before the recent surge. Everyone is flocking to the cities. Hotels in cities were already ridiculously overpriced too. While I understand being tired of bad behavior, blaming tourists for rising prices in city hotels and transportation is just scapegoating. Tourists coming in and exchanging their dollars for yen is good for the yen.
Gotta be hard to work your ass off more than most nations, struggle to get by, yet tourists are able to take advantage of the weak yen with plenty of vacation time. I bet it would feel like you were working for the wrong reasons and would be looking for someone to blame...we have a similar issue with immigration in the US. Its an economic struggle looking for a scapegoat
The economy in the US has been great for half of us, but it’s felt bad for the other half. I guess the lower half feels like it’s competing against cheap foreign labor.
I lived and worked (English teacher) in Tokyo in 1989 and 1990 (near Hosenji in Nakano-ku). Apart from the other teachers at the school, I really didn't see very many westerners in the Nakano/Shinjuku area. Prior to arriving, I spoke no Japanese and knew very little of the culture. But I knew enough not to eat on trains, be a jerk, or toss garbage on the ground. And, honestly, I never saw that either of the Westerners I would run in the main tourist areas (Harajuku, Shibuya, etc.). Seeing the video of people creating dance videos on the train/subway is really...disappointing would be the best word I have at the moment.
Japan should absolutely raise its prices
maybe before allowing tourists in, look up their police record?