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Japanese start traveling en masse on 1st advisory-free weekend

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If Japanese get out there and travel and use money, get the economy going, foreign tourists wont be necessary.

Japanese have no money to spend, thanks to government ineptitude and interference in the free market. Rather than help the economy recover so that Japanese can make money and visit tourist sites, the government goes after foreign tourists - like some impoverished Caribbean island.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

At least this shows that a lot of Japanese people obey the restrictions despite no legal penalties. The fear of being judged by society lies deep here.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If people do get sick there’s very little chance they would get tested, and therefore treatment.

The reported numbers will never go up. If the government says its under control then testing will be reduced accordingly to reflect government message.

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Exactly the way the locals prefer it. Tourists are regarded as another type of virus, albeit one that pays.

That doesn’t even remotely match my experience. Seems more like something someone would say after reading too much JT, where people talk about Japan as if it were the most racist, violent country on earth.

I’ve travelled all over the country. My wife and I prefer to travel without driving on the major highways, staying in smaller towns or whatnot. I literally cannot remember a single incident where I got the “go away foreign tourist” vibe. I do however have countless stories of the opposite.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

The most sustainable tourism is domestic tourism, so it would be good if it could take off. Some of the sightseeing in Japan is a bit samey or gimmicky, but there is great hiking, camping, and cycling. If you are not the active type, just hire a car and take the road less travelled. 

True. However, people need to have enough time off to enjoy domestic tourism properly. It's not supportable if everyone continues to have the same weeks on the calendar off.

I don't see any foreign tourists here. 

Exactly the way the locals prefer it. Tourists are regarded as another type of virus, albeit one that pays.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Aokiko in Hakuba that is

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

After my wife and teenage daughter had another crazy row last night I swore I would drive up to Aoki Kong in Jakub, stay the night incommunicado.

Had no idea there were travel restrictions.

Lucky they didn't argue last week

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Errr, case rates are trending up, in countries operating with a 21st century mindset, you lock down at this stage?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

We normally get a lot of tourists in my town and they are very welcome back. Well, maybe the ones who go to Kabukicho aren't, but the rest certainly are.

The most sustainable tourism is domestic tourism, so it would be good if it could take off. Some of the sightseeing in Japan is a bit samey or gimmicky, but there is great hiking, camping, and cycling. If you are not the active type, just hire a car and take the road less travelled. There are beautiful backroads and scenery all over the countryside and unless its in some hypetastic list of Unesco or "power spots" or something, they'll probably be no-one there.

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OssanAmericaToday  06:28 pm JST

Opening has to be carried out in stages. And at least 2 weeks after one stage should pass to review further opening action.

That is exactly what the government have done, schools opened three weeks ago and there wasn't a massive increase as many predicted.

Having to fall back again as several other nations already have throws economic recovery into further confusion and chaos. But they too were under pressure to reopen.

Many nations implemented far stricter measures and they haven't irradiated the virus so what is the point of continuing to wait and see?

There are less than 1000 patients in hospital or hotels nationwide and we are in the rainy season when viruses are less likely to survive so if there is a time to try reopenning its now. Living with an array of restrictions until a vaccine comes is both financialy impossible and of debatable value.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

We went to Kyoto a couple of weeks ago and I haven't seen the city like it it more than 20 years. Almost nobody at Kinkakuji or the Kiyomizu area, and great for photos. Though not so great for those with a business that relies on tourism. Give it another week or two and things will start picking up unless we get another warning.

Perfectly put @kyronstavic. Because I live in the US, for now, and the same thing basically is happening here. Crossing my fingers for the numbers not to spike like they are here in the US after restrictions have been lifted.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

All any ne needed to do was look at google maps with traffic enabled to see the chaos had returned to the roads as normal. On the highways they were running into the back of each other like it was a fashion statement, traffic jams from Kawasaki to Ebina on the Tomei (33kms) most of today just heading out of Tokyo so imagine what the return is / was / will be like.

Virus , what virus ?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

soon we'll be seeing daily numbers of 100+ again.

It will be seen if testing is increased and we know the government is not interested in testing so 100+ cases is unlikely.

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oldman-13Today  07:26 pm JST

If Japanese get out there and travel and use money, get the economy going, foreign tourists wont be necessary.

Can domestic tourism within Japan sustain the present Japanese tourist industry? All I've been hearing the last few years is the government setting ever increasing target numbers of foreign visitors and everyone shouting "inbound, inbound".

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Oldman:

foreign tourists wont be necessary.

You might want to try explaining that to the Government, who so very wisely placed all their eggs for a economic rebirth into the basket of encouraging foreign tourism.

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If Japanese get out there and travel and use money, get the economy going, foreign tourists wont be necessary.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

Opening has to be carried out in stages. And at least 2 weeks after one stage should pass to review further opening action. Having to fall back again as several other nations already have throws economic recovery into further confusion and chaos. But they too were under pressure to reopen.

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OssanAmericaToday  04:31 pm JST

I really think they should have awaited at least another 2 weeks. 

Why? In two weeks is the virus going to disappear?

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

"I don't see any foreign tourists here. I guess the situation is still difficult," he said.

Wow! I wonder why!

20 ( +20 / -0 )

Get out there and travel! The Japanese economy needs you! This is the best news I've heard in awhile.

-13 ( +8 / -21 )

Hideaki Yoshinaga, a 59-year-old resident of Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, was visiting the Beppu hot spring resort in Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan, a popular destination with foreign tourists.

"I don't see any foreign tourists here. I guess the situation is still difficult," he said.

Yup. It surely is still a bit 'difficult', when foreigners with even visas to Japan, and families in Japan, are not allowed to enter the country.

19 ( +20 / -1 )

I really think they should have awaited at least another 2 weeks. Of course I understand the economic pressure. But tourists aren't going to go back to June 2019 levels just like that, so the industry is still going to be suffering. Is it really worth a possible rebound? China and South Korea have shown how tricky this COVID19 can be even after it appears to be under control.

14 ( +18 / -4 )

Guess a big chunk of the population aren't that worried about the virus, and will take their own precautions if they think it's necessary.

We went to Kyoto a couple of weeks ago and I haven't seen the city like it it more than 20 years. Almost nobody at Kinkakuji or the Kiyomizu area, and great for photos. Though not so great for those with a business that relies on tourism. Give it another week or two and things will start picking up unless we get another warning.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Good for them.

-7 ( +8 / -15 )

They really couldn't wait another week or two? Most places show an increase after lifting travel restrictions .So, soon we'll be seeing daily numbers of 100+ again.

24 ( +29 / -5 )

Say go and everyone goes,Say stop and everyone stops...

2 ( +11 / -9 )

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