Japan welcomed a record 36.8 million tourists in 2024 — and even more are expected in 2025. But is it too much, too fast?
In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we look at Japan’s overtourism crisis, from overcrowded cities and viral photo spots to rising tension in Kyoto, Mount Fuji and ski resorts like Niseko and Akakura. We break down the data, explore where the tourists are coming from — and why— and examine what Japan’s national and local governments are doing to manage the great influx.
Chapters:
- 0:00 Topic Overview
- 1:12 Japan on the "bucket list"
- 2:38 Where are the tourists coming from?
- 3:57 Overtourism problems
- 6:22 What countermeasures are being taken?
- 7:58 Other strategies
- 9:41 Outro
Read more on Japan Today:
- Japan approves lodging tax in 11 more areas as tourism booms
- Foreign visitors to Japan hit monthly record of 3.26 mil in February
- Mount Fuji climbers to be charge ¥4,000 on all trails
- Niigata ski area resort of Myoko trepidation as more foreign money pours in
- Cherry blossom, free visas and stronger rouble see Russians flock to Japan
Join the conversation!
Will Japan hit its goal of 60 million tourists by 2030 without losing what makes it special? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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© Japan Today
19 Comments
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wanderlust
Saw 3 Chinese tourists struggling to wheel their massive luggage cases on to the ropeway/ cable cars at Hakone. Surprised that they were even allowed to travel with them, blocking exits, and seats.
NoWay
I feel great if many foreigners come to Japan and they come to like it!
I feel like talking to foreigners every time I see them on street.
If you are foreigner to travel around Japan, what do you feel when a stranger talk to you?
(Sorry but when I traveled in India, I was very cautious if a stranger talk to me there... But in Japan, I hope foreign travelers don't feel bad when I talk to them.)
enmaai
My place of work is in Asakusa and I really hate it when people mistakes me as a tourist.
BB
Me too. Especially because it often comes with a look of terror as they imagine me doing something freakish that upsets the wa. But I try to roll with it...
NoWay
Oh... OK,
I won't talk to foreigners unless they talk to me...
factchecker
" My place of work is in Asakusa and I really hate it when people mistakes me as a tourist. "
Yep, absolutely despise the patronising, you know nothing because you don't look Japanese attitude. Perhaps us residents need to start branding a few income tax returns when we go out.
kaimycahl
i said Japan and the people need to be careful of what they wished for. The yen is low and the foreigners can enjoy but the people of Japan is stuck with unfamiliar behavior from the visitors and the inconvenience of the crowds and cost of goods and services
garymalmgren
Thanks
A clear rundown of the present and future situation.
For locals who live outside the tourist loop (I am in Miyagi) the numbers of foreign tourists is still not overbearing.
We will see what it is like in a few years.
stickman1760
despise tourists and all my experiences with them have been bad.
wish they would go elsewhere.
CrashTestDummy
Too many people makes things worse. I went to Kyoto/Shiga area in September. Never saw so many people. I'd much rather visit the smaller cities and towns now.
JDoe
Japan gov wants to double incoming tourist numbers so it/they are the actual cause of the problem.
Easy solution; Stay home. Don't travel unless absolutely necessary, don't go to tourist spots.
enmaai
Oh... OK,
I won't talk to foreigners unless they talk to me...
Well that's definitely on you and go for it if it makes you Happy.
@Japan Glimpsed
Umm. No.
Ercan Arisoy
Sometimes, overtourism is a real challenge to the preservation of cultural authenticity in addition to many practical annoyances. Places like Venice in Europe have similar problems and they say that dealing with this matter moderately is not easy at all.
SomeWeeb
Enjoy or hate it while you can, the trade wars and the immigration wars are in progress and people are already starting to be afraid of travel. Statistically almost all Japanese travelers are from Korea or China though, so you figure out some limits I guess. There's ~2 billion people around that area, and even if they behave themselves it's a lot of potential foot traffic.
finally rich
....and reinforce the stereotype we're merely temporary guests, with our real 'home' waiting for us out there, very clever
BB
My comment had nothing to do with foreigners. I said I'd rather not have locals freak out when I appear because they imagine I'm about to upset the wa. Read better.
Thunderbird2
The UK, smaller than Japan, had 38 million visitors in 2023... yet we coped just fine. I wouldn't label that as over tourism.
Japanese tourists seem happy to travel the globe and experience other cultures for their one week annual holiday... but when those same cultures come to visit... ooh, up come the barriers.
Yes there are bad tourists, but there are many more good ones. I try not to commit any faux pas when I'm in Japan... being paranoid that some old granny will glare at me and wish I was gone far away. You can't blame all tourists for what a minority get up to... I mean it's like saying that all Japanese are naïve abroad.
Mocheake
Yawn. Spend all day whining about tourists. How about writing to the prime minister and telling him to go closed doors again like before the Meiji Restoration? Fat chance. They like all that tourism money coming into their pockets...er, coffers. Same thing actually.