Why Japan’S Tourism Is Growing?

I found people in Kyoto to be so sweet and welcoming. Just avoid rush hour commute times, let locals have priority on trains buses and when walking and also just avoid places that have restrictions because of overcrowding and disrespect. I’m from Hawaii and we have major over tourism issue so I want to be the most respectful visitor I can be. I was there in April and there were many people in the popular places but also there are many less popular places that are beautiful. Explore, be respectful, be aware of your surroundings and rules, treat locals with respect. You are visiting their home.

I have ADHD and felt very loud and aware in Japan. And I took care to not be a nuisance to anyone, to adapt my volume and rhythm of speaking and to not be disruptive. If someone with inhibition problems can have that level of awareness, so can everyone else. The beauty of Japan is this reserved and more caring nature it has towards the bigger picture. If you visit, you contribute to that to keep it that way.

The problem isn’t the amount of tourists, the problem is that all the tourists go the same places. If they were spread out all over Japan, it wouldn’t be an issue at all. Japan ‘only’ gets 30 mil visitors a year compared to 100 mil in France or about the same as the tiny country of Austria gets. I don’t think making Japan rail pass insanely expensive was a good move as now, tourists will travel less around Japan and just stick to the main sites and cities.

I feel like the old Japanese people, are the final stage of Japanese people. I like them! The younger ones seem, a little suppressed by the politeness,… or something. The old folks though, they say more of what they think. More direct. I like that. I may be imagining it though, just judging from the article.

I´ve lived in Kyoto for 7 months and I keep visiting it every year, I have to go to Kyoto because it´s so unique and I love the nature, the unique houses and streets. I always find quiet places and I do not go to supercrowded places if I don’t have to. I am a tourist myself but I guess you have to prepare well for Japan and for Kyoto. So here are my tips for other tourists: 1. Don´t stop abruptly on the street, pay attention to people behind you and in front of you. 2. Don´t travel with too much luggage, some suitcases are so big that even I would fit it. 😉 3. Don´t eat and walk. 4. Don’t talk loudly on the train and on buses. 5. Behave at temples and shrines and don’t forget that these are sacred places. Be quiet there too. 6. When you take pics, don´t take ages to do it. You are not the only one who wants to take a photo. 7. Don´t forge to queue. (at train stations, restaurants, everywhere where Japanese people queue too. 8. Take your rubbish to your accommodation if possible. 9. Don´t just go to Kyoto, go off the beaten path. Japan is amazing! 😉

Thank you, Takashii, for doing this interview and showing us what Kyoto locals think about the problem of over-tourism. Especially the answers from the deaf lady were really wholesome. Charing fees is kinda getting seen like the only solution to this problem. From what I’ve heard they already did this in Italy. What I would do, if I had to find a solution to this problem, is to make other non-touristy places and areas more attractive to tourists by advertising those places and building more transportation lines towards these places, that way the tourists can spread out and aren’t only on specific touristy places.

In this article, I hear 2 distinct things that can be improved that will help tourists and locals. Baggage delivery made easier for tourists to travel hands free. So they aren’t making the already crowded public transit worse. Tourist bus express routes that dont stop at places the locals need to go. The tourists will be happy because its faster, and the locals wont have over crowded buses. I loved Kyoto every time that I have gone. I don’t want to be in the way of the lovely people who live there while trying to enjoy the wonderful areas. I agree that the Maiko and Geiko should absolutely be kept safe as they are working. Its the same as a private neighborhood anywhere, people shouldn’t be disruptive of homes and businesses. I do wish there was a way to view the traditional music and dance in a way that is easier to access as a tourist. I think that businesses could definitely make money and help visitors and locals by implementing these things.

I am married with a Japanese citizen since 2002, during those years going to Kyoto was extremely pleasant and special due to quite few tourists presence and practically no Chinese invasion which makes the situation very complicated, so nowadays it’s everything changed and Kyoto is really overpacked in many areas around without really appreciating the good historic things Kyoto has to offer. Additionally, the idea the young lady exposed, to let tourists to pay more on transportation overcharged for their luggage, is absolutely a no sense! It would only increase the revenue but will not solve any problem at all. Another unpleasant thing i heard is buses for Japanese only, that’s really really bad thing to hear and say with a smile on her face, especially for people like me spending more than 20 years in this country. It recalls me the Nazi-fascism in Germany in 1940’s with segregation rules in place. Really sad to hear such poor thoughts….

I hate it that the Kyoto-natives are having issues with tourists around the city. I was in Kyoto back in August 2015. Though I’m a foreigner, if I were now I do know how to act when I’m in temple areas and within the city due to my past experience there. A lot of foreign tourists do not study or brush up on learning how to act while in Japan or know everything you need to know while visiting Japan. This could be the problem that’s going on right now. I read 2 Japan travel guide books before I went to Japan, so I knew the etiquette of the Japanese people. I will probably go back to Japan in the future to visit my friend Haruna and her husband with taking my daughter and my wife. The trip will be a surprise trip for my daughter when she graduates preschool.

So encouraging to hear of the open mindedness of the Kyoto locals- considering to huge amount of tourists in their city. I’m in Kyoto right now, visiting from Australia, and am very aware of the local rules and general etiquette required. It’s disappointing to hear of the issues in the Gion area as well, but is the price of bad behaviour- overall though, we love to visit Kyoto and the locals love sharing their culture. A healthy balance is definitely required though in order to keep Kyoto beautiful and healthy tourism wise.

Hi Takashi, thanks so much for this article. My partner and I spent all of last Nov travelling around Japan in a campervan. We purposely avoided Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto as there were so many people and we wanted to be out away from the touristy places. Japan is so much more than those places, as exciting as they are, we needed the quieter rural life. We live in rural Australia and don’t particularly enjoy the craziness of cities. Castles, temples, Momiji and forests, tea and rice, farming and village life revolving around traditional skills and crafts is what does it for me. I DO enjoy going to those other places but I can’t stay for long. They are very exciting and very beautiful but Japanese people need their space too and they LIVE there. Thanks again. Cheers.

As someone who lived in a very popular tourist destination (with so many problems brought by overtourism), I can tell that these local Kyoto locals are wayy nicer and more open about it. I trust the Japanese government and the locals can work together to solve the problems and find the right balance. I love Kyoto. Would love to go back someday.

As someone who’s visited Japan multiple times I can say that my favorite city, not just in Japan but in general that I have traveled to has by far been Kyoto. In Kyoto more than anywhere else you feel that it is a city that just lives and breathes it’s culture. It has so much more of a soul when you compare it to other cities and that what ultimately made me fall in love with Kyoto. Hope to be back soon!!

I think the „educate tourists” is a good point. I was in Kyoto 4 weeks ago, and it’s just hard to figure all the do‘s and dont‘s out on your own – basically by trial and error. Japanese are nice enough to give you pointers or help you out, but I think some officially organized information would help. Like discouraging people to use the bus with bigger luggage and respectfully ask them to take a taxi, maybe even with a little incentive like a few hundred Yen off the fare if you use a taxi with big luggage, with a voucher or something like that. The busses are pretty packed during rush hour as it is, no need to cause inconvenience for all by doing your thing. This could also be a valuable lesson in caring for your fellow being for a lot of foreigners.

Glad to hear that from local Japanese people, I love Kyoto and also any other part of Japan too. But in my personal opinion, even if the local said so, the tourist quality is really a problem and that happens to any other famous places in the world as well. I hope it’ll get better soon because Kyoto that I’d like to have in my memory is a beautiful and peaceful city.

Ah Takashii san Its a shame that many do not respect the culture and traditions in Kyoto but think its like an amusement park. I personally went to Kyoto and Japan for that matter back in May of last year. I want to thank the Japanese people for their hospitality and warmth that I experienced with 99% of the places I went to. I knew Kyoto was an older and previous city of the royal family. I saw a lot of the well known places like Arashiyama, the Bridge, Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, Nijo Castle, Nishiki Market, Aoi Matsuri, etc. I did travel into the Gion area but really had no idea where to go. I like impulse and surprise so I would like being somewhere at 4-5am, sun coming up and someone opening up their shop or a beautiful sunrise on a hillside. I would love to take a picture of a Geisha or Maiko, but would feel better that they wanted me to. Its more genuine! One place had a English speaking worker outside a bar inviting tourists in. It was run by a local woman who wore a traditional kimono, but felt this was more of a lure to to pay a cover and order expensive drinks. I would pay for the traditional Geisha tea service but would want to know its authentic. Do you recommend a genuine guide for that? Where I pay the geisha not so much the guide? I unfortunately saw a lot of Tourists being very rude and obnoxious. It sucks that a few ruin it for the majority. More Police presence might deter bad tourists. I met a lot of them(police) during the G7 conference when I was in Hiroshima of last year.

I’m currently in Kyoto and it’s quite sad seeing other tourists, spread their luggage out and causing delays, as if everyone else is on holidays as well; forgetting the vast majority have a family or a job to attend to. How loud they are as well, really throws off the “traditional” vibe of this beautiful town.

Thank you very much for this article. It was eye opening. I am from Germany and I am going to visit Japan in a couple of weeks with my daughter after she will have finished her State examination in law. Traveling to Japan is something very special to us. It is some kind of a wish of a lifetime. While my daughter is doing her studies now, I am doing mine. I try to learn as much as I can before we are on our way to this very extraordinary place. I read tons of books now. I do not want anybody there to feel uncomfortable because of our presence. Listening to what people in Kyoto say about tourists was very interesting. They say everything in such a nice and friendly way, no matter if they are old or young. That was amazing. We are looking foreward to see Kyoto and we also try to visit some of those spots that have been suggested in your article to avoid overcrowded places. First of all we are exploring Tokyo. So I am very curious about the difference between those two cities.

That first girl is so sweet & adorable, I’m glad tourists haven’t spoiled things for her and she remains positive about people. Nice to see it’s mostly positive, I am from the UK but plan to visit Japan one day. I’m very interested in Japanese culture and admire the country, it’s people, culture, history and environment. Japan is such a clean and respectful country, I would be very ashamed if I went to Japan and broke the rules, or inconvenienced / annoyed any locals! I’m upset by the amount of litter in my area, and I know for a fact that many foreigners have made the problem very bad, they have no respect for the locals and don’t care how much they litter, fly tip and ruin things for the longstanding residents.

Kyoto was one of the most beautiful places I’ve visited – especially around Arashiyama. We were only there for one week, but the impression of calm was very memorable. I think that tourists like us, who read extensively about Japan, its people’s culture and habits, and who come humbly to learn about Japan are usually very welcomed. To other tourists: remember that you are a guest in their country. Behave accordingly, and allow them to host you properly. It is a better experience for both the guest and the host when you behave in a manner that is expected and understood.

I agree with some sort of luggage tax. There is no reason for people to be bringing multiple huge suitcases on to small spaces like buses, unless it’s the airport bus, where they pack them into the luggage space before you board. People are very rude with their massive rolling luggage in narrow walkways, including hitting other people who are walking. Why not bring just a few mix and match outfits and be creative about wearing them and take advantage of the laundry services in your hotel? Even better – buy clothes while you’re here in Japan (but you’d have to be able to fit into them – maybe lose a little weight in preparation for coming here – you’ll be doing a LOT of walking, and I’ve seen more people sprain their ankles or hurt their feet or legs…does nobody tell them that they’re going to be walking a ton here?). Tourists in a group need to be more aware of themselves in general. There’s something about group mentality that reduces brain cells – and that could be domestic tourists, foreign tourists but also visiting student groups and grandma gangs pushing their way around shopping districts!

the people with large luggages should take a taxi or uber not the train or public transportation, and those taxis or ubers shouldn charge astronomic fares either, that way both turist and locals respect each other . Other thing they should charge a fee who trash the city, that is no respecto for the country and the people if they dont behave make them PAY

They could limit the amount of tourists that enter the city by charging an entrance fee, charge for luggage on buses, they could bring in more buses, have extra separate transport for locals only, encourage the use of bike renting, expand the city a bit and the roads, advertise the exploration of other areas and parts of the city. I think that a bunch of little solutions could really help.

Japan is so far for me the only country i visited more than 15 time and still enjoy visiting. Some other country i go there once, twice and its enough, i don’t necessarely want to go there again. But japan is very special, its really one of the kind for me. You can pick anything, like ARts, culture,tradition, nature, or modernity or traditional old sutff or Eletronic or photo or bath or food or “WHATEVER”, japan is top notch in ALL area. It’s a pleasure to visit everytime.

Lived and studied in Kyoto in 2017, didn’t feel the city was overcrowded at all! Of course you had tourists in the historic parts and monuments, but that is more than expected! You should come and visit my very small city Oporto in Portugal 😅 here you can definitely say it’s overcrowded and tourists EVERYYYYYWHERE! You just have to learn how to live with it🙆‍♀

Thank you, I appreciate the many perspectives. I lived in Japan for two years three decades ago. Now I am a tourist. I want to be respectful and enjoy the culture without bothering anyone, so it makes me sad when the locals feel bothered. I am glad that many locals seem to recognize that not all tourists are bad and that we just want to meet them.

Thank you for this! I visited Japan for the first time last July with friends. Though we spent most of our time in Tokyo we did take a day in Kyoto and stayed at a lovely Ryokan near Nishiki Market (Highly recommend visiting both!) I loved my time there and did my best to educate my friends so they would be conscientious of locals and trying to stay out of the way. I feel bad we had to bring large luggage with us on the train too. We had all of our things with us that we needed for our week long stay and to bring back souvenirs. It was necessary to have the large luggage, but I still feel bad that we took up space with it. Plus it was really hot, and the guys in our group are not small people. We want to visit for the fire festival next year and get kimonos and really take in the tradition and atmosphere of Kyoto. I’d also love to stay at the same Ryokan, the owners and staff were wonderful. ❤

I just got back to the US from Japan. Tokyo was pretty cool but I fell in love with Kyoto and Nagoya. I love history and Kyoto has so much of it even though I did notice a lot of foreigners. I even got interviewed by some junior high students from Tokyo at sanjusangendo temple for a school project, they were very nice but very nervous to talk to me but I was with my ex girlfriend who is from Nagoya who helped translate my answers.

My father-in-law built a beautiful new home on Matsubara street in Kyoto, which is one of the roads leading up towards Kyomizu. We sometimes stay at his when we visit the city, but I can’t believe how busy it has become. If we take a taxi to the house, it’s difficult for the driver to get through the crowds of people. Getting around the city has become more difficult due to the long lines at bus stops, there are too many people to fit on the bus, you have to wait for the next bus, or sometimes the one after that. For old people it is big inconvenience. Though I’ve lived in Japan for some 20 years, being an American I am always assumed to be a tourist, and the looks I get nowadays from locals are a little less friendly than they were a few years ago. What is a shame is that foreign visitors aren’t going to other parts of Japan, which are equally as beautiful and interesting as Kyoto, but which few people know about. And these places could really use the money.

In the little time I was living in kyoto 6 months, I came to love the city and its people very much. It was during end of pandemic in 2022. The city was beautiful and relaxing with barely any tourists. The locals were very friendly and helpful. The city is just rich in Japanese culture and heritage, I would love to be back there, but the over tourism is putting me off.

You need to understand like in musea they signs that you are not allowed to take pictures are pretty obvious to everyone but many people just don’t care simply because nobody is going to stop them and they are not getting expelled for doing it so they do it anyway because they are selfish and do not care for others. This is called individualism and this is how most people live in the west, they do not care about Kyoto they just care about their own vacation and want to take pictures.

Tourists should learn Japanese culture before they come go to Japan. I went to Japan back in march, and I saw fellow Americans being disrespectful in the Tokyo tower tour. I apologized to the person giving the tour and was surpise my Japanese was pretty good. Its common curiosity to show respect especially, I enjoy every person in the article sharing the beauty of Kyoto and places to go.

Maybe Kyoto needs to consider making some other attractions like an alternative Gion street, maybe make a Disney-esque Edo village where foreigners can take photos, wear kimonos, and eat, and buy Japanese gifts. A win-win for everyone. Very few tourists care that it’s the authentic Gion or a manufactured experience. They just want the photos and experience. Then make getting to this attraction super easy and provide luggage storage close to the bus pickup spot.

I live in Japan but visited Kyoto in November last year. Kiyomizudera and the street leading up to it were busy, but that was nothing compared to Arashiyama. I could barely move through the main street and abandoned my plans to explore the area. I did go to some quieter places and it was lovely, other tourists were respectful, I even chatted with some locals. It feels hypocritcal for me to support bans but clearly it can’t go on, especially with a growing minority being so utterly rude, so I understand the decisions. Because of historical preservation I imagine it’s difficult to renovate many of these popular places to manage visitors, unlike say Tokyo, which is vast. This is the least of the issues, but I could accept places being busy if people didn’t block an entire pathway so they can take a selfie with no one in the background! I now consider it my duty that when I see someone hogging space for a photoshoot to walk directly between them and the camera.

I visited Kyoto last year with my partner and will again this year. We choose to go during summer despite the discomfort as its less crowded. We’re also studying japanese in order to be able to communicate with the locals better. I think Kyoto should implement taxation for foreign tourists, and use those funds to ensure beyter transportation for locals. The dedicated bus system for locals is also a great idea.

It’s true that recently the in-flux of foreign tourists don’t do much homework before visiting Japan. Many of them ignore the general unspoken rules local people follow. Somehow I saw a lot of foreign tourist including me in Kyoto late last year. I would say if the Japan Government could use a quota system to control the number of tourist at a particular place at any one time. If I am not wrong, this could help both the local people and the tourists to enjoy the place and the local culture.

I was in Kyoto last fall during autumn leaf season, fresh off the plane and sleep-deprived, and the wait to get a taxi at the main station alone was absolutely draining… I think I waited almost an hour… and yeah, there were tourists everywhere 😅 I was actually there to see a concert and not as a tourist but I had to pay the tourist fee at my inn anyways lol… Which btw was smaller and more expensive than any other hotel room I stayed in in Tokyo. For a lower price per night compared to Kyoto and Tokyo I was able to stay at a 4 star hotel in Aomori. I had to take more taxis and buses because things were more spread out but I really enjoyed my time there. I recommend going in the fall during apple season. Dotenmachi in Hirosaki is really amazing. Aomori has a growing tourism industry trying to revitalize the prefecture and it’s really charming. I think lots of inaka prefectures are becoming like that. PS give the Aomori-based idol group Ringo Musume a listen! When I was there I was essentially on a pilgrimage visiting all the places they had shot their MVs at ❤

Thank you making this! I’m actually visiting Japan on May 24 and one of the places I’m going to visit is Kyoto. I’ve been wondering about how the people of Kyoto felt about tourists recently and this does make me feel better about visiting. Plus as an American I have no problem speaking up if I see another tourist disrespecting Japan. Also I’m so happy you met up with Shogo. Before my trip I’ve been doing a lot of research on Japan which is how I found both of your websites on the first place. So I think it’s really cool to see you both in a collaboration episode! Who knows maybe I’ll even be in one of your tourist interview articles 🤣 (I low key hope so lol)

I definitely agree with the elderly lady with the blue & white blouse. Educating Japanese manners & rules to tourists before entry. Maybe mix it into the Japan entry form/questionnaire or have them watch this article before entry. Maybe even awareness of the simple arigato, sumimasen or X-fingers or arms meaning stop or don’t do.

having been to Kyoto recently, yes, some popular areas are very overcrowded; I enjoyed visiting some of these places but felt bad for doing it. the buses are overful, and I welcome the news that at they’re adding some sort of tourist bus. I think a small tax for train luggage is quite misguided as people don’t willingly carry luggage; they require it.

This made me happy to watch. I’m vacationing to Kyoto in June. I find it annoying that some foreign tourists don’t take the time to research the culture of Kyoto, or Japan for that matter. The last thing you want to do when in any country is disrespect the culture or the people. A friend of mine who had went to Japan in the past described it in one word, humble.

was in japan a few weeks ago. skipped kyoto after my experince in osaka and also skipped tokyo. I was reminded why I left NYC. Its too much stimulation for me 😀 I stayed in smaller towns or cities that most don’t talk about. Had a great time in sapporo, noboribetsu, kobe, gotemba and ofuna (we just randomly picked a spot off the train. One of the servers whos learning english asked us why this town and we just said we wanted a supprise). Hope to go again and just walk about small towns. We did enjoy Nara before the school kids came and did get some 2nd hand kimonos so did get a taste of traditional japan. we do like forest, country and woods though so less people is better for us. I think Id be too stressed to visit kyoto. when we landed in osaka, we basically kept walking untill the roads got clean and there wasn’t any blaring music. Thank you for the kyoto suggestions

I want to say, last November I went to Kyoto by myself to heal from a traumatic experience. It really healed me as a whole, the temples and pace, the weather was incredible and the local folk are friendly. My only problem was some tourists are really not respecting some of the sacred zen gardens, or overcrowding the local buses that the lines needed attendees. I hope all this will be reduced so Kyoto can be experienced by everyone. ❤ from Philippines~~

I hope more tourists will be respectful of Kyoto (and everywhere in general). It seems like such a special place and I hope I get to visit someday. It made me aad to hear about the prices in Hokkaido going up. My friends and I want to go snowboarding in Japan next year but now I feel kind of bad about it lol

I’m an expat living in west coast USA. The local government where I live put in place a rule that tourist with big luggage must take a local bus (stop at every stop) but forbidden to take express lines. The city can imperilment this type of schedules so that local riders will not be affected by the clouded space, Or locals can take express bus to their destinations or get near it then taxi short distance or wait for the next local bus which will still end up saving time after all. Kyoto is an ancient city where the streets are already very narrow (except central old palace area). If they want encroaching tourists out of Gion street they must apply that to every internal (Japanese) tourist as well or else it would be a discrimination. When you can’t distinguish between genuine locals and visitors you must apply the rule to all who enters. Locals can carry a pass or certificate. At the same time why not set up a gate then charge a fee with time limit to get inside that area ? That way gate keeper can control the number of people walking / browsing around to appreciate the very unique atmospheres of Old Gion entertainment district. You can also set up luggage delivery business out of Kyoto station or Airport to local hotels and make that mandatory for fee of course. Yes carrying or dragging big bags in the central area of the city not allowed. That will ensure more space for customers/passengers for locals. We must also make certain priority seats must be reserved for every bus for passengers in needs.