oh wow! the 'crunchyroll is blocked' was definitely a new fact for me - thank you for mentioning that! That's interesting though, I wonder why that's the case?

I haven’t been to Osaka since 2002. I’m in for a surprise. Visiting in August:)

went to Japan 3 weeks ago and i was off the Golden route, i barely saw tourists to the cities i was visiting like Fukui or Hikone in Shiga. Next year Im going again and also going cities like Aizu-wakamatsu, Magome, Gifu City etc..i prefer the cities where i barely see tourists

Very nice. I esp liked the old/traditional architecture. Your music selection is very relaxing too.

Excellent video. Increase prices. Another problem is China tourism is way way down for a number of reasons. If China "loosens up" their tourism would attract some of those tourists away from other places imo because China has tons of incredible sites also.

While there are great points for why one should also visit the lesser known regions of Japan, unfortunately there are also some reasons why most don't check too many of them out, especially on a first trip: 1. The country may be cheap right now, but getting there is far from it, especially if you live someplace in Europe and have to avoid the entire Russian airspace. If you're a bigger group, this issue gets way worse. This makes it so that for a lot of people, unless you earn pretty good money, it really is a once in a lifetime trip. 2. Limited time. Even if they had the budget for it, a lot of tourists are also on time constraints. (A week or two) 3. There needs to be way more advertising for some lesser known regions than there is currently. That with the increasing number of ghost towns is also not helping too much, when even occasionally locals from those regions are moving to the bigger cities. Again, it doesn't mean the lesser known regions aren't worth visiting, but there's also usually a reason why tourists don't always visit them as much. ^^; (Money and time restraints, as well as the proper amount of advertising.)

I have a week long trip planned for april 2025 what locations do you think I should check out on my trip. First timer, I speak very basic japanese.

I am from Texas visiting Japan soon, we are hot and humid here so it won’t be much of a bother to me with the heat and humidity

I returned from Japan last November after spending two weeks and I’m glad I had the JR Pass. I would buy it again without hesitation.

Allison, your vid was great - just back home last night after 10 days in Tokyo (I live in Australia) and also had a couple of wks in April in Tokyo + Kyoto. Used to visit a few times per yr and really noticed the affordability shift this year. Agree that hotels are expensive and sell out relative to past years, but transport is inexpensive (digital-wallet Suica worked fine) & Tokyo especially is best when walking (all the lovely surprises). This past week or so though was HOT! phew! so later in summer will need some planning if you are visiting. Food is super affordable - and like you, didn't strike the "tourist-premium". Highly recommend "decentralising" your location in Tokyo etc - you can train where you need then chill in "local" spots near your accommodation and actually chat/ engage with people (why I love Japan)... and as many have said, the regional areas are wonderful. Stay cool this summer!!

Tourist price is fine. It is still cheaper :). going in April.

Not only are there a shit load of tourists now but all the konbinis seems to be firing the Japanese and replacing the staff with Indians. So soon you can expect the same service and quality you'd get in any western country. You can also go to some areas and watch gangs of Muslims rampaging in the street if you time it right. Absolutely mental.

I'm going in september but steering clear of tokyo, kyoto, and osaka. I have been waiting and saving for years to have enough money to afford a nice Japan trip with my 3rd world currency so I don't really care if now is a good time I'm going anyway while the Yen is cheaper 😂.

Just got back from Japan last week. Tokyo and Kyoto were as busy as expected. People want to go now as it's so affordable right now

It is a Tourist Boom indeed now like what Nobita said in his channel said. I used to be excited in visiting Nihongo, but ever since the incidents with those three silly visitors in 2018 and 2024, my image as a american has been shattered. The locals are getting tired now and I do not blame them. I would be feeling the same way too if my town was overrun like that. The world is not fond of america right now so my image is hated by a lot of individuals. As a Texas Native myself, there are four from my location now living in Nihongo but I'll leave all that to them. I though will be giving Nihongo time. But I better start saving money because Country Traveling is going to be More Expensive than my 2011 Las Vegas Vacation.

Starting in 2015 I'd go to Japan at least once a year (pausing during covid) and it has like quadrupled in busy-ness since 2015! I went last year and it was so unbelivably croweded in Tokyo/Kyoto.

If you avoid Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, not busy.

Came back from a week in Kyushu end of May ... I saw really few Western tourists and hardly any places were very busy in general, so the suggestion to stay of the beaten track is spot on.

Found your channel today. Really enjoy your vlogs, sharing your experience of living in Japan. Thank you for sharing. 😊

We rushed and planned a trip in March 2023 (so fun!) mostly because we knew it would get crazy with tourists the following year, plus when the country opened up tourism from China!! It already felt so crowded at the time but I cannot imagine what it’s like now!

Ty

God am I glad all I need fits in two luggage and a hiking backpack lol.

your blouse is so cute!

I'm so sad about the hotel pricing situation. Earlier in the year(early March), the hotel I stayed at (in Akiba) was reasonably priced considering where it was in relation to my previous stay and for fun I decided to see what the same hotel would cost during the same time window (late February-early March) and the difference was $400 (Which was already a $300 jump from my 2023 trip). And that's the current price difference. The same room, same number of days and as far as I know, no plan(s) to update or renovate the hotel or offer any additional amenities, etc. The gaijin hotel tax is real and I'm honestly not sure if my foreign spending would even do anything to boost their economy. I spent $XXXX earlier this year and the yen just keeps dropping???

❤

Hi Allison, has the overseas media dramatised the growing number of flesh-eating bacteria cases in Japan? How's the situation now? Is it safe to travel there?

I'm moving to Tokyo in a week for language school (no the summer term was not my first choice) and I'm super worried about the heat and the crowds 😭

Plan to visit in October 2024. Thank you for your information

one year ago I was in Japan for the first time in my life. We tried to add more out of paths destinations while also doing the golden route. Kyoto was VERY VERY VERY PACKED. LIKE, VERY! But only the main attractions! So while we decided to skip some places because it was too overwhelming, we visited other temples where it was super quite. And yes, for you to get that picture you have to wake up SUPER early. Also, we decided to do a day trip to Onomichi, a cute small town and it was very nice, and we also went to some places that are part from the "Kumano Kodo", which I totally recommend! it was also very nice!!! We could enjoy a good onsen bath, eat good food without doing queues... etc... I still dream about that tuna we ate in Kii Katsuura :'))) so yeah

weak yen? now i can finally afford a grand seiko 😆

For organizing I use the special app named "Finch". It's look like a game actually, and this is the only app that I use for a really long time. I had tried some other apps with strict design and structure, but it never lasted more than a week

GERO CALL OUT WE KNOW OUR ROOTS

How many times you said "Don't get me wrong"... greetings from Costa Rica, see you in October

Damn!!! To come or not to come????? Your video sucks and confusing!@##@$^

Japanese govt should simply assist JR/Rail Co to add Suica/IC taps to far rural stations and buses. Then many more foreigners would adventure out to inaka. A taxi in Shibuya shouldn't have IC card reader over rural town.

The Yen is weak but flights and hotels are a lot more expensive now. Before COVID, we flew to Japan for $600 Canadian w/ return. Now the flights are almost twice as expensive. So I feel our trips overall are more expensive than they used to be. Still love going to Japan though 😅 PS. Love your hair in that style!

Visit Taiwan instead. :) Japanese people go to Taiwan on vacation. There's a lot of Japanese restaurant chains and stores in Taiwan that are from Japan. Ichiran, Gyukatsu Motomura, Don Quixote, etc; Less busy too and signs in English and foreigner friendly.

No, China is a much better and bigger option

I have been staying in the Nara area and studying the Japanese language since April 2nd this year. Now at my last week of school and leaving back to the Netherlands next Saturday. Had a good time here. But indeed it is way more crowded than when I visited in 2017 and 2019. And I miss the cheap JR railpass. It is now not really worth in anymore. But I did manged to get a Icoca card which makes traveling a lot easier than figuring out the cost of your ticket every time :)

I'm visiting Tokyo right now and it reminds me a lot of New York City. Tons of people from all over the world in certain sections, then outside of that, it's basically locals only. People are so so welcoming if you're polite and show some effort to speak Japanese

welp I hope its a good thing that I don't care for the "golden route", I would like to go north to places like Sendai and Yamagata. Hope that route isn't as packed lol

Went to Japan a year ago for the first time, and this year in March for the second time, and lowkey I want to go again this autumn. The flight tickets are so expensive though 😭😭 but weak yen in Japan is so tempting!

Hi, are you planning on sharing a video of your trip to Europe?

Thanks Allie be coming back on October in Central Region done with the Trifecta Route. Cheers

I am in japan now and i kinda regret coming. So hot. Suica is suspended and it has to be digital and it is complicated coz alot of Ppl couldn’t get their payment done for digital Suica due to visa place of issuance including me. And Japanese seem unhappy with tourism.

I'm so glad I went last year in April for a month. Wasnt crowded at all. A 15 Year dream came true. I'm just sad i didnt visit the more rural parts. Next trip in a few years then maybe. But i would definetely visit in one of the least crowded months. Tokyo was packed enough, even without many tourists.

I'm booked to come in November with my boyfriend

It's easy to say "stay away from the Golden Route" if you've been to Japan before. But for first- (or only-) timers, those are hot destinations for a reason!

If you've visited the Sistine Chapel, Venice or the Notre Dame between June to August then you know what you're in for. I live in Tokyo and visited the tourist areas in the winter. Take for exaple Nikko and Hakone, places like these NEED tourists to survive. But the Japanese will never admit to that fact nor restrict the amount of tourists coming in the country $$$$$$.

We just got back a few days ago. We only did Tokyo, Kamakura and Osaka because our teen wanted to hit the theme parks. It was his first trip there, but my husband and I went in 2009. Glad we went to Kyoto and Himeji back then when everything was empty. It was SO CROWDED this time. We had an amazing time, but it was way different. Lots of tourists were rude and disrespectful to the Japanese culture. We were disgusted by some of the behavior we saw. We did bring an entire suitcase of stuff home. Shopping was so fun! You are right that the good stuff was still the same. We fell in love with Japan all over again and we're already planning a trip back as soon as we can save some $$! We'll visit Tokyo plus smaller towns to get a break from the huge crowds.