Has Japan's Tourism Boom Affected Residents Like Me?

[@Gazumi-inOZ]

Glad I've found your channel Paul, enjoying, I've just subscribed. I'm on my 11th Japan trip in 3 weeks, this time heading to Shirahama Wakayama/& region for 12-days after an overnight stay close to KIX airport. These days I'm mainly launching from the cities and spending my time in the outlying areas. Previous 3 Japan trips were to, Shima Mie, Biwako Harie Takashima, and Tsuri/Ostuki Yamanashi. Noticing an increasing number of tourists enquiring of/planning a rural stay alongside their 1st city visit, a trend I think will grow.

[@Exjapter]

That sounds like a great itinerary. I think the search for "new" places in Japan will begin to trend, as you say. And I think that's a good thing!

[@TheMarnya]

This is why I love living in Nagoya. We have everything that the touristy cities have but without the tourists. Everyone here just hopes no one will discover us.

[@Exjapter]

Nagoya is like a well kept secret. I feel its like Chicago for Japanese - Japanese always go to New York and L.A. but almost never Chicago.

[@microchipmatt]

I’m a long time visitor of Japan, and I seek the quieter Areas. Always. And I hope some of my favourite secret areas are not discovered.

[@donotsu6378]

@@TheMarnya Nagoya is definitely on my bucket list of places to visit…..Living in Kamakura…..we are just up the road from you.

[@flynomadic999]

I live and commute on the Yamanote. Mario Karts zipping past my window.. I’m embarrassed. Rush hour has always been stressful, nowadays with dawdling gawkers dragging massive suitcases onto packed commuter trains it’s often a nightmare. A few of my local haunts have been overrun, re-staffed with impolite foreigners. So I’ve shifted to socializing more at home and in nature, likely a good thing. Thought Id stay in Tokyo forever but.. now nearing retirement Ive got my eye on less obvious towns further out. It’s good for the economy, thats a positive. 👍

[@Exjapter]

I have seen some of that re-staffing with foreigners (including in the town where I shot this video), but the places I have been I didn't find them to be impolite. If what you describe becomes more common though, I won't be terribly pleased about that...

[@naturalspringwater.]

The tourist boom in Japan seems to be in the beginning phase, so the most tourists keep going to the same destinations like Tokyo, Kyoto/Nara, Osaka and around Mt Fuji. For sustainable tourism we will need more repeaters; they are likely to explore somewhere not touristy, which hopefully helps revive some dying business in the countryside. The business owners in touristic cities should educate their employees how to deal with foreign tourists politely never saying like 'YOU! HERE!' as they must have been getting enough money from this boom. I hope this comment in my poor English is not as rude/offensive as the 'YOU HERE'.

[@Exjapter]

You make a very good point, as I have friends who have come to Japan more than once and they are very happy to explore outside the usual tourist spots - but of course that's where they started on their first visit. So yes, if people return that will mean more variety of destinations. I think there will always be more first-timers, of course.

[@donotsu6378]

@@naturalspringwater. I agree with you very much. Thank you for your insight!

[@BenShearon]

Very lucky that we get few tourists here in Sendai, and none in the neighbourhoods I hang out in 😅

[@Exjapter]

I predict as tourists and content creators look to diversify, Sendai and Tohoku in general may become a new path for many. ;)

[@NiceHatVeton]

I agree on tourist going to eventually spread out. Influencers on social media all just copy paste one anothers content ad-naseum. Eventually new places will be "pushed" to the masses

[@Exjapter]

Trends change and shift, so the latest "must go!" places in Japan will too.

[@donotsu6378]

Paul…..I live in kamakura but not the central part of town….more on the outskirt….we enjoy our night life travelling to Fujisawa or Ofuna. These cities experience very little tourism. You are so correct when we have to balance this over tourism to helping the economy…..i would definitely be in favor of helping all of those mom and pop establishments. Especially with the gtowing difference between the yen and dollar….i am saddened that our yen is being lowered in value and the cost of many household items are on the rise. How do you feel about economics of japan and especially the Bank of japan

[@Exjapter]

I admit I know very little about how policy has been affecting the strength of the yen, so I can't really comment on your question.

[@davidsobel3303]

I lived in Kamakura back in 1990(my father and stepmother still live there). That town has changed dramatically. What was once a low key town has been transformed into a business/tourist shopping place. My stepmother complains about waiting in lines for the bus to go grocery shopping...It used to be that the busiest time was when all the school kids descended upon there during Golden Week, now it's like that all the time. Sad.

[@donotsu6378]

@@davidsobel3303 Moved here five years ago from Hawaii. My wife and in laws reside in kamakura. I’m not sure about the shopping area around the train station…..but there are increasingly an abundance of tourists here now. I live on the outskirts of the city so it’s still pretty chill and relaxed atmosphere. I love living here as it’s a mix of city and country ……thank you for your insight.

[@GK-up6xz]

I’ve lived in Japan for 35 years. There are temples that I visited as a child, which particularly in the evening were mystical and transformative, you could find yourself alone in history. Now long lines for a Disneyland experience.

[@Exjapter]

That makes me feel two ways - one is happiness that more people have an interest and can indulge in the experience of visiting those places, but on the flip side that perhaps something deep and moving becomes more impersonal and thus diluted. I hope that most people are still experiencing the former.

[@GK-up6xz]

@@Exjapter If only 😢

[@TkyoSam]

Another great video dude 😂 🎉

I feel we are even getting more tourists up here in Sapporo. It does have its ups and downs.

[@Rorufuchan]

I have been living in the south of Japan, in Miyazaki to be precise, for over 10 years. There is a lot to see and we have the sea and beaches on our doorstep. Tourism has increased slightly, you see a few more foreigners. There are only two international flights, to and from Taiwan and South Korea. The vast majority of tourists are therefore from Asia. It's still the case that I don't see any other Westerners here for days on end. Although Miyazaki has 400,000 inhabitants, only a few hundred Westerners live here. Apart from in the neighborhood where I live, I am only perceived as a tourist anyway. Overtourism is absolutely not an issue here. Personally, however, I would welcome a bit more international flair here.

[@Exjapter]

I have heard LOVELY things about Miyazaki, and thus it is on the list of places to visit. Too overlooked in my opinion!

[@martian-sunset]

Not a lot of tourists flock to Ikebukuro so I don't feel affected by it but generally tourism is a good thing and I'm happy Japan has seen a return of it.

[@Exjapter]

Aren't places like Sunshine City popular with tourists? I was under the impression that some of the tourist boom spills over there.

[@martian-sunset]

@Exjapter Yes, but not very much. The shopping there is fairly typical of many others. We also draw a small otaku/cosplay crowd of foreigners that have never seen that.

[@mayviolets]

I live in Kyoto. It's absolutely overwhelming how many foreign tourists are here (where I commute but not where I live)---but great for business and I find the most amazing cafes now. Something is weird though.....Japanese cafe staff or station employees etc. hardly ever think I'm a tourist. Maybe it's because I don't dress like a tourist? (I wear clothes I bought in Japan) or maybe because I've been in Kyoto for 10 years so they remember me?

[@Exjapter]

I have found this too - if I am dressed for work I am never treated as a tourist. That said, Yokohama had such a high number of foreign residents the usual tourist assumption doesnt happen here. Plus, Yokohama is not on the tourist trail, which makes your observation very interesting.

[@qtdcanada]

From my visits to Japan I would say that Japanese, by and large, are very accommodative of tourists. The over-tourism has certainly affected (somewhat?) negatively in certain places (Gion district of Kyoto, for example), especially due to poor behavior by few tourists, and required local governments to bring in some new policies to alleviate such problems. I hope, as you said, that tourists would start to explore the lesser known & seen areas of Japan and provide the catalyst for economic revival of these areas! I think that most tourists, after their first visit (typically focused on Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka), will realize that there are many more places to see and things to do for their future visits. What is there not to like about visiting Japan? The country is beautiful, people are polite/helpful, cuisine is first class, transportation system is clean and efficient! The only thing that might be a drawback is the hot & humid summer weather.

[@Exjapter]

Yes - I would say that if there is a summer festival you want to see, or some hikes in the mountains you want to do, come to Japan in the summertime. Or go to Hokkaido. Otherwise, it would NOT be my recommended season!

[@elenakursteiner4729]

Normally people to go abroad to visit most important places first time so if they can Afford because of time or money,they will not go to the same place again❤

[@kauaiboy5o]

Japanese Tourism Board said that 80% of tourists in Japan are the Japanese themselves, cost less to vacation in Japan than to go foreign. It's true everywhere else. Most tourist in the US are Americans and most tourist in Europe are Europeans. Again the reason is cost.

[@kthmalloy16]

Most Japanese/LTR tourists visit places like Karuizawa and Awaji. These places are off the grids to 99 percent of overseas tourests.

[@GOATPoets]

I really appreciate your candid observations on life in Japan. Maybe tourism isnt so bad?

[@Exjapter]

It isn't without problems, but on the whole it's a good thing.

[@CMchannel824]

My family and I are preparing to move from Vancouver Island to Japan soon, and we’re currently considering a few different prefectures: Sendai, Gifu, Aichi, or Yokohama. Each one has its own appeal for us. If we were to choose Yokohama, it would be largely for the sense of adventure and the easy access to theme parks and interesting activities. I also have fond memories of visiting Kamakura many years ago, and the beauty of that place has stayed with me ever since. Since you live in Yokohama and likely know the best areas for raising a family, do you have any recommendations? Where I live now, in Nanaimo, British Columbia, we have both the ocean and mountains nearby. It's peaceful most of the year, with the exception of the summer camping season, and we don’t get too many tourists. It’s almost the perfect place. I’d love to hear your thoughts on areas in Yokohama that offer a similar balance of nature and tranquility.

[@Exjapter]

Honestly, a large portion of Yokohama is a mix of city and countryside. I was having a conversation with another friend who also enjoys going running. He and I live in different parts of Yokohama, but we both have similar options of running in one direction and finding ourselves amongst high rises and shopping areas, while if we choose a different direction we are running through farmer's fields in just a few minutes. As long as you are not in the central Naka or Nishi wards, you find a lot of that in this city. Of course, the flip side to consider is convenience and where the train lines are.

[@CMchannel824]

@@Exjapter Thank you so much for your insight! It's really fascinating to hear about the variety Yokohama offers in terms of both urban and rural environments-sounds like a runner's dream depending on which direction you go. I was also curious, what do you think of the Shonan area? And is Kamakura located in the Naka or Nishi ward? Thanks again for sharing your perspective!

[@Exjapter]

Shonan is great, and very liveable. I used to live in Hayama, which isn't Shonan, but is close and has a similar vibe. Kamakura is next to Hayama and Fujisawa (true shonan) and it is not part of Yokohama.

[@CMchannel824]

@@Exjapter Thank you for the clarification and for sharing your experience with Hayama and Shonan! It’s good to know that Kamakura isn’t part of Yokohama. I’ve heard great things about the area, so it’s helpful to get some local insight. Appreciate your time and perspective.

[@StudioHoekhuis]

I've been thinking about visiting Japan for years now, and was in stages of going, than Corona hit. After that I didn't have the means to visit. Now it looks like I could visit in the fall of 2025. I'm not that worried about over-tourism, I tend to stay clear of the usual touristy places. My plan is to travel across Japan and also visit the more rural places. Any tips?

[@djenzo240gamer6]

Do your research. Right, avoid touristy places so you can experience a more authentic japan and you can stretch your dollars much further. Consider using trains or overnight bus often to save more (instead of taxis or bullet train). Cheap food from convenience stores (7-11 etc.) . people say you can get discounted food from shops/grocery stores at night (marked down prices so they can offload inventories). Enjoy!

[@Exjapter]

I think the best thing to do is to decide what exactly you are most interested in and pursue that, as the other commenter said through researching it. The only thing I would suggest differently is that while conbini and supermarket food is fine, I do recommend not being afraid to enter local (non-chain) eateries. Sometimes those meals can be even cheaper than conbini, and very often are at least the same price. Also, if you are visiting in the Autumn, I might suggest you fly into Tokyo and then head North. So many beautiful places in Tohoku and most foreign tourists are heading South/West to Kyoto/Osaka etc.

[@StudioHoekhuis]

@@Exjapter thanks, I'll keep that in mind 👍

[@georgebenta3435]

Maybe it's because of the cheap Yen in the past months. Maybe the number of tourist who can afford to go to Japan will change if the Yen regains it's prepandemic value.

[@Exjapter]

It certainly is a factor. Good for visitors, bad for me....

[@georgebenta3435]

@@Exjapter Is it true that shops or restaurants charge tourist higher than locals? Have you experienced this tourist price? Is it common?

[@Exjapter]

I haven't experienced it, but I haven't been to any of the really touristy places since the recent boom started. I always ask for the Japanese menu as well - not because the prices might be different, but because the English menu is often not the full menu.

[@georgebenta3435]

@@Exjapter I noticed that too in our last trip 5 years ago. There are items that are in their Japanese menu that are not in their English menu.

[@josephkelley]

You good video! You come to Fujishida! 😂 just joking. Went to Hiroshima back in June on a business trip and was surprised at all the foreignors at Odawara station and on the train especially a weekday. Used to not be that way but in the end its good for the economy just wish they were a little more considerite and polite.

[@Exjapter]

Yeah, Japan is famous for its manners, which pretty much means "compared to everywhere else". So it's hard to expect visitors to be at the same level, unfortunately. I wish people would take the "Japanese are so polite" observation and turn it into self-reflection, lol.

[@Matmat123_5]

When Japanese people insist on speaking to you in broken English, just reply in Japanese: ‘Sorry, I don’t speak English.’ 😂

[@Exjapter]

Good strategy!

[@thisislivininjapan]

looks like your town is getting ready for or just finished Matsuri?

[@Exjapter]

I am not sure to be honest. The big city festivals have already happened this year so I suspect it is something for that specific neighborhood.

[@OnlyOneNights]

If you could make a prediction, what would you say is the next place in Japan to 'blow up' or 'go viral' on social media after tourists get tired of the Golden Route?

[@Exjapter]

An interesting thought experiment. I will need to think about this a little before responding.

[@iaoshua]

kyoto has been ruined for awhile anyway. probably only 10% of tourists leave tokyo/osaka/kyoto path. go to kyushu and youll be the only foriegner

[@Exjapter]

How is it "ruined"?

[@iaoshua]

@@Exjapter too many people, not fun

[@WorldsEliteDeatHaze]

Hi Paul, Im moving from Can to JP for 6-12 months on WHV. I'll be in Tokyo and Kyoto for the first 2 months but was debating where to go to for the remaining 4-10 months, was considering Osaka or Fukuoka but unsure as I have never been lol. I will be getting my TEFL so I can teach but I also have plenty of other sales and cx experience. Thanks and as always fantastic video!!

[@Exjapter]

@@WorldsEliteDeatHaze I have not been myself, but Fukuoka is a favorite place amongst my uni students to visit on holiday, and it is not famous amongst foreign tourists, so that could be an interesting place to be. I would probably choose Fukuoka, personally. Osaka is great, but you can visit it easily from Kyoto while you are there.

[@WorldsEliteDeatHaze]

@@Exjapter thanks for the insight, fukuoka reminds me sorta of florida with their palm trees and laid back vibes, I am feeling it more and more just not sure about summers. Thanks for your help!

[@claudetteedwards4115]

Can I ask about the vending machines in Japan? What happens if the machine eats your money and doesn't spit out the item? I see on videos some of them take large notes and I would be scared to trust them 😂

[@Sputnik1985]

In the case of drink vending machines, if there is any trouble, it is often because the machine does not recognize the money properly and returns the money. If the vending machine does not give out the item, you need to call the vending machine company in Japanese. A common situation where high denomination bills are used is when purchasing tickets at train stations. If a ticket machine bill is jammed, an alarm will sound and an attendant will often come to correct the problem.

[@Exjapter]

There is very little risk, as others have mentioned. Your money is generally safe in Japan!