Japan Has Changed | 10 Updates for 2025 & Beyond: Know before traveling to Japan

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Affiliates via My website: links www.ninjasaru.com

[@lio_convoy714]

Many of these changes make lots of sense. I don't mind paying more to castles. I want them there for years to come. Great video.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Glad the vid was interesting! And not too boring hehe

[@tphan3643]

Thanks so much for this update. Your videos were extremely helpful for planning my trip earlier this year. I recommended your channel to friends and family who are interested in going to Japan!

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

That's so great to hear! Thank you for the support! 🙏 and for continuing to watch even after your trip!

[@henrychew235]

Feels like more costs and less crowd controls especially if taxes are raised and opening up to more chinese crowds... That's more like a revenue generation stream as opposed to trying to control crowds. Guess my strategy will continue to be less golden route and go to remote areas!

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

And thats a winning strategy!

[@il35215]

In two sentences: more Chinese influence, bigger cost of living.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

It could be.. its always so complicated

[@towada1066]

hmmm,... especially during the China Tang Dynasty, Japan borrowed language, food, art and literature from China. Without China, sometimes I think Japan would be stuck in the Jomon Period.

[@sisterblissuk9253]

Great video! They need to make My Suicia app an Android app too!!!! 😑😑 Arigato.for all your hard work and keeping us updated and entertained in 2024, here's to another Japan filled 2025!!!! 🍻🍻

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

YEP! 2025 here we come

[@Akasan]

Good to know! Thanks Ninja!!!

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

AKA!!! always good to see you my friend

[@blade1535]

There’s already a lot of Chinese tourists in Japan. I can’t imagine more.

[@southcoastinventors6583]

Most of Japan doesn't have big crowds except the big cities and certain tourist spots. So still plenty of room

[@blade1535]

@@southcoastinventors6583 That's not where they go. They tend to go to the most touristy places. I just don't think it's going to help the tourism but make it worse. Its not like they just spill over into the spare space.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

actually I believe that there are currently less than normal, and that things are only now starting to recover

[@blade1535]

@ I was there for 9 weeks earlier this year and they were the most common tourists that I ran into. Been going every year(sometimes twice) for 20 years. I try to avoid the busiest places where I can.

[@towada1066]

hmmm,... lately this is not really true. I see many more tourists from Indonesia. Now even Tokyo Midtown Tower has prayer rooms for them and Chiba City produced a small pamphlet showing stores and restaurants for Muslims.

[@FollowTheSunAustralia]

I like the train walk through suica , so many new things hey , great video

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Yeah! Japan is evolving all the time .. its never ending!

[@seppukusun686]

So when I leave Japan after my vacation I get the taxes on my purchases back but what use is the money to me at the airport I have to spend it there on overpriced products that I don't need or exchange it for my local currency at a bad rate

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

This is something i never considered and wow you are right .. this might backfire

[@sharmasker]

This is the first time I've watchjed your channel. I love this info, keep up the good work

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Thanks for giving the video a chance! .. theres a lot more guides and tips in previous videos too :)

[@sufamidan1006]

Is the tax free situation likely to be the same as before in april 2025? Do we know when this will be in effect? Cheers

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

yes I doubt it will be implemented immediately after announcement

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

* Please note I seem to have made a mistake regarding HIMEJI CASTLE.. It's 2026!

[@Chuck8541]

Japan: We have too many tourists! They're ruining everything! Also Japan: **lets even more in**

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Haha

[@AVigil-mb2yb]

👍 Always great info!😂

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Thanks!

[@axios101]

11:21 Torikizoku??? 😅 Anyway I am curious to see the "New SUICA" (Just got my new "registered" My Suica...😁) and the "cashless evolution" (since the current system, thanks to FeliCa does NOT support all international android devices, I see it very difficult if they will not rethink the whole process and technology)...

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Yes for sure! they need to include Android from outside Japan! .. Torikozoku good spot (I usually dont film in cosy izakayas)

[@blastu99]

Where the suica for android foreigner users?

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

hopefully this will be implemented with the future gates.. currently impossible due to the type of chips android phones use outside of Japan.. its more complicated than that but thats just a quick version

[@chuck6290]

I have never had a great experience tax-free shopping where you have to get your money back at the departing airport, I always forget the receipts and what not. Duty free shopping probably won't be something I do much in Japan after this change I don't need the extra hassles!

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

it will certainly be dependent on how much hassle is involved

[@adibmajid9886]

I love Japan's current tax refund system, where we do not need to make refund only at airports 😢. It is so convenient that refund can be done at tax free customer service centres at each stores.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

YES! i feel sad too

[@markshen3280]

Hong Kong 🇭🇰 SAR International Airport also has biometrics for inbound and outbound travelers 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

amazing

[@Alexwhatisit]

9:44 luckily I have plans for the new year while visiting, but you mentioned the ban on public drinking still in effect? Is that right?

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Ban is only in shibuya

[@hauptmann43]

Instead of fancy gateless suica, just allow Visa credit card use at designated gates like the metro in Fukuoka. And allow loading a suica with a credit card; I'll pay the transaction fee!

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

hopefully everything will also be updated along with this?

[@jummyesteYT]

I hope they don't remove Japan entry stamps, they are one of the best.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

I like them too!

[@Neuromantic_86]

Probably will, so many airports don't bother these days, it's all about scan and go.

[@Thomas_K7799]

More tourists from a certain country. Surely nothing bad can happen right? 😉

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

🤷‍♂️

[@CherudexGaming]

in in the text highlighted in the video, says 2026

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

For what?

[@CherudexGaming]

​@@NinjaMonkeyguy Himeji Castle, in march 2025 they will decide the price, but it will be effective in spring 2026, in the article by the way, it's just to understand better the thing, because i will be in Japan in March 2025, and probably i will get there at the castle, and also to make some engagement for the video, as YT algorithm likes that

[@jaybee4288]

Everyone says things are changing in 2025 but no one says when they’re changing. Im going February/March and it isn’t clear what will change. Also biometric passport stuff isn’t futuristic, Heathrow and some US airports have had it for years.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

This is the thing with these updates, I give dates when there are dates for example I mention Tax increases for Onsen, Himeji etc happening in March and other dates are also mentioned.. but sometimes its hard to nail down a date because they are still being considered and Im just trying to give a heads up.. once the info is clearer I'll mention again in the future!

[@dwarfagp]

Can you post your current affiliate links somewhere please :)

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Sure!!! My website have links www.ninjasaru.com

[@dwarfagp]

@@NinjaMonkeyguy Arr, the icons at the tops are the links 🤣 Was going through your "buttons" underneath

[@towada1066]

hmmm,... in February and March 2025, Tokyo New National Theater will perform Carmen ...

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

nice!

[@towada1066]

@@NinjaMonkeyguy right now Chiba Art Museum has an exhibit of Asai Chū ... he was extremely talented to bring Western Art to Japan. ww! as expected, the weather is cold and clear so you can see boring Fojisan from Chiba Port Tower (^_^)

[@southcoastinventors6583]

Most of the congestion is at the crossing with people taking video ang going back. The line for Hachiko is usually 10 minutes. Closing the crossing would be be more effective

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

every visit i notice the line longer and longer!

[@bonwatcher]

Japan businesses should have bigger fees for foreign visitors because of the weakness of the yen and have programs to help small businesses that can't charge fees just for visitors. My visit this past year was dirt cheap in USD because of the exchange rate. I pay $18-$20 for a burger lunch in L.A., but in Japan we could eat like royalty for the equivalent ¥2800-¥3000 at today's exchange rate.

[@TheScratchingKiwi]

The 'weakness of the yen' is not global. It applies only to tourists whose currency is the USD. In my currency, $1 NZD is 88yen. These extra fees and taxes *hurt*. A little here, a little there and soon your trip is costing NZD $100-200 more (not including accommodation rates which can rise by NZD $80-100 per night) . That may not sound like a lot to wealthy travellers, but it takes a lot of time to save that money... and then another Japanese company ratchets up the prices... The entire 'tourists are wealthy, they can afford it because of the weak yen' mentality from Japanese businesses is annoying because it is not true in most cases.

[@il35215]

you live in a state with the greediest administration that thinks shoplifting for less than a thousand dollars isn't even a crime and demands taxes for installing solar panels on your roof like the sun belongs to them, and now you think other countries should impose the same stupid taxes and laws? no thanks, let california die on its own and not spread this stupidity.

[@southcoastinventors6583]

3000yen=19.67$usd so close to price of your burger in LA

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

its not that simple, many countries dont have the same benefit of a strong currency and even the yen will eventually prob fluctuate, if prices rise and the yen strengthens its doubtful they will be reduced again?

[@OnlyOneNights]

Oh wow, a lot of stuff is going on in 2025. Thanks for the updates, dude!

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

It's gonna be a big year for Japan! .. Im sure this is only 2% of more to come

[@TkyoSam]

Can you just tell me how to be attractive and charming?

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

I learn from the best!

[@jimross7648]

Well some very interesting updates. One the tax free shopping up date. I can only hope Japan gets it right. Some of the stores that have tax free refund sites have huge lineups to get into a small area, and waits of thirty minutes to an hour are not uncommon. The smaller store front tax free sites don't usually have the lineup issue, but are harder to locate. In the UK and many European countries the lines to deal with actual humans are hours long at the airports. My use of the drop forms box have never resulted in me getting anything back. When trying to find out the standing my form, they can never find any record of it. If Japan can't get it so the system is fast an efficient, I'll just considerate it a lie. That's how I treat the UK's VAT system, and I don't get stressed anymore. My only concern with fully automated bio metric systems is are they secure and will they work with power failures and computer outages. Recent crashes of airline computers have ground things to a halt, and I fear over reliance on these systems could have the same result. When it works wonderful, when it doesn't chaos ensues. The rest of these look positive, sort of, except for increased costs, but that's life.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

I agree with your concerns about technology and security. I hope they can get it right! sometimes good old fashioned paper is better!

[@Chuck8541]

I really hope no biometric data of mine will be shared with the CCP. 😅

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Yea, we are doomed haha

[@TheLightFish]

Welcome to Japan. WHEN YOU GOING HOME??

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

im in and out of Japan.. currently not in Japan! will be there week after next!

[@anthonyloke2846]

Inconvenience the majority of tourists because a few flout tax free laws. Increases cost for the government and tourists.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

I agree.. harsh penalties for those not using the system correctly why should 99% suffere

[@ddsjacolorado]

So before you leave the country, you get your tax money back and you have to fly back home with ¥s? Instead of expending that money in Japan 😅

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

yea thats a good point

[@mq-r3apz291]

Is any japanese in the comment section able to tell me how much or little the horrific Japan work culture is improving? My main concern is the work culture but I heard Japan is making efforts to fix the broken work culture. But Sora The Troll (youtuber about JAapn) showed exact ways Japan improved their work culture so I know for sure Japan is actually taking accountability. I just wanna know the rate at which it's improving.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

I'd say thats a difficult one to answer as its likely dependent on the sector/job