Has Overtourism Ruined Japan Travel?
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Is Japan too crowded…? A lot of the news these days talks about how overcrowded Japan is, so let’s discuss it!! (Note that this is my opinion)
Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions! 🤗
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Has Overtourism Ruined Japan?
38 Comments
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Shibuya is normal…… Kyoto is just a tourist hole.
I went last November, 2024. Crowds were terrible. Is it worth it? Yes. Just be mentally prepared. The good part is that while crowded, it's a very organized chaos. Also, people are very polite. Always ask for directions/help and someone will definitely help you. Kyoto Tip – Use taxis when going to major tourist areas. You will save yourself from the stress and hassle. The $15 – $20 dollars for the taxi is so worth it. Trust me. Tip #2 – travel with 1 backpack only in Japan. Don't use luggage/suitcases. Tip 3 – Wash your clothes at the hotels, every other day if you have to. It's very easy. The hotel front desk will sell detergent, and have coins for the machine. Should you go to Kyoto? Kyoto is a must. Tokyo is a must. I recommend spending at least 3-4 days in each city. Good luck!
And visiting countryside areas nonone remotely speaks English. Where even a translator doesn't help.
It’s hard to dissuade first time visitors from min maxing their trip. They want the hyped up experience from the moment they step out of customs (there is multiple content just on the airports). Short of visa restrictions it’s kind of shoganai. Personally, I did all the sightseeing stuff almost 30 years ago as a student. So when I go to Japan it’s more to eat, play Pokemon, and hang out with friends. If there is a like equivalent of Azabudai Hills in Osaka, please make content for it.
I wish Japan would open more international flights for the south. There are so many great spots like a Swedish theme park and scenic hot springs that get overlooked because they aren’t really accessible. People usually have 2 weeks and don’t want to spend that time just transporting.
I remember my first trip in 2023, in the month of October. Not peak season, sitting comfortably after summer and just before winter.
Overcrowded? I wouldn't say so. Sure, there were many tourists, both local and international, but I felt it was not suffocating. Kyotos hotspots definitely had the most people (Fushimi Inari, Ginkakuji), but it never felt overwhelming. Truth be told, while I adored the most tourist-y areas, I fell in love with the little places off the beaten path. Tiny shrines here and there, Mom and Pop ramen shops, quirky non-chain stores that sold some of the most random souvenirs I could find.
I'm going back this October, ready for round two. This time around, I'm planning on visiting the lesser known places to really bring my Japan experience full circle.
Honestly, as a tourist in Japan… It's absolutely horrible. If you want to see anything even remotely 'famous' you'll have to deal with tons of Asian tourists.
I've travelled to a remote town in Hokkaido just two days ago. It's only reachable by a local train which comes only every 1 and a half hours. You can't even use an I card. And it was so crowded with Chinese tourists…
I was in the Kansai Area in October and it was even worse.
But the worst thing is their behaviour. Even Japanese media cover that issue but they do nothing about the overtourism of that specific group. And they should. I've been travelling to Japan since 2017 and the current situation really spoils the fun. I mean, you can always avoid the popular spots. But if you travel to Japan, you might want to see the Meiji Shrine or Mount Fuji or Osaka Castle or visit Nara… and that's the places where it's really almost unbearable.
Off the beaten path sounds nice
We've stayed in Tokyo and Osaka these last two years in a row we. We understand there are crowds everywhere. Tokyo Station alone is mind boggling but we appreciate the discipline. "Chaotic but orderly" is how I'd describe it. It's part of the experience. Just be a respectful and orderly tourist like the locals do and you'll have a great time.
As someone who has been to Japan 14 times tourism is destroying Japan especially from the Chinese who can be very push, dirty, and ignorant. I only wish they would push me when I am there because I would give it to them right back. Now many Japanese citizens can't even take a vacation as the cost has increased significantly. I wish Japan would now charge $100 a head just to scare off some folks because its getting out of hand. Cheers.
Q: "Is it really that crowded?"
A: Yes… asterisk.
Yeah it's full of you and your type ironically
Great channel, Alison. Hope to visit in September
thank you, great video.
stopped going to those major places…
Just returned from a round trip of Northern Kyushu. Other than on the boat to Hashima, Yufuin Floral Village, Dazaifu from the Station to Tenman-gu and Downtown Fukuoka (its a major city with stuff going on all the time) it has been super relaxed often the only western looking tourist there and the majority of other tourists having been groups from China and South Korea. So for your first (or only ever) trip the golden route is alright to knock it off your bucket list. For consecutive trips go other places and don't just stick to Kanto and Kansai and if you're bold some stop in Chubu inbetween.
I'm going to Japan on a guided tour. in April I have a few days break between the tour end in Osaka and the start of a cruise in Yokohama. Where should I go? Anyone?
I just got back from Japan on 1/27.
I’ve been to Japan many times. My suggestion is not to shop on the weekend in Tokyo. Every big shop we went to was packed. It’s just too hard to even move. Cosme in Harajuku on Sunday was packed, Itoya in Ginza
solidly packed and Don Quixote in Shibuya was also nuts. Hopefully it’s a bit easier to shop when locals are working.
I did see Alison’s video about a sheet mask, I think, playing on the 1st floor at Don Quixote. I wished I could have watched it but it was just too crowded.
Last year May 2024 I went to Tokyo, Sapporo, Kamakura / Enoshima, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Kobe. I have another trip booked for later this year and may just choose to stay in Tokyo and another location south. Not everything can be seen, nor do I think I want to do what I did again. In that time frame, I also attended one day Viva La Rock, and it was amazing. Otaru was also amazing. Mt. Kurama so peaceful!! My favorite parts were going off the beaten path and those moments forever will hold a place in my heart.
Hi I have lived here 26 years and of course there is going to be more tourists. But I don’t mind the tourists. And the we cope very well .
Going to Japan this end of summer hopefully won’t be too hot. I was supposed to go in 2011 in HS but the Earthquake happened. Now finally going even if it’s crowded. Eventually if I keep going and learn Japanese I’ll hopefully travel the countryside more and also go other places the world isn’t just Japan you guys! Germany is next on my list.
i been there since 2011 and visited as a tourist over 3 dozens of time Spent more than year there as a tourist. I can say is over tourism is totally BS 😂. Its just locals being poor and poor and their spending and visiting replaced by foreigners. thats it. I mean back in the day right before fukushima when you go to places like shibuya, shinjuku, Namba and Umeda most of em were local and bit of Korean. I think japanese being angry of foreigners because they cant spending lots of money but they cant. Salary of usual japanese stuck in decades and nobody talk about it even japanese.
I've just seen the video of the tourists blocking the rail crossing in Kyoto. This is out of control – I've actually avoided Kyoto for years but it is ridiculous now.
I went to Japan recently (December 2024) and honestly it was EMPTY (except Disney but normal crowd).
I was in Kyoto (it was a wonderful time), Arashiyama, and other places tourist and not tourist places, and still empty.
Honestly I can’t understand why people say Japan is crowd.
Yessss. Ive been here for 15 years. Its gotten so crowded, we moved out to my husbands hometown in the countryside. Not too far from Osaka/Kyoto but far enough to get away from all the crowd lol
Any general tips for travelling with a baby? This will actually be my 4th time visiting but first as a family so very likely sticking to the golden route, however I do like your pro tip of just walking away 15 minutes or one subway stop away. Your videos are the best.
💕💕💕
One thing I'd add from my last visit is that…yes…it's packed….but you have to realize that the Japanese infrastructure is UNPARALLELED in handling congestion. The amount of people you see in those pictures does not show you just how easy and convenient it is to get to ANYWHERE compared to most places. Especially the USA. So sure, the pictures look PACKED, but it won't be the same kind of packed you're used to. Things in Japan move much faster than most are used to because the Japanese are so conscientious of each other's space that everyone is working together to make sure everything flows.
My plan is to visit Tohoku this year. I feel so very lucky that I explored Kyoto way back in 1995 whilst on exchange when we rarely saw another foreigner.
I'm going to Japan this April, and I'm going from Tokyo, all the way to Fukuoka. I don't really have things set in stone, but more places to sleep paid for. Maybe I'll go to the well known places, but I'm also looking for lesser known places that aren't crowded. Any really good food suggestions would be awesome.
I imagine all this tourism has been great for their economy. Are prices going up?
Shame the jr pass is so expensive.
My first trip in 2019 we did daytrips everywhere because we had the pass. Now it is too expensive to just hop on the train and go have a look at some where random
When it comes to visiting Kyoto City, I generally try to stick to only one or two tourist hotspots at a time and try to visit before well before the crowds start to build up (usually this involves waking up at stupid o'clock in the morning). That being said, there are plenty of really nice crowd-free spots in Kyoto City such as Kuruma dera Temple, Nyan-nyan-ji (Cat themed gallery), and Fushimi Momoyama Castle.
So far, for non-crowded places, my top 10 picks would be (in no particular order): Gero (Gifu), Yoshino (Nara), Bessho Onsen (Nagano), Kotohira (Tokushima), Ogawachiyama (Saga), Asahikawa (Hokkaido), Yanaizu (Fukushima), Omihachiman (Shiga), Ureshino Onsen (Saga), and Onomichi (Hiroshima).
Allison thanks for the info,loved the video 🙂📸.
I started going to Japan because I make more money, phones have made everything easier, cheaper than other major cities and soaplands.
I’ve been to Japan a grand total of twice. The first time was ten years ago. And I just came back from my second Japan trip today. The first time I went there, I was given free umbrella when it rained, I was told by some aunties it was ok to sit down in the priority seats while there were no one else around. The cashiers at the local convenient stores didn’t speak much English but were all very helpful and kind. This time, I almost couldn’t believe how rude the people we’ve encountered were. The locals told me that over tourism has indeed made people care less about customers as they did before. Has it ruined Japan for me? Not much cuz it’s still an amazing county. But I certainly do miss the Japan I visited ten years ago.
I was in Japan for the first time in December. I spotted a Shrine in Sakai City while looking around that was completely empty during the day. I lucked out so much because got to explore it thoroughly and enjoy it!