Foreign Tourists are Changing Japan! #japanlife #japantravel #japaneseculture #japanese #travel
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28 Comments
Can you do one on inflation? It seemed to barely exist for 5-10-15 years over there but when I was there 2 years ago I noticed prices finally increasing just a little. I've heard it got worse since then. In Australia and Canada and some other western countries inflation has gone wild, here in Southeast Asia it doesn't seem so but that could just be an illusion from a western POV with the lower prices here.
"real Japan" is going to force it's self to become "theme park Japan" in order to please the foreign tourists, since that's what tourists expect to see. Are Japanese workers actually making more money? I think they're making the same amount but jut having to work 3x as much as before, for the same pay.
sometimes the YouTube algorithm is almost scary. I have never seen one of your videos before now. I lived in Japan for five years about 30 years ago and I just came back last week for a three month stay. So many of the things you touched on I have been observing and reflecting upon. There has definitely been a change in how Japanese people treat tourists compared to 25-30 years ago. i’m not looking to be treated special but there seems to be an impatience and occasional outright contempt I never experienced before. I speak Japanese fairly well and it’s interesting listening to some of the comments people make, I’ve noticed it’s mostly middle-aged women that seem to be impatient or angry. this reminds me of the 1980's and 1990's in the United States. Many Japanese were traveling as tourists and buying lots of things, lots of presents for their families and coworkers. I remember people complaining about Japanese buying everything or about how Hawaii is mostly all Japanese people now. I think jealousy is mostly what this is about. Most Japanese people are much too smart to think all foreigners are stupid or dangerous based on the things certain YouTube influencers or other maladjusted tourist
do.
As to your advice on avoiding the overly tourist spots, I couldn’t agree more. That same logic goes for North America, Europe, etc. When I lived here, I used to plan my holidays opposite of the Japanese holidays and relished finding off the beaten path experiences. I am in Tokyo right now and I have no desire to go to any of the tourist areas, in fact, I’m sitting here right now scouring Google maps for the hidden gems I love to find, and that Japan seems to have so many of. With the tools we have available today, i.e. Google maps and the Internet, Google Translate, etc. there’s really no excuse.
Thanks for the video and good advice.
I still love Japan but it's important to remember the only constant in life is change. 🙌🏼
Oh, one more thing. As to the rude tourists, I see more rudeness and rule breaking among the Japanese than I do among tourist. People jaywalking, walking through train stations with their heads buried in their phones with no regard to anyone else. I think this is mostly due to cell phones. When I lived here last time, cell phones were relatively new and we only had black-and-white screens so they were less interesting . I sound like an old man now. 👴🏻
In 2023 and 2024 I attended the Yosakoi Soran Dance Festival in Sapporo. Amazing example of amateur Japanese dance groups. Instead of Kyoto try nearby Otsu. Instead of Tokyo-Shinjuku try Uguisudani or Nippori. Instead of Hakata try Kagoshima in Kyushu. Avoid the toursit hotspots and you will have a better experience in Japan.
I recently visited Kyoto and Tokyo. I expected the overtourism every Japan oriented YT channel was talking about. But what the vloggers did not say was that most of the tourist were Chinese from mainland China. The very loud, rude kind of tourist that don't follow the rules, skip the lines and even smoke in non smoking hotels… They travel just to show off their wealth, they're not interested in Japanese culture. They even hire professional photographers to follow them all the day to immortalize their image all dressed up in kimonos. Luckly these tourists don't go outside the major tourist areas.
I was in Kyoto for a month, the first week or so was cool, but after that the sheer amount of tourists and overall tourist trap vibe definitely made it feel like I was in a theme park of Japan and not experiencing the real thing, got sick of the crowds in Gion and Kawaramachi pretty quickly
The definition of 'authentic Japan' is as difficult to define as 'authentic America.' For example, if an ordinary Japanese person like myself were to visit the United States, we would likely choose famous tourist destinations like LA or New York over those in the Midwest. Whether that fits the idea of 'authentic America' is hard to say. It might even be more accurate to describe it as a 'theme park version of America.
Yes, there are too many tourists but I am sick and tired of these idiots that want to move and live in Japan. They like to good things Japan has to offer but contribute to the bad things Japan has to offer.
My reasons to visit are the food, scenery, culture (both traditional and modern), shopping, both city and countryside area etc. if that is good enough.
I’m spending most of January in snowy Takayama. While there are many visitors in the central tourist area, I got to stroll today by myself just a few blocks away in a quieter section of the preservation area. I like walking to the outlying areas to shop and eat with the townspeople and enjoy reading (my English books) in the public library with the locals. The people are lovely.
I lived in South Korea for 9 years and I would say the same thing about South Korea. There are many places in Korea you can visit that are "not famous" that will give you a good experience.
a rule of thumb I use overseas is walk one, maybe two blocks from the main tourist street, and you'll find good cheap restaurants where locals eat. We did this many years ago in Firenze – a tourist crush in the main piazza, so we walked a street or so and found mostly locals relaxing, strolling and shopping in a completely separate feeling from the tourist madness outside the Uffizi. In my home city our favourite restaurants are also about one street from the tourist streets … 😉
Japan needs foreign support. Especially regarding tension with China, Russia and North Korea. Alienating foreigners is deeply unwise.
Great video, I agree with what you have said, although I think the advice is more geared towards people not on their first trip to Japan. kiyomizu dera was one of my favourite level 1 must see places for its surrounding shops/restaurants, view, underground pitch black thingo, I forget its been over 20 years. But the ummm having no fasteners to hold the building together, all carpentered to fit together rarara going on about one point you made here but my point is I think if your only going to do one trip to Japan, its on the top of my list and I wouldn't recommend anyone to visit Tokyo based on my own perspective. I'd say land and leave from Osaka, hit up all the stuff in the Kansai region, Kyoto and Osaka will have you covered for Culture and City for a first visit. Osaka has its own Akihabara, castle and city experience. Between Kyoto and Osaka has river boat rides, hikes and heritage train line. Kyoto is awesome even before you leave the station and covers all cultural experiences pretty much, even the crowds haha. I'd recommend staying in Mid March to Mid April to experience Sakura and the option to pop up to Hokkaido if you want some snow.
Once youve done your first trip, the scenic opportunities are endless. Miyazaki Nichinan coast is one of my favourites and leaving Dogoshima (Izu Peninsular) driving along the coast with a sudden "Fuji'san-Fuji'san" from my wife looking across Dogoshima bay to Fuji'san was pretty special….but seriously, if you appreciate nature Japan is epic, if you want Tokyo recommendations other than escape from, I'm not the person to talk to hahaha, J meals can be enjoyed in cooler places imo, I;m just not a city person.
Watched a couple of NHK stories this morning talking about the massive increase in tourists thoughout 2024 and I certainly noticed it landing at Haneda in June and September last year and so many friends, workmates etc have talked about people they know visiting Japan way more than I've ever experienced before, so many visiting. Unfortunately a good friends sons friend screwed up going out on his own the first day he arrived and got scammed in one of those shady tout/bars you hear about but I've never experienced in the 100's of hours I've drunk too much in Tokyo. I'll bet those Biz are booming right now…
Japan does feel very different, it has changed alot, we used to travel around and stay in small Biz hotels for $30-$40 Australian dollars back when we were lucky to get over 70 yen to the Australian $ and we were approached by tv station people wanting to talk to us at least once each trip somewhere along the Yamanote prior to 2012 but not for years now,.
We've made bookings for next year, we're back in April and September. Luckily accomodation in Niigata and Chiba hasn't changed but if it does Japan has so many beautiful places off the beaten track that people are not aware of that accomodation prices will not be effected by supply and demand but other pressures depending on the services provided imo, like meals.
I am also very happy to see the alternative income stream potential with our planned semi retirement to Japan in 2027………thanks for the video 👍
Being an ally of America is Fatal.
Thank you, Paul, for another fantastic video.
My thoughts on this topic are a bit unclear, but overall, I believe that tourism, to the extent it has reached, is and will continue to harm Japan. There, I said it! And I fully acknowledge that I am just a tourist myself.
I visited Japan 20 years ago and found it to be perfect. When I visited early last year, I still loved it, but my reaction was, "They have stolen my Japan." Of course, this is a silly thought—I'm not Japanese, and Japan doesn't belong to me. I'm just being honest about how I felt.
I agree with you that visiting less popular places is definitely the way to go. I'm planning my next trip now, and I'm focusing on seeing places I haven't been to yet. That said, it's almost impossible to visit Japan without going to Tokyo and seeing Sensoji, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Scramble, etc. No matter how many times you go, those places never get old. It's just difficult to resist!
I'm glad i got all the big tourist sites ticked off back around 07. Even then it was more locals than foreigners. Had a business there for 13 years, but still return most years and now actively look for stuff off the beaten track. There are hidden gems everywhere, local people, local places of interest, and most importantly local food. Its great to see young Japanese doing what we sometimes call the "tree change" and doing startups in rural areas. Some very interesting things are happening.
I travel regularly to Japan up 5x a year since 2009, the drawback is hiring foreign workers degrade the service quality local Japanese is known for.. look at the convenience stores, many are complaining that the staff became rude because they are foreign workers, so lack the politeness of a local Japanese…On the hotel I used to stay in Tokyo.. if my house keeping staff is a Japanese local.. my room is spotlessly well kept.. but recently they began hiring foreign housekeeping from time to time… and when I chanced upon that the house keeping staff is a foreign worker.. the upkeep of my room became sloppy.. I stopped staying at that 4 star hotel in Tokyo since they started hiring foreign house keeping staff as service level became inconsistent depending on whether it is Japanese or a foreign house keeping staff
I may have gotten lucky (because I went to Japan just as it opened up after the pandemic) but I fell in love with Japan. The food and beauty do the country was incredible. I went through a tour company who booked all my travel and hotels. If I were to go again I’d try and stay in the countryside and would probably avoid Asakusa/Taito ward.
I have been to 28 prefectures of Japan and in general the more remote the location the happier the people are to see foreign tourists
im planning on a trip this was the advice was looking for.
But why they don’t open more Authentic places and cafe, instead of Western style? Is it Demand for that not so high?Authentic❤ places bring even more money, or not?Thanks
Wherever you are in Japan, that is the "real" Japan. I've been living here for 24 years and while I've had quite a few unreal experiences, I've never been anywhere in Japan that wasn't real. There is no fake Japan in Japan.
(For heaven's sake…it's "eT cetera"!)
Let me just say the Japanese have to protect their culture from outside negative influences of other cultures. More information that goes out about how well the Japanese society is functioning, the possibility of the society becoming more vulnerable to the negative impact of outside influences might increase. Lots of unsafe societies exist around the world. The Japanese have to be vigilant.
You said, “What were once empty storefronts—–basically the decaying ruins of what were once 'Bubble Era' economy businesses that are no longer there—–have re-opened. They’ve become cafes, they’ve become shops, there are artists who are opening up studios. It has been a really nice revival”. And then because while saying those words, you were contemplating that revival being akin to the famous legend of Japan rising like the Phoenix from the ashes of World War II, you started squirting tears like a baby.
Also, great edit on the voice over that replaced you saying “I’m not actually crying” in a choking, crying voice—–and with tears clearly visible in your eyes as you were walking—–with how you ended up saying it in the upload.
It is going again common sense and human nature. Simply people want to see the places everyone ( media) is talking about first from fear of missing out! You have been to all the tourist places first as well before you start venturing elsewhere.
The same is with Japanese people they all want to go to the popular places in Japan willing to put up with the long ques – the same reason above. – basic human nature
Exactly why we hired a car. We wanted to get off the tourist trail and we preferred areas with little to no tourists much more than places like Kyoto.