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| Above, the stage at Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Since Japan reopened the country following the pandemic, it has been seeing a surge in foreign visitors that are setting records.
With more visitors coming into the country, there is also a downside: crowds.
The Points Guy has posted an article with tips on avoiding crows while traveling in Japan.
Some snippets:
Six decades after hosting the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics — when Japan rapidly rolled out new infrastructure like its Shinkansen bullet train and accommodations like Hotel New Otani Tokyo to welcome the anticipated influx of foreigners — the country remains one of the most beloved leisure destinations in the world. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, 17.78 million foreign visitors arrived in the first half of 2024, breaking 2019's previous record of 16.63 million. And there are no signs of a slowdown: Japan aims to nearly double 2019's end-of-year record of 31.88 million tourists to a staggering 60 million annually by 2030.
Though there are countless reasons for Japan's sustained popularity — from tantalizing regional cuisine to safe public transportation systems — the recent surge can largely be credited to a slump in the Japanese yen. In early July, it hit its weakest level since 1990, and while the yen has recovered slightly in the past two months, the dollar remains very strong in Japan.
Naturally, demand for Japan-bound flights is also booming. "In 2023, Expedia data revealed that the top trending global flight route was LAX to Tokyo, with a surge of 430% compared to the year prior," Expedia travel expert Christie Hudson told TPG. "This fall, Tokyo continues to be a trending destination, with a 50% increase in flight searches."
While Japan is now within reach for more people than ever, there is a downside: relentless crowds. In response, local authorities have instituted a tourism tax for climbers on Mount Fuji, installed barriers to block Instagram-famous views of that same mountain and closed off some private alleys to tourists in Kyoto's geisha district.
Follow these tips to help alleviate the overcrowding and still have an enjoyable vacation in Japan.
To read more, go here.
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