Japan Considering Hiking Visa Fees For International Visitors

Above, Tokyo's Nakamise Street in Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Foreign visitors to Japan may end up paying more in visa fees.

This is one way the Japanese government is considering to fight overtourism, which, by the way, was of their own making.

Japan Today reported:

TOKYO - Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya says that the government is considering raising visa fees for foreign visitors, as current fees remain low compared with those in the United States and European countries.

The government is reviewing visa fees, Iwaya told a press conference when asked about a report that Japan plans to raise them to levels seen in the United States and Europe as early as fiscal 2026.

"The details of the review are undecided, but we are considering various factors, including a possible impact on inbound tourism," the top diplomat said Friday. "We'll examine the fees set in other countries. I believe Japan's fees are quite low at present."

The number of foreign visitors to Japan from January to September rose 17.7 percent from a year earlier to around 31.65 million, marking the fastest pace on record for surpassing 30 million within a year, a government report showed Wednesday.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Visitors Top Over 30 Million

Above, the Godzilla mural at Toho Studios. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is funny how Japan had pushed for more tourism in recent years and the result in many areas is overtourism. It seems Japan is the "victim" of their own success.

Kyoto, for example, is hiking its hotel room taxes to supposedly fight overtourism. 

This year, foreign tourism has topped over 30 million visitors, the fastest pace ever. 

According to the Japan Times:

The number of foreign visitors to Japan in January to September exceeded 30 million, passing the line at the fastest pace ever, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Wednesday.

The figure jumped 17.7% from the same period last year to a little over 31.6 million.

It crossed the 30-million mark one month earlier than in the previous year, when the annual total hit a record high of 36.87 million, according to the JNTO

This year, the figure may exceed 40 million for the first time, with the autumn foliage season and winter holidays coming up.

To read more, go here. 

Kyoto Hikes Hotel Tax To Deal With Overtourism

Above, Kyoto's Kinkaku-ji "Golden Pavilion". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the past 25 years, I have been to Kyoto, Japan twice. But each time I stayed at hotels in neighboring Osaka. It was not that I was avoiding Kyoto, it just happened to work out that way (one was with a tour).

Over the past several years, Kyoto has been hit with hordes of tourists. The Japanese refer to it as overtourism. 

Kyoto is taking a stand against overtourism by reforming their hotel tax. 

According to Travel and Tour World:

In a decisive move to address the growing challenges posed by overtourism, Japan has introduced a groundbreaking hotel tax reform in Kyoto, one of its most iconic and historically significant cities. This bold initiative aims to manage the surging influx of international visitors, which has put immense pressure on the city’s infrastructure and local communities. With tourism in Kyoto reaching unprecedented levels, the new tax is designed not only to generate vital revenue for preserving the city’s cultural heritage but also to ensure sustainable tourism practices. By introducing a tiered tax structure based on accommodation costs, Japan seeks to balance the needs of tourists and residents, safeguard Kyoto’s historic charm, and improve the quality of life for locals, setting a powerful precedent for other destinations grappling with similar issues worldwide.

In a significant move to address the growing challenges of overtourism, Japan has approved an overhaul of its hotel tax. This measure follows a sharp rise in international visitors to the country, particularly in Kyoto, one of its most popular tourist destinations. The government’s decision to introduce the highest-ever hotel tax in the city comes in response to a rapid increase in tourism that has placed significant pressure on local infrastructure and residents.

Currently, the accommodation tax in Kyoto is capped at ¥1,000 (approximately £4.90) per night. Under the new rules, however, the city’s accommodation tax will increase dramatically, with projections suggesting a rise from ¥5.2 billion (around £25.5 million) to ¥12.6 billion (approximately £61.7 million) in annual revenue—a staggering 142% increase. The new tax system will vary depending on the price of accommodation, ensuring that higher-end hotels contribute more toward managing the impacts of tourism.

To read the full article, go here. 

Japan Implements Bold Measures To Conquer Overtourism

Above, the Godzilla statue at Toho Studios in Setagaya. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

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With the very favorable exchange rates between the Japanese yen and the U.S. dollar and other currencies, it is no wonder that foreign tourists are flocking to Japan. 

In Japan's eyes, this "overtourism" is causing problems and the government is taking steps to deal with it.

According to Travel and Tour World:

Japan is escalating its fight against overtourism with new fee hikes and tax reforms, impacting popular sites like Mount Fuji and Himeji Castle starting in 2026.

Japan is taking steps to address overtourism by introducing new fees and restrictions on certain travel perks.

For instance, the fee for foreign visitors wishing to climb Mount Fuji will increase significantly this summer, rising to 4,000 yen (approximately $28). Additionally, starting in March 2026, Himeji Castle will implement a higher admission fee for tourists from outside western Japan, charging between 2,000 and 3,000 yen, compared to just 1,000 yen for locals.

Japan’s Accommodation Tax In March, nine cities and two prefectures across Japan will begin enforcing an accommodation tax for the first time. This new tax will range from 100 yen ($0.70) to 500 yen ($3.50) per person, per night, in areas such as Miyagi, Hiroshima, and several locations in Hokkaido, Gifu, Miyagi, and Shimane prefectures.

To read more, go here. 

Hotel Stays In Japan Hit Record

Above, I stayed at this Tokyo hotel in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I first visited Japan in 2001 and seven subsequent visits since, it was relatively easy to get a hotel room in Tokyo and elsewhere in the country.

Due to the exchange rate between the Japanese yen and the U.S. dollar along with other currencies, Japan is seeing what they are calling overtourism. Several years ago, Japan sought more foreign tourists and had a goal of 10 million tourists. That has been far exceeded during recent years before and after the pandemic.

Now, hotels and other accommodations in Japan are seeing record numbers in hotel stays.

The Mainichi Shimbun reported:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Overnight stays at accommodation facilities in Japan by Japanese and foreign travelers rose 5.5 percent in 2024 from the previous year to a record 651.49 million, preliminary government data showed Friday.

The growth was largely driven by foreign visitors, whose stays at hotels and Japanese inns surged 38.8 percent to 163.48 million on the back of a weak yen, according to the Japan Tourism Agency.

Overnight stays by Japanese residents, meanwhile, fell 2.3 percent to 488.01 million, with an agency official suggesting a slowdown in the post-coronavirus pandemic domestic travel boom.

The previous record high was 617.47 million marked in 2023.

To read more, go here. 

Caribbean Cruises Rise As European Cruises Out Of Favor

Above, a cruise ship docked at Freeport, Bahamas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Europe isn't much in favor these days for cruise line travelers. This is resulting in priorities by the cruise lines to shift their bookings and schedules to the Caribbean.

I can easily see why the Caribbean is a popular area to cruise at. The weather is better and the people seem nicer.

A couple of friends are currently on a 15-day cruise that will take them to the Panama Canal.

The topic of Europe cruises being out of favor is in an article in Forbes.

They begin it with:

European cruises are now out of favor, a relief for many locals who have been grappling with the issues of overcrowding and protests across Croatia, Italy, and Greece. As Bloomberg reports, cruise operators are shifting to the Caribbean, with port calls now evenly distributed between Europe and the Caribbean, a stark contrast to the situation three years ago when there were 7,000 more dockings in a European port than in a Caribbean one.

To read more, go here.

Foreign Visitors To Japan Top 3 Million For 3rd Straight Month

Above, Toho Studios' Godzilla mural. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like the tourism industry in Japan has recovered, and then some.

For the third straight month, three million foreign visitors came to Japan.

According to Kyodo News:

TOKYO - The number of foreign visitors to Japan totaled 3.04 million in May, up 60.1 percent from a year earlier and exceeding the 3 million mark for the third consecutive month, boosted by the weak yen, government data showed.

The Japan National Tourism Organization attributed the strong tourist arrivals to China's holiday season and an increased number of flights and ships coming from East Asia.

The number of visitors from more than a dozen countries and regions, including South Korea and the United States, reached record highs for the month.

To read more, go here. 

Things To Know If Travelling To Japan This Year

Above, the Mitsukoshi department store at Ginza Crossing in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer

It is funny how Japan for years clamored for more foreign tourists. Now that foreigners have coming into the country in droves, Japan is deeply concerned with overtourism.

Much of this overtourism is due to the weak yen. This is drawing foreigners as Japan is seen as a huge bargain as a result. One the other side of the coin, the weak yen is keeping Japanese citizens to refrain from foreign travel (Hawaii is a good example).

Condé Nast Traveller has an article on what four things we should expect if one is planning to travel to Japan this year.

They begin with:

Japan is experiencing a serious boom in tourism since the pandemic. With visitor numbers crossing three million in March this year, parts of the country are taking several measures to fight overtourism. Tourists must pay a fee and reserve a spot to hike Mt. Fuji’s Yoshida Trail. The alleys of the geisha district are also out of bounds. Here’s what you need to know if you travel to Japan this season.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Braces For New Surge In Overtourism

Above, the Great Buddha of Kamakura. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With the weak yen making Japan travel more attractive, the country is bracing itself for a new surge of overtourism.

It is interesting that ten or more years ago, Japan was trying to get more foreign tourists to visit. Now that they are flocking in, Japan has opened a Pandora's Box. They are having a difficult time in coping with the influx.

This is happening from Kamakura to Kyoto. 

Nikkei Asia posted:

TOKYO -- Major tourist destinations in Japan have been scrambling to prepare for the strain that visitors will put on public transit systems during the upcoming Golden Week holidays, the first since major pandemic restrictions were lifted.

Packed city buses have become a constant in Kyoto. So from April 27 to May 6, the city is calling on riders to make free transfers from the buses to the city-run subway system via special tickets. A rider will need only pay the 230 yen ($1.46) bus fare to take advantage of the service.

In particular, the free subway program aims to decrease the crowding on buses connecting the Kinkakuji temple to Kyoto Station. The route runs through the center of town, and ridership is high even among Kyoto residents alone.

The addition of tourists -- many with bulky luggage in tow -- has led to a critical overcrowding of buses.

For Golden Week, Kyoto is also increasing the frequency of buses connecting Kyoto Station to the Kiyomizudera temple. Buses will make arrivals every three to four minutes. Direct-service buses will launch in June.

To further ease crowding, there will be higher frequencies of buses serving other tourist destinations in Kyoto, such as the Heian-jingu Shrine.

Kamakura, another temple city, has been experiencing a large influx of tourists because it is easily accessible from Tokyo. Crowds of international visitors have milled in front of stations, obstructing foot traffic.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Picks 20 Areas As Models For Addressing Overtourism

Above, Nakamise Street in Asakusa, Tokyo is one model area selected. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is a bit weird that after many years of clamoring for more tourists to come to Japan, now that they have more tourists, they're complaining about overtourism.

The Japan Tourism Agency has selected 20 sites they say are "suffering" from overtouism. These sites will be "models" for dealing with the problem.

According to Nippon.com:

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)--The Japan Tourism Agency on Tuesday selected 20 areas to implement model projects aimed at addressing challenges related to overtourism, or a surge in tourists that negatively impacts the lives of local residents and the natural environment.

In the 20 areas, local government officials and residents will draw up plans in fiscal 2024, which starts on Monday, to ease traffic congestion and raise awareness about tourist manners.

The areas include Niseko in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, Tokyo’s Asakusa and Iriomote Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa.

To read more, go here. 

Kyoto Implementing More Tourist Rules

Above, a Gion street near Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto still allowing tourists. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Kyoto has been putting up with overcrowding and misbehaving tourists for some time. Now they are starting to crack down.

The city is implementing more rules for tourists. They include bans on tourists entering the Gion geisha private alleys not far from Kiyomizu-dera.

Travel + Leisure reported:

The Japanese city of Kyoto is banning tourists from some private alleys in its geisha district.

The city will place signs in both English and Japanese around the area, called Gion, warning tourists to stay clear as well as fine anyone who doesn’t listen, The Associated Press reported. The fine will amount to 10,000 yen ($67.97). 

The public streets in Gion will remain open.

“We are going to put up signs in April that tell tourists to stay out of our private streets,” local district official Isokazu Ota told the wire service.

The decision to ban visitors from these blocks comes as the city has dealt with overcrowding and misbehaving tourists, the AP noted.

This isn’t the first time Kyoto has tried to protect geisha, the women who dress up in traditional kimonos and makeup and perform for customers while they dine. In 2015, the city handed out pamphlets warning against “nuisance activities,” which included taking photos of geisha, CNN reported. And in 2019, Gion again put up signs prohibiting photography and warning of potential fines.

To read more, go here. 

How To Avoid Tourist Hordes In Kyoto

Above, tourists pack the Kiyomizu-dera stage in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The last time I was in Kyoto, Japan was in October 2015. The pandemic was five years away and Japanese locals were beginning to complain about overtourism in the city, while at the same time, enjoyed the money tourists brought to their economy.

When we were in Kyoto, there were many people visiting the main attractions such as Kiyomizu-dera and Kinkakuji. We signed up for a bus tour to visit those places at the JR Kyoto Station (famous for the final battle between Irys and Gamera in Gamera 3 in 1999). 

Above, our tour group posed for a photo at Kiyomizu-dera. 

Although crowded, we still enjoyed the tours.

The Australian Financial Review has posted an article on how to avoid tourist hordes.

They begin it with:

It’s 5.30am when I pull back the sheets and greet the dawn from my sumptuous sanctuary at Kyoto’s Park Hyatt hotel.

It is not easy prying myself from this serene 45-square-metre room with its views over a manicured Japanese garden, but the Park Hyatt’s ultra-convenient location means some of Japan’s most picturesque streets are literally on my doorstep.

And there is only one way to beat the crowds in Japan’s former ancient capital – get up ridiculously early.

Even before Japan’s plunging yen started attracting post-lockdown visitors in record numbers, the country’s ancient capital was suffering from serious over-tourism. There are now queues and selfie-stick-wielding masses clogging top sights such as the Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) and Fushimi Inari Taisha with its famous red gates year round.

To read more, go here. 

Hawaii Proposes $25 Tourism Tax

Above, the battleship USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If there is a constant in this universe, it is that blue states (controlled by Democrats) will find any means to tax people using overtourism or climate change as an excuse.

Hawaii is considering a $25 tourism tax. Of course, Hawaii is a Democrat-controlled state.

According to Lonely Planet:

Spending time on Hawaii’s gorgeous beaches or traipsing through its vibrant forests could cost travelers just a little more in the future.

Joining other nations struggling with the heavy burden of over-tourism, Hawaii’s governor, Josh Green, proposed a $25 climate fee on tourists. The bill, HB206 is currently in committee in Hawaii’s legislature. 

What lawmakers call the green fee, or visitor impact fee, is intended to raise funds to help protect beaches, prevent wildfires and offset the repercussions of nearly 10 million visitors per year. Hawaii’s population hovers at 1.6 million, meaning tourists make up the vast majority of people on the islands at any given time.

“A Climate Impact Fee on visitors would provide the needed resources to protect our environment and increase awareness of the impacts of climate change,” Green said. “I believe this is not too much to ask of visitors to our islands… Hawaii’s natural resources – our beaches, forests, and waterfalls – are an essential part of our culture and way of life.”

The proposed fee would be added to a visitor’s accommodation charge in lieu of raising hotel and resort taxes, which in Hawaii are already some of the highest in the world. 

To read more, go here. 

Hawaii Hotel Prices Up 70%, May Stifle Overtourism

Above, the Sheraton Waikiki in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The "powers that be" in Hawaii are talking about stifling overtourism by adding fees lately.'

However, that may not be necessary since hotel room rates have risen 70% since the end of the pandemic. They may take care of the overtourism "problem".

According to Beat of Hawaii:

With the nightly cost of Hawaii hotels, the state may not need to worry much longer about over-tourism. Between high prices and the pressure on vacation rentals, the issue could become self-regulating. Regular commenter John W. said today that “Hawaii hotel prices are outlandish.” And we concur. The December numbers speak for themselves.

BOH editors will be in West Maui in February to bring you more on-the-ground coverage. What we found, no matter how hard we tried, or where we looked, was what we deemed to be just too high pricing. In the end, given the cost, we chose not to book yet, waiting until the last minute. In addition to costs, the cancellation notice and penalties were too much to feel comfortable.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Announces Measures To Combat Overtourism

Above, Kyoto's Kinkakuji "Golden Pavilion". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since the pandemic ended, Japan has been coping with overtourism, particularly in popular cities of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.

The hiking of the prices of JR Rail Passes may contribute to the lowering of numbers of foreign tourists to places outside of Tokyo. 

According to TravelPulse:

Japan’s tourism ministry outlined its new plans to combat overtourism this week, ranging from strengthening transportation systems in large cities like Tokyo to encouraging a greater spread of tourism to lesser-known destinations. 

According to The Japan Times, a large part of the program is expanding bus and taxi fleets in popular areas, especially during heavy tourist seasons. Direct bus routes to popular destinations from major stations that are designed specifically for tourist use are also being considered.

The tourism ministry will also consider ways to encourage a wider spread of travelers to lesser known areas to direct traffic away from Tokyo, Kyoto and other popular destinations. 

While the country has nearly reached its pre-pandemic level of visitor totals, the majority of these travelers tend to concentrate in popular destinations like Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto, leading to overcrowding in these cities. 

To read more, go here. 

Japan Rail Pass Price Hikes Will Be A Big Blunder

 

Above, Kyoto's Kinkaku-ji. The rail pass price hike will solve Kyoto's over-tourism. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The planned JR Rail Pass price hikes set for October will effectively kill the convenient and affordable means of travel throughout Japan for many. Paying nearly $500 for a 7-day rail pass would not be cost-effective for foreign travelers unless they take more than two round-trips from Tokyo to Osaka.

The Japanese government had been clamoring for years that they'd like to see foreign visitors travel to other places in Japan besides Tokyo. This will effectively kill that. Is this supposed to encourage the tourism industry? How idiotic!

Prior to the pandemic, Kyoto had been complaining about over-tourism to the city by foreigners, some of which were ill-mannered. Well, this will certainly solve that problem! Who wants to pay sky-high prices to go to Kyoto or Osaka? I went to both cities in 2015 with the JR Rail Pass. It appears that that will be my last time visiting them.

This will also hurt the merchants in Japan. Instead of spending money in shops, restaurants and hotels in areas outside of Tokyo, people will pay for the higher rail pass prices instead or just not travel around the country as they once did. Is this going to aid the Japanese economy?

I could understand a more moderate price increase, but to hike rail pass prices by 70% is ridiculous. It won't be worth getting anymore. If the price hikes as announced goes through, this will land on the list of Japan's biggest blunders. R.I.P. Japan Rail Pass!

Between now and October, people should be raising holy hell over this!

Kyoto Facing The Return of Tourists

Above, Kyoto's famous Kinkaku-ji "Golden Pavilion" in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In the years just prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Japanese city of Kyoto were suffering overtourism of too many tourists, some of them ill-mannered. The businesses loved the revenue the generated, just didn't particularly like the tourists.

I was last in Kyoto in 2015 and from what I saw of the numbers of tourists, I understood how the residents felt. We visited with an organized bus tour company.

Then the pandemic hit and Japan closed its borders to foreign tourists. The country will fully reopen October 11. Many in Kyoto are happy this will be happening, but with some reservations.

Above, the Kyoto tour group photo at Kiyomizu-dera in 2015.

TODAY posted an article on Kyoto and what they are and aren't looking forward to when the country reopens.

They start it off with:

TOKYO — In the months before March 2020, the food sellers in Kyoto’s Nishiki market often wished for an end to the seemingly endless stream of photo-hungry visitors from abroad who always seemed to be underfoot.

“We weren’t used to foreign tourists,” said Mr Nobuyuki Hatsuda, who leads a business alliance promoting the shopping street in the city centre, where vendors sell a dizzying array of traditional Japanese foods, carefully displayed and attractively packaged.

Nishiki has long been a working market, and the parade of visitors — rifling through the meticulously arranged merchandise, haggling with frazzled shopkeepers and blocking storefronts with their luggage — interfered with the flow of daily business, driving away locals who had long done their shopping on the street.

But then the pandemic hit. The tourists — along with their money — evaporated, and sellers had a change of heart, said Mr Hatsuda, who sells kamaboko, a fish cake often formed into delicate pink and white loaves.

“We realised that we can’t choose our customers,” he said. Other than China, Japan had maintained the strictest border controls of any major economy. Since the start of 2021, fewer than 800,000 foreign visitors have set foot in the country. As other countries began welcoming tourists back in numbers close to their pre-pandemic highs, Japan let only a trickle of travellers in.

The country eased restrictions on trips for business and study in the spring, but as of September, it was still limiting tourism to travelers on package tours who were willing to negotiate a labyrinth of red tape.

That will soon change, however. Prime minister Fumio Kishida said last week that the country would further ease border controls in October, eliminating a cap on daily entries and allowing tourists to travel independently. (Even after normal travel resumes, however, Chinese visitors, who accounted for more than 30 per cent of inbound traffic in 2019, are unlikely to return in large numbers until Beijing relaxes its strict Covid-zero policy.)  

As tourism slowly returns, Kyoto, like other famous tourist destinations worldwide, is grappling with how to accommodate the crowds without sacrificing quality of life for those who call the ancient capital home.

To read more, go here.

Kyoto Wants Tourists To Return, Just Not So Many

Above, crowds flock to shops below Kiyomizu-dera before the pandemic. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before the pandemic, Kyoto's residents and businesses had mixed feelings about the hordes of tourists visiting the city.

They loved the spending money that the tourists brought, but didn't much like the huge crowds.

Those feelings are resurfacing again now that foreign tourists are being allowed back into Japan, even though limited to organized group tours.

According to BusinessLIVE:

Kyoto — Poring over the ledger at her more than 230-year-old liquor shop in Kyoto, Yasuko Fujii has mixed feelings about the return of foreign tourists who would crowd the streets of Japan's ancient capital before the pandemic — and buy lots of whisky and wine.

Her ambivalence reflects a broader uncertainty in Japan about welcoming tourist hordes amid fears they could trigger a resurgence in Covid-19 cases, even though a weak yen would be a big draw for tourists and a boon for local businesses.

“From a business standpoint, we want foreign tourists to come,” the 79-year-old Fujii said. “But from an emotional standpoint, we want customers from Japan.”

Millions of tourists from China, South Korea and Southeast Asia used to throng the Nishiki market where Fujii's shop is located before curbs set in two years ago. Locals often felt overwhelmed and many stopped coming, she said.

To read more, go here. 

Some Japanese Locals Not Ready For Reopened Borders

Above, crowds on Kyoto's Kiyomizu-dera stage was common before the pandemic. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is looking towards reopening its borders to foreign tourism next month.

However, some locals in Japan are not ready for reopened borders and prefer to keep things the way they are.

According to CNBC:

As countries across Asia reopen to international travelers, Japan — one of the continent’s most popular destinations — remains firmly closed.

That may soon change. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Thursday at a news conference in London that Japan will ease border controls in June.

Locals often celebrate the easing of pandemic-related border restrictions, but some in Japan say they are fine with keeping measures in place.

Japan welcomed nearly 32 million international visitors in 2019 — up from just 6.8 million just ten years prior, according to Japan Tourism Agency.

The rapid increase in tourists caused major draws, such as the culturally rich city of Kyoto, to struggle with over-tourism.

Residents in Kyoto are now saying that “silence is back,” said Miyamoto, who recounted instances where foreign tourists spoke loudly and were discourteous to locals.

Similarly, Lee said that “a lot of people who were quite upset about over-tourism in Kyoto” are now saying “it feels like how Kyoto was 20 years ago — the good old Kyoto.”

To read more, go here.

Covid Robbed Kyoto of Foreign Tourists

Above, our 2015 Kyoto tour group at Kiyomizu-dera. 

Back before the pandemic struck, people of Kyoto, Japan were complaining about the hordes of foreign visitors clogging up the streets and temples, many of them ill-mannered. It was called overtourism.

Today, many vendors in Kyoto are missing those hordes from different countries, especially their spending money.

The Guardian has posted an article on how some in Kyoto are missing the free-spending foreigners, while others are enjoying the more quieter times of today.

They begin with:

Until a couple of years ago, negotiating the hill leading to one of Kyoto’s most popular temples would have tested the patience of a Buddhist saint. The arrival of yet another coachload of sightseers would send pedestrians fleeing to narrow paths already clogged with meandering visitors on their way to Kiyomizu-dera.

That was before Covid-19. Today, the cacophony of English and Chinese, and a smattering of other European and Asian languages, has been replaced by the chatter of Japanese children on school excursions. Shops selling souvenirs and wagashi sweets are almost empty, their unoccupied staff perhaps reminiscing about more lucrative times.

Two years into the pandemic, some of the ancient capital’s residents admit that they have learned to embrace life without foreign visitors, who were once welcomed for the money they ploughed into the local economy and resented for their cultural faux pas and, in some cases, staggering bad manners.

Above, Kyoto before the pandemic. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.