Does TOKYO really have an OVER-TOURISM Problem?

What’s up Tokyo? Is there really an over tourism problem? Maybe, maybe not.
What’s your take? #overtourism #tokyo #japan

[InsVerderben]

I came back from a 2 week Tokyo trip a week ago but didn't really see much tourists. Even the touristy places didn't feel that jam packed, I could walk there easy. The biggest problem where the Chinese tourist groups who just didn't know how to behave.

[dozelzabi]

I go to Japan every end of year (except for covid era), I can see an increase of tourists in Tokyo more than anywhere else in Japan. Last year it bothered me a bit specially in Tsukiji where some people were not following the norm when eating at a sushi bar, being loud while eating or talking on speaker phone while waiting to be seated. ZipAir flight ticket roundtrip is only 400$ between LAX-NRT for October/November, the quality of tourists coming in is the problem.

[iangelinas]

Hey John. I’ve been watching Only in Japan since before I even moved here in 2015 (as well as your appearances on Tokyo Eye). Your commentaries on current events in Japan are always thoughtful, insightful, and unbiased. You’re never afraid to call out foreigner’s bad behavior or Japan’s sometimes asinine reactive policies. You’re doing an invaluable service to Japan’s foreign residents, prospective tourists, and Japan in general. Keep up the good work 🤘

[apilgrim]

Anywhere people are drinking there are problems-its not just Shibuya. Shibuya is actually pretty tame compared to other drinking districts in other countries.

[gzignl]

No. Amsterdam is overtourism. In the centre of Amsterdam no Dutch is sproken. It is 80% not natives. All is AirBnB and hotels, no one lives there. THAT is over tourism.

[Aiken]

Hi John, is it over tourism or too many ignorant and rowdy people not caring they’re imposing on locals and people getting to work?
I think you nailed it - the quality of the tourist is the issue, it’s not just Americans, I think there’s a lot of people that just travel without respecting that country’s culture.

[elysiumcore]

As a resident, I am tired of the badly behaving tourists. From the idiots doing Yoga poses at temples, acting up on trains or standing around drinking.... Yea no thanks

[IbrahimForum]

Thanks John for this topic of overtourism. During my visit I noticed that many tourists are not conscious that they are annoying the locals in various ways. For example talking loud in the public transport. Touching evening hurting the local people with their big backpacks without realising it. Blocking the way while walking on the pavements.
In short I guess the issue is the lack of concern and respect for the locals, not the overtourism. ❤

[mint_meringue]

Just three years ago the Japanese economy, especially in the small tourist destinations, was struggling with the lack of tourists allowed. So many businesses had to close and the news kept being bleak about them. Now the tourists have returned and are boosting the economy but for some reason are hated. I think Japan (or their media) just wanted to have their cake and eat it too.

[henrychew]

It is really more targeted to specific parts of Tokyo that may experience some overtourism, definitely not the entite city. Even in kyoto, not every area is the same. There are still many temples that would love to get some extra tourism. Example, fushimi inari shrine may get a lot of tourism, but the sake village near it probably doesn't. Same for asakusa, just a few minutes away is sumida and oshiage which doesn't really have that much crowd.

[richardingram]

I think a lot of comments here are dangerously close to shaming working class people. It’s important to clarify ‘low class’ means people without respect and full of ignorance. It’s not a direct reflection on someone’s socioeconomic status. Shameless people come from all walks of life. Rich people are just as likely to be as disrespectful as the next person.

I think the tourist hotspots of Japan are no different whatsoever to any other popular destinations around the world. If you live in a popular destination then you will get a larger amount of disrespectful people coming. It happens everywhere.

Let’s not fall into the trap of vilifying visitors. It’s one world, we are all (mostly) free to travel it. With the good comes the bad. Just try to focus on the positives.

[OrientalPearl]

I appreciate this non-sensationalized take on this topic. I’ve visited many places with way more of a tourism problem than Japan.

[wallochdm]

I'd give a qualified "yes", on the basis that Tokyo is so intense and full of interesting stuff that it outdraws other parts of Japan that are just as interesting, if perhaps not as vibrant. I'm going back in February and intend to explore mainly rural areas.

[kenziedayne]

If in your culture you are taught to feel shame regarding certain behaviors but in another culture they aren't taught that... Why would you expect those people to automatically feel shame? They were raised differently, that doesn't make them bad or wrong. Something that may be obvious to you as "good" or "appropriate" behavior may be so foreign to someone else that they don't realize it's even an issue.

[sylviogamache]

I've been in Japan for the last 2 weeks. Thanks for all the great info! Kyoto, super busy, Osaka and Hiroshima are not too bad. Love Tokyo.

[markshen]

Hi, John. I think both SHINJUKU and AKIHABARA are also popular destinations for tourists in addition to SHIBUYA.
MEIJI Shrine would also be a tourist spot as well….

[hexray]

16:50 this exactly! I could not agree more with you on that. Every time I see a video showing a normal thing from Japan but that to them is "Crazy!" or "Soo weird" makes me cringe. It's pretty rude for a foreigner to say that a local's normal thing is weird or crazy, makes me think they're uneducated. It would be better if they'd use "interesting" instead of over reacting.

[silverstar]

Thank you, John. I enjoy all your reports. I just came back from Japan two weeks ago and it was my first visit. It was very crowded in Kyoto and Tokyo when I was there, but I managed to enjoy my short stay, five nights in Kyoto and three nights in Tokyo, with two nights at an Onsen in Kanazawa sandwiched in between the two big cities. I must say the two nights at the onsen was a perfect rest stop and I enjoyed wonderful Kaiseki cuisine.

30 years ago when I was younger, I had hoped to go to Japan, but could not afford to. Now that I can afford traveling Japan does seem very crowded in some spots, but Japan needs tourism. It seems people are overcrowding at the temples just to take photos of themselves in kimonos. I don’t know how much new tourists to Japan appreciate the traditional culture. I hope to come back another time to check out more of the country. Best of luck to you!

[Chadd]

This is my third trip to Japan. Second time with my daughter. I travel to see my brother Hiroshi and his family. We met in college and have children similar ages. Japan and Tokyo are astounding to me and I have been traveling internationally since I was 18 in the USAF. There is just something about Japan that calls. It feels like a second home you can’t visit all the time. Japan is special and I am grateful I can share it with my daughter. Gods creation is astounding.

[Cheseabluesdrogba]

Everyone now has wheeled suit cases AND backpacks 🔥 leave the suitcase and stuff at the hotel or whatever and then explore the city, countryside, etc with your backpack 😄