Japan is reportedly facing an unusual problem: too many tourists. Foreigners are flocking to the country in record numbers in the first half of 2024, with 17.78-million foreigners visiting the country. The added tourism brought around $11.4 billion to Japan’s economy in the first quarter of 2024. The record-number of visitors is largely attributed to post-COVID-19 travel and a weak yen compared to the U.S. dollar.
While the rise in tourism may sound like a good thing, locals are not particularly pleased with the overcrowding and other problems millions of tourists have brought with them. Many locals have reported rude acts of littering by tourists and traffic jams created by visitors looking to add a scenic picture to their social media. Tourists are also being blamed for a disruption to the nation’s rice supply.
The plethora of issues has led to some businesses and towns considering dual pricing for locals and foreign tourists, as reported on Monday, July 29.
Himeji Castle, a popular attraction, is said to be flirting with the idea of more than quadrupling entrance fees for tourists. The Samurai fortress dates back to the 17th century. The current fee for adults is a little more than $6. The new hike would make the entrance fee closer to $30. Officials said that the higher price would pay for the repairs and upkeep that may be needed due to the increased number of visitors.
Some restaurants have already introduced two-tier pricing. One restaurant owner said he keeps four to five employees on the clock to translate the menu for tourists. He said it only makes sense to charge foreigners more for the added cost to his business.
Japanese officials also said that food supply is being impacted by tourists. The Japanese Ministry is blaming visitors for a nationwide rice shortage, and officials said that the country’s rice stockpile is the lowest it’s been in decades due to increased demand by record-tourism and an aging Japanese population.
Bad behavior among tourists is reportedly on the rise as well. Tourists trying to get a selfie in front of Mt. Fuji have regularly set up shop at a local convenience store in the town of Fujikawaguchiko. The influx of tourists trying to take a picture has led to traffic jams, trespassing, unauthorized parking and littering. This forced the town to take extreme measures and erect a barrier to block the view of the mountain.
Another issue has also surfaced in the city of Kyoto, where kimonos are a common sight. Residents have complained of unruly visitors chasing geishas to photograph them.
Locals said the neighborhood is “not a theme park” and urged the local government to take action. The city banned tourists from entering private alleys in the district.
Japan has also been impacted by tourists driving rideable electric suitcases amid the traveler surge. The country now requires a license to ride the suitcases and riders are banned from driving them on the sidewalk.
Despite the laundry list of issues, Japan’s tourism chief said that the country wants to lure 60-million tourists to the country every year — which is more than double the current level.
