Japan's Overtourism Crisis: The Hidden Costs of Tourism Boom

1. What is Overtourism?

Overtourism, or the negative impact of unsustainable tourism on the environment and local communities, has become a growing concern in popular tourist destinations worldwide. The excessive number of tourists has resulted in overcrowding not only in popular tourist spots but also in public areas and transportation systems, greatly compromising the quality of life for local residents.

2. 'Tourism Pollution' Means Overtourism in Japan

In Japan, instead 'over-tourism', the locals say 'kankō kōgai' (観光公害), which means 'tourism pollution'. It is used by locals to express how overtourism affects their daily lives. Many Japanese residents have come to be negatively impacted by overtourism and 'tourist pollution' describes their feelings perfectly.

3. Trip to Japan: The Rising Number of Tourists

Tourism in Japan since the late 2000s has surged, likely due to social media. In 2019, Japan saw a record 32.3 million visitors, contributing about $359 million to the GDP, making it the 11th most visited country.

Despite this, the large number of tourists has raised environmental concerns. In fact, 2024 has seen the highest number of tourists in Japan ever.

4. Japan's Overtourism: A Growing Concern

In the middle of the 2010s, the term, overtourism, became a significant topic in Japan's tourism scene. Residents and authorities in popular Japan tourist areas started to voice concerns about tourist overcrowding.

Complaints by locals have shed light on the numerous challenges linked to the rapid growth of Japan tourism, including the tourism impact on environment, noise pollution, and the handling of rubbish and waste, which is said to disrupt the local community. As a result, many are calling for Japan tourist restrictions.

5. The Impact of Overtourism in Kyoto

Japan's tourism overcrowding has started debates about balancing economic growth and preserving local culture.

As the heart of Japanese culture, Kyoto, with its historical temples and shrines, is one of Japan's prime tourist attractions and experiences the daily effects of how tourism impacts the environment.

• Some narrow Kyoto streets cannot handle the overcrowding of tourists;
• Pollution on Kyoto streets grow due to a lack of bins (Japanese people carry their personal trash);
• High tourist numbers are blocking entrance to old businesses around famous sites;
• Tourists with suitcases are overcrowding the local buses, impacting older residents.
  
  

In the famed Kyoto area of Gion, Geisha have been harassed by visitors desperate for selfies. This resulted in a photography ban in the Gion. Tourists caught by police taking photos of Geisha or Maiko (trainee Geisha) in this area face a fine.

However, the local government felt that this was not stopping tourist from harassing Geisha. Therefore, from April 2024, all tourist were banned from entering Gion's backstreets. If you want to know more about this issue, please check out our article on the tourist ban in Gion.

6. Overtourism News: Japan Tourism Issues

The cultural erosion caused by overtourism not only affects Kyoto but also extends to other destinations, such as Nara and cities in Hokkaido. Even the picturesque Nara, known for its famed deer park, encounters similar challenges stemming from tourism.

• UNESCO World Heritage sites have been defaced with graffiti by tourist.
• Restaurant and tea house owners have expressed their frustration with tourists who disrupt their business.
• A Lawson convenience store with a view of Mt. Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture, was blocked by a black sheet due to overtourism in that spot.
• Construction of large hotels in the historic Gion district has raised concerns about the area's capacity to handle more tourists.

Tourists seeking selfies have harassed sacred deer in Nara and Miyajima, causing injuries and, in some tragic instances, death due to ingested plastic waste.

Over-tourism on Japan's signature site, Mount Fuji, has been grappling with rubbish issues due to a rise in visitor numbers. The increasing popularity of Mount Fuji tourism is highlighted by the significant number of visitors since the iconic Japanese site reopened for the 2023 season.

Japan's government has had to crack down on illegal Airbnb operations in response to an overwhelming number of complaints from locals disturbed by tourists in unregulated accommodations.

In addition, foreign social media influencers have been in the news creating social disturbance by avoiding payment on trains and in local businesses for online views.

8. Japan’s Tourism Pause: Economic and Environmental Impacts

The COVID-19 pandemic brought tourism in Japan to a standstill, leading to a shift in tourism dynamics and prompting a reevaluation of sustainable tourism practices for a more sustainable post-pandemic travel industry.

The Kyoto government acknowledged the economic value of tourism after incurring a US$2 billion debt a year post-shutdown, largely due to local government overspending. This was unexpected considering Kyoto's popularity among tourists.

The perceived negative impact of overtourism on Nara's sacred deer was reevaluated during the 2020-2022. It was discovered that tourists were actually aiding the local deer population by providing food. The absence of large tourists crowds during that perios, led to a lack of food for the deer. This caused malnourished deer and prompting the animals to leave their usual habitats in search of other food.

9. Strategies for Managing Overtourism in Japan

Recognizing the challenges posed by overtourism, the Japanese government has taken steps to address the issue. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced plans to draw up measures to combat overtourism as early as autumn 2023. Although the government does not seem to understand how to tackle this issue, it has announced the formation of a task force to take on issues caused by overcrowding.

New measures to help Japan tourism include:

• Educating tourists to be socially responsible and to respect local customs;
• The promotion of lesser-known tourist spots;
• Introducing entry fees to popular tourist spots.
• Adding public buses that take tourists directly to famous sites.
  
  

Several Japanese islands are introducing an "entrance tax" to manage overtourism and reduce pollution. Miyajima Island, a popular Hiroshima tourist attraction, is just one of many famous tourist sites in Japan that have started this trend.

10. Alternatives to Overcrowded Tourist Hot-Spots

One way the Japanese government wish to cut the negative impacts of tourism on popular destinations is to promote lesser-known Japan areas. Japan is a country rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. There are some great alternative places to visit other than the big three (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto). For example…

Shodenji - Kyoto

Kyoto's Shodenji Temple (正伝寺) is a great example of a lesser-known destination that has an amazing history and is free from overcrowding.

Yanaka - Tokyo

Visitors to Tokyo who want to skip the crowds can explore the peaceful neighborhood of Yanaka (谷中). This Tokyo neighborhood has kept its rustic charm, offering a peaceful retreat from the city.

11. Tips to Ease Overtourism

• Learn Japanese Customs: Familiarize yourself with Japanese etiquette and learn some basic Japanese phrases.
• Respect Cultural Sites: Show respect at sacred and significant sites.
• Support Local Economy: Eat at local restaurants and buy from local artisans.
• Prepare for Dining: Learn how to order food and pay at eateries.
• Use Public Transport: Understand the public transportation system.
• Avoid Overtourism: Explore less frequented destinations to prevent overcrowding.

If you would like to know more about how to ease the effects of overtourism, check out our article on the countermeasures to overtourism.

Also, if you would like to share your ideas or opinions about the topic related to this article, please be sure to leave a comment below, in the comment section.

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