Post by : Meena Ariff

Photo: Reuters

In March 2025, the number of Japanese people staying overnight in Kyoto hotels decreased. The Kyoto City Tourism Association said there were only about 300,000 overnight stays by Japanese tourists that month — a drop of 16.1% compared to the same time last year.

In Tokyo, the numbers are even more surprising. A report by the Japan Tourism Agency showed that in 2024, more than half of the people staying in Tokyo hotels were foreigners.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the number of visas issued to foreign visitors in 2024 increased by 73% compared to 2023. Out of all these visas, 5.24 million were given to Chinese tourists — twice as many as the year before, and making up 70% of all tourist visas.

Chinese travel websites like Trip.com and Qunar said that Japan was the number one travel destination for Chinese tourists during the May Day holiday. Osaka and Tokyo were the top two places they visited. Bookings for private car tours in Japan also increased by 60% compared to last year.

So, why are many Japanese people no longer excited about traveling inside their own country?

1. It’s too expensive now

Because of changes in currency exchange rates, Japan feels cheaper for foreign visitors, especially those from China. But for Japanese people, things like hotels and food have become much more expensive.

In 2024, the average hotel price in Tokyo reached 29,600 yen (about 207 US dollars), which is 55% higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. It’s too crowded

In the fall of 2024, fewer Japanese people visited famous places like Kyoto’s Kinkaku-ji Temple and the Philosopher’s Path. Local visitors at Kinkaku-ji dropped by 19% and at the Philosopher’s Path by 14%. But at the same time, more Chinese tourists came, with increases of 20% to 40% at those same spots.

3. It doesn’t feel like Japan anymore

In popular areas like Tokyo’s Ginza district, most shop workers now speak Mandarin Chinese. At ramen shops, customers are asked to leave reviews on Chinese websites like Dianping. At Asakusa Temple, many Chinese tourists rent kimonos and share photos on the Chinese app Xiaohongshu (also called RedNote). Because of this, some Japanese people feel like their cities don’t feel “Japanese” anymore.

4. Traveling in Japan isn’t as fun as before

Reports from local governments in Kyoto and Hokkaido say that many local people are complaining about problems caused by too many tourists. These problems include traffic jams, loud crowds, overbooked hotels and restaurants, and rising prices.

Because of all these reasons, more Japanese people are choosing not to travel within Japan like they used to.