Why Japan's overtourism became a flashpoint
Did you know that Japan welcomed about 31.88 million international visitors in 2019, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization? Take Kyoto and Tokyo, for instance; both are magnet cities where day-trippers and foreign tourists pack the same narrow streets, leading to congestion and tension.
Plot twist: some of the most Instagrammed spots attract far more visitors than locals expected. A great example is the 嵐山 (Arashiyama, Arashiyama district) bamboo grove in Kyoto, where sunrise photos hide crowds of hundreds of people arriving before 9 am. Wait, there's more.
Which places are hardest hit by overtourism
Question: where does overtourism feel most obvious? 渋谷 (Shibuya, Shibuya) Crossing in Tokyo, 伏見稲荷 (Fushimi Inari, Fushimi Inari shrine) in Kyoto, the 清水 (Kiyomizu, Kiyomizu area) area, and the lakes around Mount 富士 (Fuji, Mount Fuji) all see crushes of visitors during peak seasons. Hand on heart, these places are iconic, but the pressure on local infrastructure and residents is real.
Here's the kicker: it's not just the usual suspects. Smaller spots like the island of 宮島 (Miyajima, Miyajima island) and historic streets in 高山 (Takayama, Takayama) have reported complaints about noise, litter, and disrespectful behaviour during 祭り (matsuri, festival) season. Personally, that lack of respect for local routines is what bothers me most.
How Japan and others are reacting to overtourism
Fact: Japan appears to be joining countries like Italy, Norway, Greece, and Indonesia in public conversations about pushing back on mass tourism, according to Travel and Tour World. Travel and Tour World reports that debates now include visitor limits and tourism taxation.
Take proposals for tourism taxes, for instance; they aim to discourage short, frenetic trips and raise funds for maintenance. That's why local governments and shrine boards are experimenting with crowd-control measures, timed entries, and clearer etiquette campaigns. But that's not all.
Examples of local measures
Let me show you why small rules can matter. Some shrines and parks now ask large tour groups to stagger arrival times. Other towns have tightened rules on bus parking and late-night noise, and tourist information centres hand out leaflets that explain omotenashi, the Japanese idea of hospitality, in practical terms. My tip: follow local signs and keep group sizes small when possible.
What travellers and learners should know
Addressing you directly, if you love Japan, you'll want to be part of the solution. Buy a slightly off-peak train ticket, stay in a family-run ryokan outside the city centre, and learn a few polite phrases, romaji helps, but tone matters too.
But let's stick with practical steps for learners: pick up words like omotenashi, ryokan, and matsuri in romaji, and read local rules before you go. That's why respecting local schedules and customs makes your trip more rewarding and less disruptive. Personally, I always plan one quiet day in a neighbourhood café; it's a simple way to recharge and support small businesses.
Here's the kicker: responsible travel makes for better language practice. Chat with staff, ask for directions in simple romaji, and you'll see how mutual respect opens doors. Wild, isn't it?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is overtourism?
Overtourism happens when too many visitors overwhelm a place, causing environmental stress, resident complaints, and degraded experiences for tourists.
Are popular sites in Japan closed to tourists?
Short answer: not generally closed, but some places have timed entries, group restrictions, or local rules to manage crowds.
Sources
- Travel and Tour World: Japan joins others in pushing back on overtourism
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) visitor statistics
