I'm a huge admirer of Japan and the Japanese. I feel fortunate to live in Japan; and yet there is much that frustrates and disappoints. A current frustration is the so-called "over-tourism" so-called problem. Japan is a large country bursting with natural beauty, scenery and stunning coastline as well as a long and fascinating history and an ancient culture; but not many foreign tourists visit anywhere except Tokyo, Kyoto and perhaps Osaka.
Personally, I would pay NOT to visit Tokyo and Osaka; but that's me. The so-called "over-tourism" problem is a failure of management - in particular, sales and marketing. So your effort to highlight hidden gems is exactly what Japan needs to continue expanding much-needed foreign-currency earnings from tourism while reducing the over-crowding in places like Kyoto. The Japanese people are being let down by not having a coherent national, regional and local strategy to share the wealth brought by tourism; and the tourists are being let down by being funnelled into over-crowded tourist traps and selfie spots.
Perhaps the average Japanese would prefer that the foreign tourists just stayed at home; but that would conflict with how precarious the position of the Japanese yen is and how vital foreign-currency earnings are to slowing the decline of the yen's purchasing power.
Yes, I find a lot frustrating too. Outside of the big cities, it's always been obvious to me that the people in charge of promoting the region are utterly clueless about how to get more foreign visitors in. There was one article I read a while back where the local government had built some fancy sculptures or something. All well and good, except the transport links to that place are absolutely abysmal. Best of luck with that!
I've also read that foreign visitors make up a very low percentage of overall tourism. This would explain a lot. In any case, it's down to the individual. If they want to join the crowds and have a carbon-copy trip, let them. It's their money. For everyone else - well, that's why I'm here!
I painfully understand the problems of the Japanese tourism industry, including the over-tourism you have pointed out. The number of tourists visiting Japan alone easily exceeded 30 million in July, most concentrated in the three cities known as the Golden Route.
Local governments are trying various ways to attract visitors but need help. Travelers coming to Japan seek to experience Japanese culture and interact with local people rather than just following social media.
As the number of tourists visiting Japan is rapidly recovering from the pandemic, it is time to reexamine what visitors to Japan are looking for, not superficial measures that will eventually be overturned.
As you have pointed out, it is very important to introduce wonderful places that are buried under the mass of information.
Yes, more needs to be done to educate visitors to Japan about what there is to see and do here. Take over-crowded Kyoto as an example. Ten minutes by train from Kyoto Station and you're in Otsu, Shiga on the shore of beautiful Biwako. In addition to Biwako, Shiga has many fine temples as well as beautiful mountains, countryside and other attractions; and yet Otsu/Shiga is crying out for more visitors.
I enjoyed your post, Andrew. Lake Inawashiro and Aizuwakamatsu brought me back to old memories. When I was small, I visited the Inawashiro area many times because my uncle had a place to stay. This area is full of Japanese culture and has beautiful landscapes. Fukushima Prefecture had a nuclear accident caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, but the Aizu region was less affected. Thirteen years after the accident, now you can travel the entire prefecture safely.
I'm a huge admirer of Japan and the Japanese. I feel fortunate to live in Japan; and yet there is much that frustrates and disappoints. A current frustration is the so-called "over-tourism" so-called problem. Japan is a large country bursting with natural beauty, scenery and stunning coastline as well as a long and fascinating history and an ancient culture; but not many foreign tourists visit anywhere except Tokyo, Kyoto and perhaps Osaka.
Personally, I would pay NOT to visit Tokyo and Osaka; but that's me. The so-called "over-tourism" problem is a failure of management - in particular, sales and marketing. So your effort to highlight hidden gems is exactly what Japan needs to continue expanding much-needed foreign-currency earnings from tourism while reducing the over-crowding in places like Kyoto. The Japanese people are being let down by not having a coherent national, regional and local strategy to share the wealth brought by tourism; and the tourists are being let down by being funnelled into over-crowded tourist traps and selfie spots.
Perhaps the average Japanese would prefer that the foreign tourists just stayed at home; but that would conflict with how precarious the position of the Japanese yen is and how vital foreign-currency earnings are to slowing the decline of the yen's purchasing power.
Yes, I find a lot frustrating too. Outside of the big cities, it's always been obvious to me that the people in charge of promoting the region are utterly clueless about how to get more foreign visitors in. There was one article I read a while back where the local government had built some fancy sculptures or something. All well and good, except the transport links to that place are absolutely abysmal. Best of luck with that!
I've also read that foreign visitors make up a very low percentage of overall tourism. This would explain a lot. In any case, it's down to the individual. If they want to join the crowds and have a carbon-copy trip, let them. It's their money. For everyone else - well, that's why I'm here!
I painfully understand the problems of the Japanese tourism industry, including the over-tourism you have pointed out. The number of tourists visiting Japan alone easily exceeded 30 million in July, most concentrated in the three cities known as the Golden Route.
Local governments are trying various ways to attract visitors but need help. Travelers coming to Japan seek to experience Japanese culture and interact with local people rather than just following social media.
As the number of tourists visiting Japan is rapidly recovering from the pandemic, it is time to reexamine what visitors to Japan are looking for, not superficial measures that will eventually be overturned.
As you have pointed out, it is very important to introduce wonderful places that are buried under the mass of information.
Yes, more needs to be done to educate visitors to Japan about what there is to see and do here. Take over-crowded Kyoto as an example. Ten minutes by train from Kyoto Station and you're in Otsu, Shiga on the shore of beautiful Biwako. In addition to Biwako, Shiga has many fine temples as well as beautiful mountains, countryside and other attractions; and yet Otsu/Shiga is crying out for more visitors.
I enjoyed your post, Andrew. Lake Inawashiro and Aizuwakamatsu brought me back to old memories. When I was small, I visited the Inawashiro area many times because my uncle had a place to stay. This area is full of Japanese culture and has beautiful landscapes. Fukushima Prefecture had a nuclear accident caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, but the Aizu region was less affected. Thirteen years after the accident, now you can travel the entire prefecture safely.
Yes, it's a wonderful part of the country. Visiting Ouchijuku in the snow was so much fun, but last time I cycled around the lake. Magical!
I assume that the cycling around the lake might have been a bit demanding because of the size of the late. But I would like to do it someday!
Oh, it was a day's work, but a lot of fun.