Overtourism is a buzzword circling the travel industry and seems to be on everyone’s lips this year. With the rise of social media and the ease of COVID-era restrictions, tourists are now flooding the world’s most popular destinations.
Places that were tourist hotspots before 2021 now face unsafe conditions and residential complaints due to crowding. As the most visited country in Asia, the rise of overtourism in Japan is forcing the country to take extra precautions ahead of its busiest travel season.
I traveled to Kyoto in April, and although that month is not technically the high season, I still had to muscle through thick crowds. Finding the hidden gems of Kyoto was a struggle because people were everywhere.
The new restrictions in the Gion District aren’t severe, considering how many annual visitors Kyoto receives. Some residential streets in Kyoto are now closed off to tourists, and there is a noise ordinance to make it more livable for actual residents.
I don’t think this will be an actual problem for cultural travelers, but it will require a little bit of knowledge about what streets you can and cannot walk through.
The city of Kyoto, home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, joins other hot tourist spots with new 2024 travel restrictions. Here are some of the implications of overtourism in Japan, potential future challenges, and ways you can help combat overtourism while still enjoying your favorite places.
Restrictions in the Gion District Combat Overtourism in Japan
Right next to Tokyo in terms of annual visitors is Kyoto, the historic hotbed of Japan. To mitigate the challenges of “sightseeing pollution,” city officials implemented a law that prohibited walking through private streets starting in April 2024.
Gion official Isokazu Ota was quoted in the Japan Times saying, “We will ask tourists to refrain from entering narrow private streets from April onwards. We don’t want to enforce this, but we are left with no choice.”
Unauthorized entry onto private streets may be considered trespassing and incur a penalty of ¥10,000. This amounts to an approximate $10 fine. Only time will tell whether or not this will stand up against extreme overtourism in Japan.
What the heck is sightseeing pollution?
Sightseeing pollution is when too many people crowd near popular tourist sights. Tourists standing around to admire or take pictures isn’t a bad thing, but when a lot of people do the same thing at the same time, it crowds sidewalks, roads, and even residential streets.
Kyoto is a time capsule city that features picturesque alleyways and traditional shops made of wood. Walking through this city feels like walking into a Studio Ghibli movie. The Gion district is synonymous with kimono rentals and geishas, plus it’s one of the most magical places in Japan.
Lots of people want a slice of that magic; 71 million people as of 2022, to be exact. While there are remarkable sights in the Gion district that inspire a sense of awe, it’s important to remember that this is ultimately a residential city. People who live in street-level residences must endure the constant challenges of overcrowding in Japan.
Loiterers, loudspeakers, and photography right on their doorstep.
What’s the Difference Between Tourism and Overtourism in Japan?
Overtourism in Japan is a concept born from tourism, but the two are not alike. Overtourism is the large influx of visitors in a specific place and the negative implications that soon follow. Some of the common problems that arise from overtourism include:
- Congested streets and attractions
- Littering and unsanitary conditions
- Destroyed ecosystems
- High noise volumes
- Increased housing costs
These problems ultimately come from the unsustainable practices within the travel industry. Locals experience a full spectrum of challenges from overtourism in Japan, which may pose a nuisance or a legitimate hardship.
Read Next: Ecotourism, Slow Travel or Culture Travel: Choose Your Adventure
Issues with Overtourism in Japan
The issues faced by unsustainable practices are well-documented: from rising housing costs to an influx of visitors. Hotels in Kyoto had an occupancy rate of 82.9% this past year.
According to the East Asia Forum, 80% of surveyed residents in Kyoto complained about overcrowding in Japan.
The relationship between tourists and residents is a 50/50 split. Tourists should be able to experience the country and all it has to offer while respecting the local community, and residents shouldn’t have to compromise on quality of life for the sake of tourism.
While the country is generally known for its hospitality, giving up a greater portion of its equal split to overtourism in Japan is a source of frustration for residents.
Other Restrictions on the Horizon
Aside from blocking tourists from entering private streets, Kyoto as a whole has recently removed the Bus One Day Pass, a discounted public transportation option that allowed visitors to see major sights throughout the city for one day.
Will other major Japanese cities follow the path of Kyoto and implement tourism restrictions? Possibly, but officials haven’t made any other confirmations yet.
The country remains one of the most popular destinations in the world, and as tourism increases, so will overcrowding in Japan. It’s possible that we’ll see even more restrictions, not just in Kyoto, to try to mitigate these challenges.
Avoid Contributing to Overtourism in Japan
It’s completely possible to travel the world responsibly. For those who want to avoid contributing to overtourism in Japan (or anywhere else on the planet), there are a few options to consider on your next trip.
Read more: Venice Tourism Tax: What To Know About Venice Travel in 2024
Take a culture and heritage Tour
One of the reasons I’m so passionate about cultural travel is due to the fact that it emphasizes the local experience, rather than a tourist experience.
What’s the difference, you ask? Consider Paris, for example. The Eiffel Tower is the most iconic monument in Paris, so you can guess that the restaurants, tourist shops, and stores surrounding it are intentionally overpriced and, frankly, not very French.
To have a true Parisienne experience, you’d have to get away from those tourist hot spots.
I truly enjoy intimate experiences when I travel because I get overwhelmed and overstimulated in large crowds. EatWith is such a cool platform because you can find small group and niche experiences surrounding local cuisine. You can go on a walk through a local market with a guide, or sit down for a home-cooked meal at someone’s house!
Talk about feeding into the local economy while getting away from overcrowding in Japan.
Take the road less traveled
If it’s your first time visiting Japan, then let’s be honest: you have to go see Kyoto. It’s one of those totally unique places that you have to experience at least once. Then, let’s say you go to Japan a second time, maybe that’s when you take a less-touristy route.
Overtourism and overcrowding in Japan largely affect a few key places: Osaka, Tokyo, and Kyoto, but there’s a whole country beyond those cities.
You could rent a car a go visit the northern coast, where sashimi is at its freshest, or go visit some of the remote Shinto temples located deep within the country.
Stay in local accommodations to avoid overtourism in Japan
As much as I love the convenience and cheapness of Airbnb, some owners are problematic. There is a difference between a local resident who rents out their space and an investment realtor who buys up tons of property for the sake of rentals.
Investment realtors can buy a bunch of different properties and put them all on Airbnb, which takes living space off the market for locals who actually need it. The increased demand for property then drives up the rent prices in the area. This also creates clusters of short-term rentals, contributing further to overcrowding in Japan’s popular neighborhoods.
The solution to this is to stay in a true local accommodation. Find local places to stay through Booking.com. Find locally managed accommodations that aren’t hotel chains.
If you prefer to use Airbnb, vet out the listing first. Take extra precautions to make sure your Airbnb host isn’t contributing to overtourism in Japan through over-investing in property. Check for things like:
- The pictures and number of listings: If multiple properties have the same image for each
- The reviews of the owner: The reviews aren’t positive
- The owner’s availability: The owner wasn’t present at the property during check-in or throughout your stay
