Complaints about so-called "over-tourism" baffle me. Don't they mean "mis-management of tourism while looking a gift horse in the mouth"? As your blog shows us, Japan is a large and very beautiful country. It also has a very weak economy and a very weak currency. In 2024, 37 million foreign tourists visited Japan, and 99% of them tried to squeeze into Tokyo, Kyoto and maybe Osaka, resulting in complaints of so-called "over-tourism," damaging Japan's brand overseas and creating tensions within Japan. Surely this is failure and incompetence on a monumental scale, the squandering of an opportunity of which most countries can only dream? Where is tourism-industry leadership? I throw my hands up in despair :(
On the other hand, the Yamanote line has trains every few minutes from ~5am to ~1am every day. The Kisuki line, which runs more or less parallel to the road I photographed, has 3 trains a day in each direction.
This looks like a beautiful place with plenty to do: walking or hiking, poking around, cycling, gazing at gorgeous views. Thank you for this detailed visit!
Complaints about so-called "over-tourism" baffle me. Don't they mean "mis-management of tourism while looking a gift horse in the mouth"? As your blog shows us, Japan is a large and very beautiful country. It also has a very weak economy and a very weak currency. In 2024, 37 million foreign tourists visited Japan, and 99% of them tried to squeeze into Tokyo, Kyoto and maybe Osaka, resulting in complaints of so-called "over-tourism," damaging Japan's brand overseas and creating tensions within Japan. Surely this is failure and incompetence on a monumental scale, the squandering of an opportunity of which most countries can only dream? Where is tourism-industry leadership? I throw my hands up in despair :(
Absolutely this. Urban Tokyo (and Kyoto etc.) is overrun, rural Japan is empty
See this note - https://substack.com/profile/13379579-francis-turner/note/c-121647301 - for an illustration
Yes, bonkers, isn't it?!
So that was my week. Mon-Thursday in Tokyo. Heaving with people with, it seemed, about 50% being foreigners and 50% of that 50% being tourists.
Friday and Saturday back in Shimane and the worst thing we experience is getting stuck behind some farm equipment for a few minutes
Well, I know where I'd rather be!
#metoo
There's a reason I don't live in Tokyo.....
On the other hand, the Yamanote line has trains every few minutes from ~5am to ~1am every day. The Kisuki line, which runs more or less parallel to the road I photographed, has 3 trains a day in each direction.
🥰
Thank you for sharing your experience. ❤️
This looks like a beautiful place with plenty to do: walking or hiking, poking around, cycling, gazing at gorgeous views. Thank you for this detailed visit!