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!
As an island lover, I'll be sure to visit Tobishima. Thanks for the nice report.