Japan is known as a very popular country for tourists. Many people visit the country to examine and feel its culture, food, cities, and nature. Tourism is well-known as “beneficial” for the economy, but overmuch tourists are causing severe problems, named as the “over-tourism” conflict here in Japan.
The major reason for over-tourism in Japan is that travel costs have become easier and cheaper. With the deprecation of yen, the exchanging money to yen makes it cheaper for tourists to visit. Furthermore, Social media also increases the popularity of sightseeing areas. Cities like Kyoto, Tokyo, and Osaka get very crowded, with tourists and citizens. The majority of tourists visit the same places at the same time, causing overcrowding in sightseeing areas.
Over-tourism are affecting local citizens. Some tourists do not follow the “culture rules” of Japan, leading to the violation of manners. In the House of Councilors (San-in-sen) in 2025, the Sanseitō party had a giant leap in the number of seats with the catchdopy “Japanese-First”. The party said that the Japanese citizens should be the top priority in Japan, not the foreigners. With lots of citizens voting for the party, it showed how over-tourism is affecting local citizens a lot.
Ministry of the Environment。
Nature is also affected. Places like Mount Fuji and famous locations get damaged by lots of visitors. Trash, broken paths, and crowded trains are common problems. This makes the experience worse for both tourists and local people.
Overtourism is a serious problem in Japan. Tourism is important, but it must be managed carefully. By being respectful and spreading tourists to more areas, Japan can stay a great place to visit and live.
