Another influx of tourists is anticipated in Kyoto. Kyoto has discontinued its well-liked one-day vehicle pass in order to deter tourists from using the state’s buses, in addition to the implementation of the “mind your manners” plan by the local government.
Citizens were inconvenienced by the extended andnbsp, lining times, and clogged public transportation systems. About 80 % of people complained in 2022 about the public transportation system and the overcrowding of the streets with tourists.  ,
Three-quarters andnbsp expressed concern over visitors ‘ actions, such as eating or littering while walking. It has been said that” sightseeing pollution” is the strain that the rising number of international tourists puts on local system and politeness.
The connection between Kyoto and foreign travel is complicated. Nearly a fifth of Kyoto’s nominal GDP was generated by the 52 million visitors who visited in 2018 spending 1.3 trillion yen ($ 8.7 billion ).  ,
However, because short-term vacation rentals are more profitable for landlords, the market sparked a powerful of” hospitality gentrification,” driving locals out of the housing market. Instead of serving visitors, stores and eateries began serving tourists.
Shoei Murayama, a longtime associate of the Kyoto town assemblage, ran his gubernatorial campaign in February 2020 with the key message that “overtourism” was bad for the city’s historic center. Despite losing the race, his plan brought attention to the discussion surrounding large hospitality.
The situation was inherently altered by the Covid- 19 crisis. From April 2020 to October 2022, Japan and nbsp closed its borders to receive visitors, putting an end to the hospitality sector.  ,
Since Tokyo was chosen as the host area for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2013, the number of foreign visitors to Japan has more than tripled, reaching about 32 million in 2019.
The 2003″ Visit Japan Campaign” by the transportation ministry and the 2006 implementation of the fundamental rules to encourage tourism solidified hospitality as a foundation for Japan’s economic growth. The Japan Tourism Agency ( the  ) was established in 2008.  ,
When visa restrictions for powerful Chinese personal travelers were relaxed in 2009 or when trips to the Tohoku region were promoted abroad to contribute to economic recovery after the 2011 Excellent Northeast Japan Earthquake, tourism’s political dimension can become significant.
2019 saw an increase in inbound tourists’ and nbsp’s spending to 4.8 trillion yen ($ 322.1 billion ), which is higher than the semiconductor exports ‘$ 4 trillion ($ 26.8 billion ).
The pandemic’s closure of the Japanese border caused the hospitality sector to transition from being an economic pillar to needing a stimulus package, most notably the” Go To Travel” plan. This campaign was created to boost domestic go and, more importantly, to reduce hotel bankruptcies.
The lack of foreign visitors also had a negative impact on tourist hotspots. According to half of Kyoto residents, the state’s economic situation significantly worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic, and they hoped that hospitality would recover and return to pre-pandemic levels.
In September 2023, there were 2.2 million inbound customers, or 96 % of pre-pandemic levels. This rapid rise was supported by the new depreciation of the Chinese renminbi against the US dollar, euro, and other assets.  ,
The total amount spent by inbound visitors in the second quarter of 2023 was 1.23 trillion yen ( US$ 8.2 billion ), and it was almost identical to the 2019 spending of the same time period. The average travel expense per inbound visitor is currently$ 200,000, or$ 1,338, which satisfies the policy goal of$ 20,000 set for 2025.  ,
The Cabinet approved the most recent revision of the simple law to promote tourism in March 2023, and it states that Japan should target more outbound tourism from rich countries in order to increase overall tourism consumption.
The biggest purchases are British, Chinese, and Australian tourists. Despite the Chinese government andnbsp lifting the ban on outbound party hospitality in August, Foreign visitors were generally excluded from Japan in 2023 during the country’s October holiday season.  ,
Travel companies removed Japan from the list of suggested locations in response to the Chinese government’s decision to approve the disposal of wastewater and nbsp from Fukushima nuclear power plants into the Pacific Ocean. Even though the Chinese government did not formally forbid worldwide travel to Japan, scheduled class trips were frequently canceled.
It is clear that there were no Foreign visitors in Okinawa, which in 2017 had andnbsp equaled Hawaii‘s in terms of incoming visitors. Governor Denny Tamaki  of Okinawan properly lobbied for the resume of direct flights from Beijing and Shanghai to Naha during his visit to China in July 2023. However, inbound travel to Okinawa is only , which is gradually increasing, and in September 2023, it accounted for 50 % of pre-pandemic rates.
Some Okinawans are worried about a possible profit of mass tourism. Visitors voiced their displeasure at vacationers trampled on sacred sites. Keiichiro Nakamura, the owner of a localized travel agency, created the A  site to instruct tourists and NBPSP on proper behavior while touring the area because incidents like these were on the rise on Kudaka Island.  ,
In a recent discussion with the authors, Nakamura clarified that the visitors ‘ happiness is an essential prerequisite for the successful growth of the tourism sector.
Japan is likely to continue to be a well-liked holiday getaway. Two-thirds of foreign tourists are drawn to the urban regions of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, leaving a striking gap between urban and rural areas.  ,
Japan experiences an overconcentration of visitors in some areas rather than a standard “overtourism.” Travelers who disobey customs and manners face severe retaliation from the nearby community.  ,
It’s past time for the hospitality sector to recognize these difficulties and change into a more diverse enterprise that juggles societal support with financial gain.
Sian Qin is a PhD candidate in Chinese Studies at the Ludwig Maximillian University Munich, and Gabriele Vogt holds the seat in the field of Asian studies there.
This article, which was previously published by the East Asia Forum, has been republished with a Creative Commons license.