My first time in Japan was in 2014, my 4th time was in 2024 and to be honest the amount of tourists is staggering now, specially in Tokyo and obviously in Kyoto.
Go to Fukuoka you'll actually be able to go to the Kirby cafe and pokemon cafe because they won't be booked for months ahead due to over tourism like Tokyo etc
I’m currently planning my trip for this fall. I’m trying to keep in mind that the places I want to visit are ones I really want to see or do I feel I have to see them because social media is telling me I can’t miss this attraction even if it’s overcrowded.
Don't be a sheep and research stuff that isn't just the main things to check the instagram box. If you've never been I understand but I've you've already been once then go somewhere else. Issue is alot of people keep going to the same places over and over and over again, Japan has so much stuff to do other than Kyoto, Tokyo main tourist spots.
My plan is to visit Tohoku this year. I feel so very lucky that I explored Kyoto way back in 1995 whilst on exchange when we rarely saw another foreigner.
Koochi is a super underrated destination. The locals are SO fun. It still has some of the big city feeling. It has beautiful shrines and temples. It has tons of historical sights and most importantly, it is easy to get out into the countryside and experience non-city life in Japan. In fact, the whole island of Shikoku is wonderful. Oh, take the overnight ferry from one of the major cities to somewhere on Shikoku. It is an AWESOME experience. I did it last November and it was so cool. They have Onsen IN the ferry!
I visited Kochi, very cool, had the Katsuo no Tataki, visited Katsurahama beach and aquarium, and I even visited Kochi Castle and the Hirome market. Very underrated prefecture.
I booked a trip with family who used a travel agency so I am locked into where we go. However I will totally use the walk to get away from tourists to see more of Japan. The trip is the route you totally mentioned. It is great to know about the bus routes to popular areas.
Hi Allison, I’m an American and went to visit my son for his graduation in Japan during the last week of March 2023. This was my first visit and he lived in Nagoya. When I arrived, we took the trains to Kyoto for two nights and then on to Nara for one night. I was surprised how super crowded everything was. We did enjoy seeing the cherry blossoms and. The bowing deer in the city park in Nara. However, in the rush of taking the trains back after sightseeing, I fell on the last step going down a super crowded staircase in the train station at Kyoto. I then had to sit in a wheelchair at my son’s graduation a few days later and then Limped Home back to the USA before seeing a doctor I thought I had a twisted knee, but it turned out to be a broken fibula bone in my leg and I needed six weeks to recover. What a wild adventure I had during my one week there on my first visit!!! I would recommend people to be careful when going through the super crowded train stations not to rush too much! Also, it’s very difficult to get any kind of painkiller or meds in Japan that I’m used to getting in the USA at the grocery store so when I go back, I’ll be sure to stock up on my Aleve and Advil and bring them along so that I have plenty on hand!!!
It definitely depends on what part of the country you visit. Spent 5 days in Kyoto in November and it was a lot quieter than when I went in April 2023. There is definitely an issue with public transport though. The 105 city bus is a mass casualty accident waiting to happen. Visited Nikko this time as well and I genuinely wish I hadn't. It does not have the infrastructure in place for the tourists they are getting and there needs to be daily tourist limits put in place. Also it's not a Japan only issue, but it definitely gets the most spotlight for it. I live in an area that deals with over tourism in Australia and the state government loves the money tourists bring in, but is absolutely not interested in investing public transport or other infrastructure that would make the lives of tourists and locals so much easier. Planning on going to Japan again in 2026/2027 but more outside the central areas.
Me and my wife are going for our honeymoon to japan in the fall (my 3rd trip and her 2nd trip) were doing more of west japan and shikoku. Tokyo, fujikawaguchiko, Himeji, kurashiki, onomichi, hiroshima, itsukushima, matsuyama and yusuhara in kochi. Im planning now. Cant wait!! ❤
Yessss. Ive been here for 15 years. Its gotten so crowded, we moved out to my husbands hometown in the countryside. Not too far from Osaka/Kyoto but far enough to get away from all the crowd lol
I’m planning to cycle the golden route and suspect my time on the bike in between these major cities will be chill and provide another point of view. Can’t wait!
100% concur. Avoid crowded times, research and find the off the beaten path gems. If you are intent on viewing cherry blossoms consider going after the spring break crowds in mid April. Further North (Tohoku) blooms later. Hirosaki Castle in Aomori prefecture was beautiful. The best fatty bluefin tuna is caught off Aomori.
Great advice! I visited Tohoku in the summer and, besides seeing few tourists, I was able to escape the summer heat of the rest of the country. Yes, I had already been to Kyoto and it is amazing, but the less touristy parts of Japan have sights, sounds, and tastes that rival it.
I’m going to Japan March 20 - April 6. The worst timing. 4 days in Tokyo, 5 days in Kyoto, 3 days in Osaka - the golden route. Few days in Hakone and then back to Tokyo. I hope it is a good time! I’m a little worried after watching your video. I may get an international license and drive in the cities to avoid the hectic busses.
I went the same time 2 or 3 trips back. Weather was good not too cold or hot. Your trip does involve a lot of moving about. I would suggest packing light. Lockers fill up quickly bigger sizes even more so. During our last trip in September, we hired a car and that helped with moving our gear about, you can see more and more amazing things, but the tolls are expensive!!! We saw wild macaques at Komagane!
@@gimlarquinn3622 I’ll be taking just a carry on and plan on using the laundry machines in hotels. Hiring a car is a good idea! I’ll look into that. Thanks for the advice.
I was in Japan for the first time in December. I spotted a Shrine in Sakai City while looking around that was completely empty during the day. I lucked out so much because got to explore it thoroughly and enjoy it!
I love love LOVE this advice. My first trip to Japan was three weeks in Tohoku and I had the absolute best time. I’m currently in the midst of my second trip, visiting some more common places (Osaka) and while I’m still enjoying myself, it’s not as great as Tohoku for so many of the reasons you’ve mentioned.
Your videos were so helpful to me for my first trip to Japan! I kept a lot of what you said in mind while I was there (I visited in late November 2024) and I felt so much more informed and aware thanks to your help!! I can’t wait to visit again. I’d like to come in the Summer and hike to the top of Mt. Fuji!
First trip to Japan is next month, we are hitting the Golden Route but side tracking to Fukui and Kanazawa and the more I hear about that area the more excited I am, if I get to come back again I'd love to give more time to that and also go north.
Been going to Tokyo every year since 2010.. in Tokyo now actually… honestly Only Shibuya area around the crossing, Parco & Miyashita park really overcrowded on Weekends .. if u go other main areas like Ginza , Roppongi , Shimbashi can get eerily quiet with hardly nobody especially with the bright lights and big roads Was exploring Kyushu area 2mths ago…beautiful & definitely less crowded, more peaceful than Tokyo & Kyoto
*_I'm half japanese and I just go to Japan every now and then. I don't go to touristy areas in Japan. I love provincial places like Mie and Aichi Ken rather than going Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka._*
I went to Japan recently (December 2024) and honestly it was EMPTY (except Disney but normal crowd). I was in Kyoto (it was a wonderful time), Arashiyama, and other places tourist and not tourist places, and still empty. Honestly I can’t understand why people say Japan is crowd.
We've stayed in Tokyo and Osaka these last two years in a row we. We understand there are crowds everywhere. Tokyo Station alone is mind boggling but we appreciate the discipline. "Chaotic but orderly" is how I'd describe it. It's part of the experience. Just be a respectful and orderly tourist like the locals do and you'll have a great time.
Very helpful information! Important to really think about the crowds and plan accordingly in advance. Oh and avoid Tokyo subway during rush hours at all costs!😱
Just returned from a round trip of Northern Kyushu. Other than on the boat to Hashima, Yufuin Floral Village, Dazaifu from the Station to Tenman-gu and Downtown Fukuoka (its a major city with stuff going on all the time) it has been super relaxed often the only western looking tourist there and the majority of other tourists having been groups from China and South Korea. So for your first (or only ever) trip the golden route is alright to knock it off your bucket list. For consecutive trips go other places and don't just stick to Kanto and Kansai and if you're bold some stop in Chubu inbetween.
honestly the viral hotspots are.... viral hotspots, some are worth it, if you don't lik crowd just go a bit further. in kyushu there was honestly not that many tourists (compared to tokyo-osaka-kyoto). japan has pretty much everything, major worldwide known places, super rural towns where there is maybe two tourist a year... just find your own itinerary and leave the FOMO, just enjoy
I'm in kyushu now and it's phenomenal, alot of beautiful spots. I kinda want to gate keep it so it isn't ruined by tourists , already enough Chinese tourists here. I went to beppu, yufuin,.hous ten bosch, nazoin , dazaifu and spots in Fukuoka. So great
Japan is divided into 47 prefectures, each with its own unique charm. Every single one boasts amazing attractions worth visiting, a variety of delicious local cuisines, and hot spring towns with distinct water qualities and traditional inns. A country like this is truly rare-there’s likely no other place quite like Japan. 🗾The northern and southern regions differ so much in climate and landscape that it feels like visiting entirely different countries. It’s the kind of place that you’d never get tired of exploring, no matter how many times you visit.😌My dream is to spend my life traveling to all 47 prefectures in Japan. All 47 prefectures and major cities in Japan have official tourism websites, so I highly recommend checking them out. Of course, they’re available in English and other languages!
We are coming in May, and your videos have been helpful. We are spending 2 days in Tokyo and then heading out to somewhere less traveled and a stop at Disneyland. Thanks for the videos.
I think the worst part is basically how foreign residents are treated now because of the tourists' behaviors. Even the hiring processes are different because of that. They don't want to hire N1 levels anymore they want NATIVE people. Let's just compare the prices of the hotels with the prices of the same hotels 4 years ago, it crazily increased and residents can't afford it. It's only because chinese and american tourists can afford that. There should be some residents' prices. All the bad consequences of a bad management with Japan influencers...
I came to Japan in summer 2023, it was impossible to walk in the main places in Kyoto BUT Kyoto has many other quieter temples for example or you only have to take another route or walk 5 min away as Allison says to enjoy a most peaceful trip. I visit Onomichi and we stayed in some places from the Kumano Kodo trail. There weren't many tourists, at least intl western tourists, we barely saw any! And it was such a great experience as well!
This is the situation everywhere, people are working remotely and moving to different areas based on things like the coast where we live in the USA. We had a nice quiet town for 50 years and now it is overrun and the officials keep wanting more when they can't even build for the ones now.
My last 2 trips, I just made sure to visit the non-touristy prefectures like Shimane, Saga, Kochi, Tokushima, Iwate, Tottori, Yamaguchi and more. I will say that I went to Yutoku Inari in Saga Prefecture, and I was the only person there. When I visited Fushimi Inari before covid it was super crowded, now, I couldn't imagine visiting it.
Leaving NYC May 18. Arriving Tokyo May 19. 5 days in Tokyo then a cruise to visit rest of Japan, then depart from Seoul, South Korea June 4th. Thanks for this video because we need to book a hotel in Tokyo. We're a retired elderly couple and our 1st and only trip to Japan.
I'm going for a second time in November to coincide with the Tokyo pen show and I'm most excited to go to Enoshima again! I also added Kawagoe to my itinerary.
Going to Japan for the second time in Apik. Went to Tokyo last time, this time we are based in Osaka but also planning on going to Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Onomichi as we l as the usual suspects of Kyoto and Osaka. If we go a third time, probably going to venture up North towards Hokkaido.
Alison, I had lived in Japan 🇯🇵 for 11 years, and in order to avoid the crowds in popular Japanese cities, go to off-beat country places where it is more quiet and calm with fresh air and sometimes you can view Mt. FUJI in privacy 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
cant really say its "too crowded". I go to tokyo yearly.. its the highlight of my year. I never had the feeling its too crowded. But i usually go in either may or november... except Shibuya... Shibuya truly is. Also highly recommend Kyushu. Beautiful reagion
Yeah my first trip to Japan was Nov 2024 and it was so lovely I plan on going back. We didn’t do the Golden route though. We did Tokyo, Kanazawa, stopped at Shirakawago and then Takayama and back to Tokyo. I loved it all except maybe Shirakawago - i felt sorry for the locals there. Whenever we heard cars behind as we were walking we felt like the drivers were speeding up to try to hit the tourists 😂 i don’t blame them
I went to Japan in November of last year because I really wanted to see the fall leaves. Sendai and the surrounding areas were dead quiet... hardly any tourists other than a handfull of chinese tourists. Also went to Kyoto with a friend and we had a really nice time... the temples were crowded but not horrendously like we were lead to believe online but Nineizaka Yasaka Chaya was really bad and packed that we decided to avoid that street completely.
I wish Japan would open more international flights for the south. There are so many great spots like a Swedish theme park and scenic hot springs that get overlooked because they aren’t really accessible. People usually have 2 weeks and don’t want to spend that time just transporting.
A good place to visit for a few days if you are going to travel between Kyoto and Tokyo is Hakone. Walking around the area of Lake Ashi was one of my favourite things about my very first visit to Japan. Places like the Hakone Mototsumiya Shrine and the Hakone Checkpoint are well worth a visit. There is a big tourist spot relatively close by (Owakudani) as well which will be a bit more crowded which also left an impression on me.
Generally great video, agree with almost all of it! I think one of the great things about Japan is that it doesn't really have that many "must visit" destinations, but an seemingly endless array of places very well worth visiting. And that's also why after 20 trips and having visited 46 of the 47 prefectures (sorry Miyazaki, next time, I promise...) I'm still not tired of the country. Actually I only keep finding more and more places I still want to visit! And indeed, outside of those few tourist hotspots, there's no overtourism. In autumn visited the San'in area, hardly any tourists there. Mie and Wakayama-ken, Shikoku, Shizuoka-ken, same story. And even when there are tourists, the majority will be Japanese, not foreigners. During my last trip I visited places like Ikoma, Tatsuno, Tsuyama, Yunogo Onsen, Wakasa, Kurayoshi, Hokuei and Sakaiminato....and basically didn't even know those existed when I started planning my trip. But glad I went anyway, and had a great time at all of those! Should everyone include them in their next itinerary? Probably not. I just consider them examples of the numerous cool places Japan has to offer no matter where you go. That said, I don't quite agree with not coming during Golden Week. I have done so several times now, and yes, it does require a bit of flexibility and preferrably planning ahead (which I generally don't...), but it can also be very rewarding. After all, there are so many matsuri and other events going on! For me, that made those trips very much worth it!
I'm going to Japan this April, and I'm going from Tokyo, all the way to Fukuoka. I don't really have things set in stone, but more places to sleep paid for. Maybe I'll go to the well known places, but I'm also looking for lesser known places that aren't crowded. Any really good food suggestions would be awesome.
Your time in kyushu is better spent in beppu, nagasaki, kagoshima, and takeo onsen. Fukuoka is just so darn busy, so if youre trying to get away from that, adventure out with a kyushu pass
Last year May 2024 I went to Tokyo, Sapporo, Kamakura / Enoshima, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Kobe. I have another trip booked for later this year and may just choose to stay in Tokyo and another location south. Not everything can be seen, nor do I think I want to do what I did again. In that time frame, I also attended one day Viva La Rock, and it was amazing. Otaru was also amazing. Mt. Kurama so peaceful!! My favorite parts were going off the beaten path and those moments forever will hold a place in my heart.
I went last year in April and we didn't think it was crowded. The pavements in Tokyo are very wide so it didn't feel any busier than a city like London. We also avoided busy times. For example, we avoided the metro at rush hour and we went to fushimi inari in mid / late afternoon and it was very quiet (especially the higher up you got). Vwe also visited the more obscure grand temples like Enryakuji and we were the only ones there. We also went for hikes to get more obscure views of Mt Fuji and we traveled to the north Japan (Aomori prefecture) to see the sakura as there aren't foreign tourists there. It was lovely and didn't take any extra effort.
I'm planning my trip (20+ days) for later this year (offseason). Aside from booking exursions, I'm keeping the days open for random day trips. I think a lot of people get caught up going to the "must see" places and missing out on just as good gems that are a little off the beaten path.
Going to tokyo solo in November and this does help as i dont mind busy places as being in london area but i do like to have some quiet areas.. thank you :)
I followed your tip of 'sandwiching' less-popular places in between our golden-route spots and had the most amazing time in Japan last November! Thank you Allison! Matsumoto was the least touristy city we visited, and I 100% preferred it to Tokyo or Kyoto. Our route was Tokyo, Matsumoto, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Hakone, Tokyo in case anyone is looking for a recommended route ❤
@@marybaker5940 Sure! We spent 2 days in Tokyo, 1 day in Matsumoto, 2 days in Kanazawa, 3 days in Kyoto, 2 days in Hiroshima, 1 day in Hakone, and 2 days in Tokyo again 😊 I will say we were exhausted at the end of every day (in a good way!) We saw/did everything we wanted to, but if we’d had 3 weeks in Japan instead of 2 it might have been a bit more of a relaxed pace x
Great video. Keeping it real! I've been to Japan once and experienced the crowds in Kyoto... it was awful. Best thing about the Golden Pavillion? The matcha ice cream at the kiosk 😂 It was impossible to enjoy the temple. I'm taking my whole family with me this year in Japan for cherry blossom season. It''s probably going to be the only time my parents visit Japan, so we are going to Kyoto, Tokyo and an onsen in Kawaguchiko (bc it's easy for them). The good thing is that I now know what not to do. We're not going to Arashiyama bamboo forest, we're going to another bamboo forest etc etc. I hope it all goes well.
I would say that the touristy stuff is worse because there are too many people, but I recommend finding cool stuff to do in the smaller cities where the average tourist never goes. It can be a bit harder due to being less accessible due to language and maybe transportation in some areas, but exploring the "average" Japanese areas can be just as interesting because it really feels like you're "in Japan" and not just "in Tokyo" which there is definitely a difference. It's like saying New York City represents all of the US. Northern Japan doesn't get enough attention and there's lots of cool things to do there, especially for those who enjoy the outdoors.
People ignore these areas so much. Toyama, kanazawa, takayama or gifu in general, Niigata, matsumoto, and nagano. Its been nice to see kanazawa and takayama get more recognition but people really miss out on alot of beauty there.
I’m going next month. I really hope it’s not that bad, but I can’t really complain as I’m part of the problem 😂. Hopefully there will be quiet times and places.
Thanks for this video! I mostly want to just enjoy adventurous walks, good food, nice areas to watercolor paint...some good coffee shops. I have a trip planned in March which I *know* will be busy but it's when my husband and I have time off so it works. Anyway, I am not aiming for too much touristy stuff. I also plan to walk A LOT. :O
The only thing about visiting one place and the moving to another is something I don’t like if I go to a place and stay there. It’s me. People can go anywhere and everywhere.❤
Going to Japan this end of summer hopefully won’t be too hot. I was supposed to go in 2011 in HS but the Earthquake happened. Now finally going even if it’s crowded. Eventually if I keep going and learn Japanese I’ll hopefully travel the countryside more and also go other places the world isn’t just Japan you guys! Germany is next on my list.
I remember my first trip in 2023, in the month of October. Not peak season, sitting comfortably after summer and just before winter. Overcrowded? I wouldn't say so. Sure, there were many tourists, both local and international, but I felt it was not suffocating. Kyotos hotspots definitely had the most people (Fushimi Inari, Ginkakuji), but it never felt overwhelming. Truth be told, while I adored the most tourist-y areas, I fell in love with the little places off the beaten path. Tiny shrines here and there, Mom and Pop ramen shops, quirky non-chain stores that sold some of the most random souvenirs I could find. I'm going back this October, ready for round two. This time around, I'm planning on visiting the lesser known places to really bring my Japan experience full circle.
this past year's travel i had a few days in Fukuoka, and 5-6days in Saga prefecture. im still not done with Saga prefecture hopefully i can visit another 2 times and spend more time in Saga. 3 trips so far to Japan.
When it comes to visiting Kyoto City, I generally try to stick to only one or two tourist hotspots at a time and try to visit before well before the crowds start to build up (usually this involves waking up at stupid o'clock in the morning). That being said, there are plenty of really nice crowd-free spots in Kyoto City such as Kuruma dera Temple, Nyan-nyan-ji (Cat themed gallery), and Fushimi Momoyama Castle. So far, for non-crowded places, my top 10 picks would be (in no particular order): Gero (Gifu), Yoshino (Nara), Bessho Onsen (Nagano), Kotohira (Tokushima), Ogawachiyama (Saga), Asahikawa (Hokkaido), Yanaizu (Fukushima), Omihachiman (Shiga), Ureshino Onsen (Saga), and Onomichi (Hiroshima).
Any general tips for travelling with a baby? This will actually be my 4th time visiting but first as a family so very likely sticking to the golden route, however I do like your pro tip of just walking away 15 minutes or one subway stop away. Your videos are the best.
Japanese people tend to want peace and no chattering on trains, planes, and most enclosed places. So whispering is best. Traveling with a baby is rough, you will get stared at when it cries. Not much you can do about it. If i were you, id stay out of the metro cities and visit more calming towns as to not overstimulate the child
Dream destination for me is Ghibli Park. ❤ Sigh. Shibuya Crossing seems a bit like Times Square. Absurd amount of people... two blocks away... It's empty! Planning is everything.
I went in 2024 and I hate crowds. Luckily I love to walk and ten minutes extra as mentioned in the video yields a quieter experience. I also didn’t chase seeing everything. Enjoying what I saw or did at a slower pace. Unpleasant truth. Japan is homogeneous in many aspects. So you can get the experience you want when it comes to food and shopping in so many areas. Markets, ramen, cat cafe etc are available everywhere. There may be distinct differences a discerning palette may pick up on but ultimately it is authentic everywhere. I plan to go back and enjoy even more smaller destinations. Slow my trip down even further. As mentioned in the video, go to the destination spots, just don’t think you need to see it all or stay the whole time there. Lastly social media highlights cool places but the experience is not unique. It is just marketed better.
As someone who just got back from Japan, and has been to Japan now a total of 6 times, im going to say yes its noticeably crowded. My first trip to Japan was in 2010 with a tour group and it was just Tokyo and it was rare for me to see foreigners. My second trip to Japan was April 2017 to Tokyo again and it was with my bf and it rekindled our love for Japan so much we went again that year in Oct but this time did Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. The next year 2018 was just Kyoto and Osaka and 2019 was also Kyoto and Osaka. In 2020 we were supposed to go again but this time we wanted to try different areas such as Nagoya (to prove to ourselves that its not boring lol) Takayama, Sendai and Ishinomaki. Sadly we had to cancel everything because of the pandemic of course. I finally made it back this year, and decided to just do Tokyo because we missed it so much and its been a while and omg I felt like it was crowded. And this was the one thing that made me notice. The Tax Free counter in the Mega Donki in Shibuya. The Tax Free counter was that. Just a counter, you show your passport and you don't get charged tax on your purchases over ¥5000. Now almost the whole entire 7th floor of Mega Donki is the Tax Free counter with over 20 registers to accommodate all the foreigners purchasing snacks, souvenirs and skincare etc and extra luggage to store it all in! I've never seen anything like it! The line for Tax Free was incredibly long. Being in Donki was also uncomfortable. Next time I'll try to find a Donki in a more local area, not where all the tourists are. I also saw a video of you promoting a skincare line in Donki.My bf said " Hey isnt that the girl that you watch on RUclips? " 😊 I do feel like if its your first time, Tokyo is the place to go! There is so much to do! And once you've done the big 3, Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, venture out. My next trip to Japan will probably be some of the places we had planned to visit in 2020. I thought Jan was slow season but it seemed busy to me. Also and interesting tip i learned from Google Maps is you figure out which trains are not as busy. Our main station was Osaki station on the Yamanote line, which was kinda crowded. But Google Maps would also suggest other train lines that also went to that station and some of these were less busy than the Yamanote and Google Maps will tell you that.
I just got back from Japan on 1/27. I’ve been to Japan many times. My suggestion is not to shop on the weekend in Tokyo. Every big shop we went to was packed. It’s just too hard to even move. Cosme in Harajuku on Sunday was packed, Itoya in Ginza solidly packed and Don Quixote in Shibuya was also nuts. Hopefully it’s a bit easier to shop when locals are working. I did see Alison’s video about a sheet mask, I think, playing on the 1st floor at Don Quixote. I wished I could have watched it but it was just too crowded.
I am sensitive to crowds, but Japan was much less crowded than expected. Employ the same logic that you do at home. Don't travel on public transport during morning rush hour, people are trying to get to work. Pick one area for a day and then explore that area. See the holiday as a whole. You don't need to do the same thing every day, uniqueness will be remembered. Seeking experiences rather than just photos. Many of my favourite things happened at roadstop cafes or attractions rather than '10 must sees in ... '. Have fun! Look after your feet (tend to blisters)
We are planning to go on our first trip to Japan the first two weeks of July during our daughter’s summer vacation. We’re trying to get out a little bit with day trips to Himeji and Kobe, and Hakone. But we also plan on going to Universal Studios, the world expo in Osaka, Disneyland, DisneySea, and the Making of Harry Potter. We are preparing for crowds, but hoping the heat might keep some people away.
Keep in mind it will be brutal being outside alot. Onsens are p much off the table if you dont want to die lol. Japans summers are no joke, which is why alot of people escape to northern japan
Hi Allison, great topic! We believe crowds are a big part of Japanese culture, so the best approach is to simply enjoy them! From SakuraTV Australia & NZ
That might be true but there is an unbelievable difference between a Japanese rush hour crowd and the tourists. I'd get on a train with hundreds of Japanese people without flinching. But the tourists are unbearable.
@@ChibiZerocchi Yes, agree!. Tokyo has 15 million people, try to get a train at almost same time every morning - rush hour, maybe a chance to see a real "rush hour" for visitors.
I feel like it's almost not worth going because of social media. But I've been wanting to go for so long. I primarily want to stay around Tokyo and go down to see Himeji Castle.. I'm hoping that the Explosion of tourists will calm down soon. This will be my first trip, I'm trying to learn Japanese just to get around as I've heard that Google Translate isn't great.
Shame the jr pass is so expensive. My first trip in 2019 we did daytrips everywhere because we had the pass. Now it is too expensive to just hop on the train and go have a look at some where random
I’ve been to Japan a grand total of twice. The first time was ten years ago. And I just came back from my second Japan trip today. The first time I went there, I was given free umbrella when it rained, I was told by some aunties it was ok to sit down in the priority seats while there were no one else around. The cashiers at the local convenient stores didn’t speak much English but were all very helpful and kind. This time, I almost couldn’t believe how rude the people we’ve encountered were. The locals told me that over tourism has indeed made people care less about customers as they did before. Has it ruined Japan for me? Not much cuz it’s still an amazing county. But I certainly do miss the Japan I visited ten years ago.
Yeah I noticed that too. But once I spoke Japanese, I was treated much better. Outside of the golden route, the service is still very good, and people love seeing foreign tourists. They assume if you know about their city or town you must know alot about Japan.
Short answer yes...Long answer very yes. Was going to be in asia at the end of this year for wedding photos and we decided to make a week long stop to Taiwan to do it before spending the rest of the month in Japan. Past few years has just gotten worse with tourism and last year was just horrible in Tokyo with the need to push and shove to move in Akihabara at noon hours. At least 3 years ago it was at least pretty chill walking around and 2 years ago...Lots of crowds but not bad and dispersed...Last year was just bad. (We are planning avoid Tokyo this year except for the last few days there for return flight and checking out Disney.
Quick question: For the non-Japanese speaking tourist the offbeat path areas - is that language barrier going to make it difficult? Will those areas only accept cash transactions?
Thanks for the video! I definitely digested a lot of your content before my Japan trip last year. If it wasn't for Pokemon Gofest being held in Sendai last year, I wouldn't have ever thought about that as a destination, but man, it was my favorite city to be in when I went to Japan. I did feel guilty going, as there is this belief that Westerners are being rude and causing the majority of overcrowding, which had me self-conscious being from Florida. But in reality, according to Japan's government data, America is about 9% of the total tourism numbers in 2023. Most neighboring countries makeup the biggest numbers, with China being something like 20% of the total. And, at least from my anecdotal experience, all the tourists were respectful, nice people. This asuaged my fears of being judged poorly simply by being a tourist from America, but I will admit, I still felt bad lugging a suitcase and a Nintendo store bag onto crowded Tokyo subway cars with people obviously commuting to and from work 😅. My whole impression of the trip was very positive, and the people I met, including the Japanese friends I have there, all seem to enjoy the friendly, law-abiding tourism, even if it gets crowded in the more touristy areas. They are very kind! (Big tip: learn some Japanese as they appreciate it!)
I've just seen the video of the tourists blocking the rail crossing in Kyoto. This is out of control - I've actually avoided Kyoto for years but it is ridiculous now.
We’ve booked a cruise next year to Japan, will be stopping at Kyoto / Osaka & Tokyo for 2 days each… but also stopping at Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Kagoshima & Shimizu…. Apart from Tokyo can you recommend things to see / places to go in the other places? 😊
As someone who has been to Japan 14 times tourism is destroying Japan especially from the Chinese who can be very pushy, dirty, and ignorant. I only wish they would push me when I am there because I would give it to them right back. Now many Japanese citizens can't even take a vacation as the cost has increased significantly. I wish Japan would now charge $100 a head just to scare off some folks because its getting out of hand. Cheers.
It is destroying like 4-5 prefectures. the rest of the country has few tourists. I saw no foreign tourists at all in Kazuno Akita, Tono Iwate, Tosa Kochi, or Iwakuni Yamaguchi. I saw very few foreign tourists in places like Imabari Ehime, Hirosaki Aomori, or Karatsu Saga
I'm going to Japan on a guided tour. in April I have a few days break between the tour end in Osaka and the start of a cruise in Yokohama. Where should I go? Anyone?
It’s hard to dissuade first time visitors from min maxing their trip. They want the hyped up experience from the moment they step out of customs (there is multiple content just on the airports). Short of visa restrictions it’s kind of shoganai. Personally, I did all the sightseeing stuff almost 30 years ago as a student. So when I go to Japan it’s more to eat, play Pokemon, and hang out with friends. If there is a like equivalent of Azabudai Hills in Osaka, please make content for it.
One thing I'd add from my last visit is that...yes...it's packed....but you have to realize that the Japanese infrastructure is UNPARALLELED in handling congestion. The amount of people you see in those pictures does not show you just how easy and convenient it is to get to ANYWHERE compared to most places. Especially the USA. So sure, the pictures look PACKED, but it won't be the same kind of packed you're used to. Things in Japan move much faster than most are used to because the Japanese are so conscientious of each other's space that everyone is working together to make sure everything flows.
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My first time in Japan was in 2014, my 4th time was in 2024 and to be honest the amount of tourists is staggering now, specially in Tokyo and obviously in Kyoto.
mine too, mine was in 2016. it's a little harder to enjoy now, especially when some places close because tourists are being destructive.
Can you imagine how I have to deal with this?… First trip was 1996 and average a trip each year.
Go to Fukuoka you'll actually be able to go to the Kirby cafe and pokemon cafe because they won't be booked for months ahead due to over tourism like Tokyo etc
I’m currently planning my trip for this fall. I’m trying to keep in mind that the places I want to visit are ones I really want to see or do I feel I have to see them because social media is telling me I can’t miss this attraction even if it’s overcrowded.
Keep in mind whatever it is you want to do, the same thing exists elsewhere in japan without the crowds
Don't be a sheep and research stuff that isn't just the main things to check the instagram box. If you've never been I understand but I've you've already been once then go somewhere else. Issue is alot of people keep going to the same places over and over and over again, Japan has so much stuff to do other than Kyoto, Tokyo main tourist spots.
My plan is to visit Tohoku this year. I feel so very lucky that I explored Kyoto way back in 1995 whilst on exchange when we rarely saw another foreigner.
Koochi is a super underrated destination. The locals are SO fun. It still has some of the big city feeling. It has beautiful shrines and temples. It has tons of historical sights and most importantly, it is easy to get out into the countryside and experience non-city life in Japan. In fact, the whole island of Shikoku is wonderful. Oh, take the overnight ferry from one of the major cities to somewhere on Shikoku. It is an AWESOME experience. I did it last November and it was so cool. They have Onsen IN the ferry!
I visited Kochi, very cool, had the Katsuo no Tataki, visited Katsurahama beach and aquarium, and I even visited Kochi Castle and the Hirome market. Very underrated prefecture.
This is why we chose to visit Hokkaido for our next trip I think it'll be a way less crowded vibe (but chilly!).
Sapporo is very busy in winter, been visiting here the last 3 years in February , worth it though.
I live in Tokyo
I never see tourists unless I'm in Shibuya, Shinjuku, harajuku, just avoid all the touristy spots and you'll never see them 😅😅😅
I booked a trip with family who used a travel agency so I am locked into where we go. However I will totally use the walk to get away from tourists to see more of Japan. The trip is the route you totally mentioned. It is great to know about the bus routes to popular areas.
Hi Allison, I’m an American and went to visit my son for his graduation in Japan during the last week of March 2023.
This was my first visit and he lived in Nagoya. When I arrived, we took the trains to Kyoto for two nights and then on to
Nara for one night. I was surprised how super crowded everything was. We did enjoy seeing the cherry blossoms and.
The bowing deer in the city park in Nara.
However, in the rush of taking the trains back after sightseeing, I fell on the last step going down a super crowded staircase
in the train station at Kyoto.
I then had to sit in a wheelchair at my son’s graduation a few days later and then Limped Home back to the USA before seeing a doctor
I thought I had a twisted knee, but it turned out to be a broken fibula bone in my leg and I needed six weeks to recover.
What a wild adventure I had during my one week there on my first visit!!!
I would recommend people to be careful when going through the super crowded train stations not to rush too much!
Also, it’s very difficult to get any kind of painkiller or meds in Japan that I’m used to getting in the USA at the grocery store
so when I go back, I’ll be sure to stock up on my Aleve and Advil and bring them along so that I have plenty on hand!!!
It definitely depends on what part of the country you visit. Spent 5 days in Kyoto in November and it was a lot quieter than when I went in April 2023. There is definitely an issue with public transport though. The 105 city bus is a mass casualty accident waiting to happen.
Visited Nikko this time as well and I genuinely wish I hadn't. It does not have the infrastructure in place for the tourists they are getting and there needs to be daily tourist limits put in place.
Also it's not a Japan only issue, but it definitely gets the most spotlight for it. I live in an area that deals with over tourism in Australia and the state government loves the money tourists bring in, but is absolutely not interested in investing public transport or other infrastructure that would make the lives of tourists and locals so much easier. Planning on going to Japan again in 2026/2027 but more outside the central areas.
Me and my wife are going for our honeymoon to japan in the fall (my 3rd trip and her 2nd trip) were doing more of west japan and shikoku. Tokyo, fujikawaguchiko, Himeji, kurashiki, onomichi, hiroshima, itsukushima, matsuyama and yusuhara in kochi. Im planning now. Cant wait!! ❤
Yessss. Ive been here for 15 years. Its gotten so crowded, we moved out to my husbands hometown in the countryside. Not too far from Osaka/Kyoto but far enough to get away from all the crowd lol
You made a great decision doing this. The way to go!
I’m planning to cycle the golden route and suspect my time on the bike in between these major cities will be chill and provide another point of view. Can’t wait!
100% concur. Avoid crowded times, research and find the off the beaten path gems.
If you are intent on viewing cherry blossoms consider going after the spring break crowds in mid April. Further North (Tohoku) blooms later. Hirosaki Castle in Aomori prefecture was beautiful. The best fatty bluefin tuna is caught off Aomori.
Really good tourist advice.👍
Great advice! I visited Tohoku in the summer and, besides seeing few tourists, I was able to escape the summer heat of the rest of the country. Yes, I had already been to Kyoto and it is amazing, but the less touristy parts of Japan have sights, sounds, and tastes that rival it.
I’m going to Japan March 20 - April 6. The worst timing. 4 days in Tokyo, 5 days in Kyoto, 3 days in Osaka - the golden route. Few days in Hakone and then back to Tokyo. I hope it is a good time! I’m a little worried after watching your video. I may get an international license and drive in the cities to avoid the hectic busses.
Worst timing for tourism but there is a reason for that, I’m sure it will be lovely with the cherry blossoms and nice weather 😊.
Traffic in Tokyo can be really horrible so take that into consideration, it can take hours to get out of Tokyo just because of congestions
I went the same time 2 or 3 trips back. Weather was good not too cold or hot. Your trip does involve a lot of moving about. I would suggest packing light. Lockers fill up quickly bigger sizes even more so. During our last trip in September, we hired a car and that helped with moving our gear about, you can see more and more amazing things, but the tolls are expensive!!! We saw wild macaques at Komagane!
@@gimlarquinn3622 I’ll be taking just a carry on and plan on using the laundry machines in hotels. Hiring a car is a good idea! I’ll look into that. Thanks for the advice.
Omg going at the Same time because of school holidays. Really scared of it being overcrowded so let’s see!
I was in Japan for the first time in December. I spotted a Shrine in Sakai City while looking around that was completely empty during the day. I lucked out so much because got to explore it thoroughly and enjoy it!
I love love LOVE this advice. My first trip to Japan was three weeks in Tohoku and I had the absolute best time. I’m currently in the midst of my second trip, visiting some more common places (Osaka) and while I’m still enjoying myself, it’s not as great as Tohoku for so many of the reasons you’ve mentioned.
Your videos were so helpful to me for my first trip to Japan! I kept a lot of what you said in mind while I was there (I visited in late November 2024) and I felt so much more informed and aware thanks to your help!! I can’t wait to visit again. I’d like to come in the Summer and hike to the top of Mt. Fuji!
First trip to Japan is next month, we are hitting the Golden Route but side tracking to Fukui and Kanazawa and the more I hear about that area the more excited I am, if I get to come back again I'd love to give more time to that and also go north.
Aw yay! I'm going in March for my first trip. I hope you have so much fun!
Been going to Tokyo every year since 2010.. in Tokyo now actually… honestly Only Shibuya area around the crossing, Parco & Miyashita park really overcrowded on Weekends .. if u go other main areas like Ginza , Roppongi , Shimbashi can get eerily quiet with hardly nobody especially with the bright lights and big roads
Was exploring Kyushu area 2mths ago…beautiful & definitely less crowded, more peaceful than Tokyo & Kyoto
*_I'm half japanese and I just go to Japan every now and then. I don't go to touristy areas in Japan. I love provincial places like Mie and Aichi Ken rather than going Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka._*
I went to Japan recently (December 2024) and honestly it was EMPTY (except Disney but normal crowd).
I was in Kyoto (it was a wonderful time), Arashiyama, and other places tourist and not tourist places, and still empty.
Honestly I can’t understand why people say Japan is crowd.
December is not a time of year where a lot of people go on vacation. The spring and fall are way more popular
We've stayed in Tokyo and Osaka these last two years in a row we. We understand there are crowds everywhere. Tokyo Station alone is mind boggling but we appreciate the discipline. "Chaotic but orderly" is how I'd describe it. It's part of the experience. Just be a respectful and orderly tourist like the locals do and you'll have a great time.
Very helpful information! Important to really think about the crowds and plan accordingly in advance. Oh and avoid Tokyo subway during rush hours at all costs!😱
Just returned from a round trip of Northern Kyushu. Other than on the boat to Hashima, Yufuin Floral Village, Dazaifu from the Station to Tenman-gu and Downtown Fukuoka (its a major city with stuff going on all the time) it has been super relaxed often the only western looking tourist there and the majority of other tourists having been groups from China and South Korea. So for your first (or only ever) trip the golden route is alright to knock it off your bucket list. For consecutive trips go other places and don't just stick to Kanto and Kansai and if you're bold some stop in Chubu inbetween.
honestly the viral hotspots are.... viral hotspots, some are worth it, if you don't lik crowd just go a bit further. in kyushu there was honestly not that many tourists (compared to tokyo-osaka-kyoto). japan has pretty much everything, major worldwide known places, super rural towns where there is maybe two tourist a year... just find your own itinerary and leave the FOMO, just enjoy
I'm in kyushu now and it's phenomenal, alot of beautiful spots. I kinda want to gate keep it so it isn't ruined by tourists , already enough Chinese tourists here. I went to beppu, yufuin,.hous ten bosch, nazoin , dazaifu and spots in Fukuoka. So great
Japan is divided into 47 prefectures, each with its own unique charm. Every single one boasts amazing attractions worth visiting, a variety of delicious local cuisines, and hot spring towns with distinct water qualities and traditional inns. A country like this is truly rare-there’s likely no other place quite like Japan. 🗾The northern and southern regions differ so much in climate and landscape that it feels like visiting entirely different countries. It’s the kind of place that you’d never get tired of exploring, no matter how many times you visit.😌My dream is to spend my life traveling to all 47 prefectures in Japan. All 47 prefectures and major cities in Japan have official tourism websites, so I highly recommend checking them out. Of course, they’re available in English and other languages!
Agree Japan has so much more to offer than 3 main spots
We are coming in May, and your videos have been helpful. We are spending 2 days in Tokyo and then heading out to somewhere less traveled and a stop at Disneyland. Thanks for the videos.
This is such a good reminder to just explore to lesser traveled spots!😊
I think the worst part is basically how foreign residents are treated now because of the tourists' behaviors.
Even the hiring processes are different because of that. They don't want to hire N1 levels anymore they want NATIVE people.
Let's just compare the prices of the hotels with the prices of the same hotels 4 years ago, it crazily increased and residents can't afford it. It's only because chinese and american tourists can afford that. There should be some residents' prices.
All the bad consequences of a bad management with Japan influencers...
I came to Japan in summer 2023, it was impossible to walk in the main places in Kyoto BUT Kyoto has many other quieter temples for example or you only have to take another route or walk 5 min away as Allison says to enjoy a most peaceful trip. I visit Onomichi and we stayed in some places from the Kumano Kodo trail. There weren't many tourists, at least intl western tourists, we barely saw any! And it was such a great experience as well!
This is the situation everywhere, people are working remotely and moving to different areas based on things like the coast where we live in the USA. We had a nice quiet town for 50 years and now it is overrun and the officials keep wanting more when they can't even build for the ones now.
My last 2 trips, I just made sure to visit the non-touristy prefectures like Shimane, Saga, Kochi, Tokushima, Iwate, Tottori, Yamaguchi and more. I will say that I went to Yutoku Inari in Saga Prefecture, and I was the only person there. When I visited Fushimi Inari before covid it was super crowded, now, I couldn't imagine visiting it.
For Fushimi Inari shrine, visitors can just go at night where its quiet and much more peaceful.
神社に夜行くと魔に取り憑かれますよ。
Leaving NYC May 18. Arriving Tokyo May 19. 5 days in Tokyo then a cruise to visit rest of Japan, then depart from Seoul, South Korea June 4th. Thanks for this video because we need to book a hotel in Tokyo. We're a retired elderly couple and our 1st and only trip to Japan.
I'm going for a second time in November to coincide with the Tokyo pen show and I'm most excited to go to Enoshima again! I also added Kawagoe to my itinerary.
Going to Japan for the second time in Apik. Went to Tokyo last time, this time we are based in Osaka but also planning on going to Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Onomichi as we l as the usual suspects of Kyoto and Osaka.
If we go a third time, probably going to venture up North towards Hokkaido.
Im going in May Im so excited!!! 😊
Alison, I had lived in Japan 🇯🇵 for 11 years, and in order to avoid the crowds in popular Japanese cities, go to off-beat country places where it is more quiet and calm with fresh air and sometimes you can view Mt. FUJI in privacy 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Always looking for your latest video.
cant really say its "too crowded". I go to tokyo yearly.. its the highlight of my year. I never had the feeling its too crowded. But i usually go in either may or november... except Shibuya... Shibuya truly is.
Also highly recommend Kyushu. Beautiful reagion
Yeah my first trip to Japan was Nov 2024 and it was so lovely I plan on going back. We didn’t do the Golden route though. We did Tokyo, Kanazawa, stopped at Shirakawago and then Takayama and back to Tokyo. I loved it all except maybe Shirakawago - i felt sorry for the locals there. Whenever we heard cars behind as we were walking we felt like the drivers were speeding up to try to hit the tourists 😂 i don’t blame them
Now I really want you to do a video on visiting Japan if you are an introvert!
that's a double for me!
Japan’s a great place for introverts. I’m an introvert and I liked Japan so much I moved here.
Great info. I always try to take the road less traveled when vacationing
Thanks for the great advice! Happy travels!
I went to Japan in November of last year because I really wanted to see the fall leaves. Sendai and the surrounding areas were dead quiet... hardly any tourists other than a handfull of chinese tourists. Also went to Kyoto with a friend and we had a really nice time... the temples were crowded but not horrendously like we were lead to believe online but Nineizaka Yasaka Chaya was really bad and packed that we decided to avoid that street completely.
I wish Japan would open more international flights for the south. There are so many great spots like a Swedish theme park and scenic hot springs that get overlooked because they aren’t really accessible. People usually have 2 weeks and don’t want to spend that time just transporting.
Isnt it dutch?
A good place to visit for a few days if you are going to travel between Kyoto and Tokyo is Hakone. Walking around the area of Lake Ashi was one of my favourite things about my very first visit to Japan. Places like the Hakone Mototsumiya Shrine and the Hakone Checkpoint are well worth a visit. There is a big tourist spot relatively close by (Owakudani) as well which will be a bit more crowded which also left an impression on me.
Generally great video, agree with almost all of it! I think one of the great things about Japan is that it doesn't really have that many "must visit" destinations, but an seemingly endless array of places very well worth visiting. And that's also why after 20 trips and having visited 46 of the 47 prefectures (sorry Miyazaki, next time, I promise...) I'm still not tired of the country. Actually I only keep finding more and more places I still want to visit!
And indeed, outside of those few tourist hotspots, there's no overtourism. In autumn visited the San'in area, hardly any tourists there. Mie and Wakayama-ken, Shikoku, Shizuoka-ken, same story. And even when there are tourists, the majority will be Japanese, not foreigners. During my last trip I visited places like Ikoma, Tatsuno, Tsuyama, Yunogo Onsen, Wakasa, Kurayoshi, Hokuei and Sakaiminato....and basically didn't even know those existed when I started planning my trip. But glad I went anyway, and had a great time at all of those! Should everyone include them in their next itinerary? Probably not. I just consider them examples of the numerous cool places Japan has to offer no matter where you go.
That said, I don't quite agree with not coming during Golden Week. I have done so several times now, and yes, it does require a bit of flexibility and preferrably planning ahead (which I generally don't...), but it can also be very rewarding. After all, there are so many matsuri and other events going on! For me, that made those trips very much worth it!
I'm going to Japan this April, and I'm going from Tokyo, all the way to Fukuoka. I don't really have things set in stone, but more places to sleep paid for. Maybe I'll go to the well known places, but I'm also looking for lesser known places that aren't crowded. Any really good food suggestions would be awesome.
Your time in kyushu is better spent in beppu, nagasaki, kagoshima, and takeo onsen. Fukuoka is just so darn busy, so if youre trying to get away from that, adventure out with a kyushu pass
Last year May 2024 I went to Tokyo, Sapporo, Kamakura / Enoshima, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Kobe. I have another trip booked for later this year and may just choose to stay in Tokyo and another location south. Not everything can be seen, nor do I think I want to do what I did again. In that time frame, I also attended one day Viva La Rock, and it was amazing. Otaru was also amazing. Mt. Kurama so peaceful!! My favorite parts were going off the beaten path and those moments forever will hold a place in my heart.
What are the "off the beaten path locations"?
I went last year in April and we didn't think it was crowded. The pavements in Tokyo are very wide so it didn't feel any busier than a city like London. We also avoided busy times. For example, we avoided the metro at rush hour and we went to fushimi inari in mid / late afternoon and it was very quiet (especially the higher up you got). Vwe also visited the more obscure grand temples like Enryakuji and we were the only ones there. We also went for hikes to get more obscure views of Mt Fuji and we traveled to the north Japan (Aomori prefecture) to see the sakura as there aren't foreign tourists there. It was lovely and didn't take any extra effort.
I'm planning my trip (20+ days) for later this year (offseason). Aside from booking exursions, I'm keeping the days open for random day trips. I think a lot of people get caught up going to the "must see" places and missing out on just as good gems that are a little off the beaten path.
Going to tokyo solo in November and this does help as i dont mind busy places as being in london area but i do like to have some quiet areas.. thank you :)
I followed your tip of 'sandwiching' less-popular places in between our golden-route spots and had the most amazing time in Japan last November! Thank you Allison! Matsumoto was the least touristy city we visited, and I 100% preferred it to Tokyo or Kyoto. Our route was Tokyo, Matsumoto, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Hakone, Tokyo in case anyone is looking for a recommended route ❤
May I ask how long you spent in each location? Thanks!
@@marybaker5940 Sure! We spent 2 days in Tokyo, 1 day in Matsumoto, 2 days in Kanazawa, 3 days in Kyoto, 2 days in Hiroshima, 1 day in Hakone, and 2 days in Tokyo again 😊 I will say we were exhausted at the end of every day (in a good way!) We saw/did everything we wanted to, but if we’d had 3 weeks in Japan instead of 2 it might have been a bit more of a relaxed pace x
Great video. Keeping it real! I've been to Japan once and experienced the crowds in Kyoto... it was awful. Best thing about the Golden Pavillion? The matcha ice cream at the kiosk 😂 It was impossible to enjoy the temple. I'm taking my whole family with me this year in Japan for cherry blossom season. It''s probably going to be the only time my parents visit Japan, so we are going to Kyoto, Tokyo and an onsen in Kawaguchiko (bc it's easy for them). The good thing is that I now know what not to do. We're not going to Arashiyama bamboo forest, we're going to another bamboo forest etc etc. I hope it all goes well.
I would say that the touristy stuff is worse because there are too many people, but I recommend finding cool stuff to do in the smaller cities where the average tourist never goes. It can be a bit harder due to being less accessible due to language and maybe transportation in some areas, but exploring the "average" Japanese areas can be just as interesting because it really feels like you're "in Japan" and not just "in Tokyo" which there is definitely a difference. It's like saying New York City represents all of the US.
Northern Japan doesn't get enough attention and there's lots of cool things to do there, especially for those who enjoy the outdoors.
Go to Gifu and Nagano. Close to Tokyo, beautiful places and phantastic activities.
People ignore these areas so much. Toyama, kanazawa, takayama or gifu in general, Niigata, matsumoto, and nagano. Its been nice to see kanazawa and takayama get more recognition but people really miss out on alot of beauty there.
I’m going next month. I really hope it’s not that bad, but I can’t really complain as I’m part of the problem 😂. Hopefully there will be quiet times and places.
Thanks for this video! I mostly want to just enjoy adventurous walks, good food, nice areas to watercolor paint...some good coffee shops. I have a trip planned in March which I *know* will be busy but it's when my husband and I have time off so it works. Anyway, I am not aiming for too much touristy stuff. I also plan to walk A LOT. :O
The only thing about visiting one place and the moving to another is something I don’t like if I go to a place and stay there. It’s me. People can go anywhere and everywhere.❤
Going to Japan this end of summer hopefully won’t be too hot. I was supposed to go in 2011 in HS but the Earthquake happened. Now finally going even if it’s crowded. Eventually if I keep going and learn Japanese I’ll hopefully travel the countryside more and also go other places the world isn’t just Japan you guys! Germany is next on my list.
Its gonna be brutal heat wise. I greatly recommend sticking to northern japan. Atleast sendai and upwards
I remember my first trip in 2023, in the month of October. Not peak season, sitting comfortably after summer and just before winter.
Overcrowded? I wouldn't say so. Sure, there were many tourists, both local and international, but I felt it was not suffocating. Kyotos hotspots definitely had the most people (Fushimi Inari, Ginkakuji), but it never felt overwhelming. Truth be told, while I adored the most tourist-y areas, I fell in love with the little places off the beaten path. Tiny shrines here and there, Mom and Pop ramen shops, quirky non-chain stores that sold some of the most random souvenirs I could find.
I'm going back this October, ready for round two. This time around, I'm planning on visiting the lesser known places to really bring my Japan experience full circle.
this past year's travel i had a few days in Fukuoka, and 5-6days in Saga prefecture. im still not done with Saga prefecture hopefully i can visit another 2 times and spend more time in Saga. 3 trips so far to Japan.
When it comes to visiting Kyoto City, I generally try to stick to only one or two tourist hotspots at a time and try to visit before well before the crowds start to build up (usually this involves waking up at stupid o'clock in the morning). That being said, there are plenty of really nice crowd-free spots in Kyoto City such as Kuruma dera Temple, Nyan-nyan-ji (Cat themed gallery), and Fushimi Momoyama Castle.
So far, for non-crowded places, my top 10 picks would be (in no particular order): Gero (Gifu), Yoshino (Nara), Bessho Onsen (Nagano), Kotohira (Tokushima), Ogawachiyama (Saga), Asahikawa (Hokkaido), Yanaizu (Fukushima), Omihachiman (Shiga), Ureshino Onsen (Saga), and Onomichi (Hiroshima).
Any general tips for travelling with a baby? This will actually be my 4th time visiting but first as a family so very likely sticking to the golden route, however I do like your pro tip of just walking away 15 minutes or one subway stop away. Your videos are the best.
Japanese people tend to want peace and no chattering on trains, planes, and most enclosed places. So whispering is best. Traveling with a baby is rough, you will get stared at when it cries. Not much you can do about it. If i were you, id stay out of the metro cities and visit more calming towns as to not overstimulate the child
Dream destination for me is Ghibli Park. ❤ Sigh.
Shibuya Crossing seems a bit like Times Square. Absurd amount of people... two blocks away... It's empty! Planning is everything.
I went in 2024 and I hate crowds. Luckily I love to walk and ten minutes extra as mentioned in the video yields a quieter experience. I also didn’t chase seeing everything. Enjoying what I saw or did at a slower pace.
Unpleasant truth. Japan is homogeneous in many aspects. So you can get the experience you want when it comes to food and shopping in so many areas. Markets, ramen, cat cafe etc are available everywhere. There may be distinct differences a discerning palette may pick up on but ultimately it is authentic everywhere.
I plan to go back and enjoy even more smaller destinations. Slow my trip down even further.
As mentioned in the video, go to the destination spots, just don’t think you need to see it all or stay the whole time there.
Lastly social media highlights cool places but the experience is not unique. It is just marketed better.
Great channel, Alison. Hope to visit in September
As someone who just got back from Japan, and has been to Japan now a total of 6 times, im going to say yes its noticeably crowded. My first trip to Japan was in 2010 with a tour group and it was just Tokyo and it was rare for me to see foreigners. My second trip to Japan was April 2017 to Tokyo again and it was with my bf and it rekindled our love for Japan so much we went again that year in Oct but this time did Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. The next year 2018 was just Kyoto and Osaka and 2019 was also Kyoto and Osaka. In 2020 we were supposed to go again but this time we wanted to try different areas such as Nagoya (to prove to ourselves that its not boring lol) Takayama, Sendai and Ishinomaki. Sadly we had to cancel everything because of the pandemic of course. I finally made it back this year, and decided to just do Tokyo because we missed it so much and its been a while and omg I felt like it was crowded. And this was the one thing that made me notice. The Tax Free counter in the Mega Donki in Shibuya. The Tax Free counter was that. Just a counter, you show your passport and you don't get charged tax on your purchases over ¥5000. Now almost the whole entire 7th floor of Mega Donki is the Tax Free counter with over 20 registers to accommodate all the foreigners purchasing snacks, souvenirs and skincare etc and extra luggage to store it all in! I've never seen anything like it! The line for Tax Free was incredibly long. Being in Donki was also uncomfortable. Next time I'll try to find a Donki in a more local area, not where all the tourists are. I also saw a video of you promoting a skincare line in Donki.My bf said " Hey isnt that the girl that you watch on RUclips? " 😊 I do feel like if its your first time, Tokyo is the place to go! There is so much to do! And once you've done the big 3, Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, venture out. My next trip to Japan will probably be some of the places we had planned to visit in 2020. I thought Jan was slow season but it seemed busy to me. Also and interesting tip i learned from Google Maps is you figure out which trains are not as busy. Our main station was Osaki station on the Yamanote line, which was kinda crowded. But Google Maps would also suggest other train lines that also went to that station and some of these were less busy than the Yamanote and Google Maps will tell you that.
Allison thanks for the info,loved the video 🙂📸.
I just got back from Japan on 1/27.
I’ve been to Japan many times. My suggestion is not to shop on the weekend in Tokyo. Every big shop we went to was packed. It’s just too hard to even move. Cosme in Harajuku on Sunday was packed, Itoya in Ginza
solidly packed and Don Quixote in Shibuya was also nuts. Hopefully it’s a bit easier to shop when locals are working.
I did see Alison’s video about a sheet mask, I think, playing on the 1st floor at Don Quixote. I wished I could have watched it but it was just too crowded.
I am sensitive to crowds, but Japan was much less crowded than expected. Employ the same logic that you do at home. Don't travel on public transport during morning rush hour, people are trying to get to work. Pick one area for a day and then explore that area. See the holiday as a whole. You don't need to do the same thing every day, uniqueness will be remembered.
Seeking experiences rather than just photos. Many of my favourite things happened at roadstop cafes or attractions rather than '10 must sees in ... '. Have fun! Look after your feet (tend to blisters)
We are planning to go on our first trip to Japan the first two weeks of July during our daughter’s summer vacation. We’re trying to get out a little bit with day trips to Himeji and Kobe, and Hakone. But we also plan on going to Universal Studios, the world expo in Osaka, Disneyland, DisneySea, and the Making of Harry Potter. We are preparing for crowds, but hoping the heat might keep some people away.
Keep in mind it will be brutal being outside alot. Onsens are p much off the table if you dont want to die lol. Japans summers are no joke, which is why alot of people escape to northern japan
Hi Allison, great topic! We believe crowds are a big part of Japanese culture, so the best approach is to simply enjoy them! From SakuraTV Australia & NZ
That might be true but there is an unbelievable difference between a Japanese rush hour crowd and the tourists. I'd get on a train with hundreds of Japanese people without flinching. But the tourists are unbearable.
@@ChibiZerocchi Yes, agree!. Tokyo has 15 million people, try to get a train at almost same time every morning - rush hour, maybe a chance to see a real "rush hour" for visitors.
I feel like it's almost not worth going because of social media. But I've been wanting to go for so long. I primarily want to stay around Tokyo and go down to see Himeji Castle.. I'm hoping that the Explosion of tourists will calm down soon. This will be my first trip, I'm trying to learn Japanese just to get around as I've heard that Google Translate isn't great.
Shame the jr pass is so expensive.
My first trip in 2019 we did daytrips everywhere because we had the pass. Now it is too expensive to just hop on the train and go have a look at some where random
Yeah you really need to abuse it to make it worth it. But there are many many regional passes which I recommend more if your time is limited in japan.
I’ve been to Japan a grand total of twice. The first time was ten years ago. And I just came back from my second Japan trip today. The first time I went there, I was given free umbrella when it rained, I was told by some aunties it was ok to sit down in the priority seats while there were no one else around. The cashiers at the local convenient stores didn’t speak much English but were all very helpful and kind. This time, I almost couldn’t believe how rude the people we’ve encountered were. The locals told me that over tourism has indeed made people care less about customers as they did before. Has it ruined Japan for me? Not much cuz it’s still an amazing county. But I certainly do miss the Japan I visited ten years ago.
Gotta get away from the golden route
Yeah I noticed that too. But once I spoke Japanese, I was treated much better. Outside of the golden route, the service is still very good, and people love seeing foreign tourists. They assume if you know about their city or town you must know alot about Japan.
surprise ! Omotenashi is a 2 way street. Why give out Omotenashi when all you get in return is entitled, rude, aholes.
Short answer yes...Long answer very yes. Was going to be in asia at the end of this year for wedding photos and we decided to make a week long stop to Taiwan to do it before spending the rest of the month in Japan. Past few years has just gotten worse with tourism and last year was just horrible in Tokyo with the need to push and shove to move in Akihabara at noon hours. At least 3 years ago it was at least pretty chill walking around and 2 years ago...Lots of crowds but not bad and dispersed...Last year was just bad. (We are planning avoid Tokyo this year except for the last few days there for return flight and checking out Disney.
Quick question: For the non-Japanese speaking tourist the offbeat path areas - is that language barrier going to make it difficult? Will those areas only accept cash transactions?
Thanks for the video! I definitely digested a lot of your content before my Japan trip last year. If it wasn't for Pokemon Gofest being held in Sendai last year, I wouldn't have ever thought about that as a destination, but man, it was my favorite city to be in when I went to Japan.
I did feel guilty going, as there is this belief that Westerners are being rude and causing the majority of overcrowding, which had me self-conscious being from Florida. But in reality, according to Japan's government data, America is about 9% of the total tourism numbers in 2023. Most neighboring countries makeup the biggest numbers, with China being something like 20% of the total. And, at least from my anecdotal experience, all the tourists were respectful, nice people.
This asuaged my fears of being judged poorly simply by being a tourist from America, but I will admit, I still felt bad lugging a suitcase and a Nintendo store bag onto crowded Tokyo subway cars with people obviously commuting to and from work 😅. My whole impression of the trip was very positive, and the people I met, including the Japanese friends I have there, all seem to enjoy the friendly, law-abiding tourism, even if it gets crowded in the more touristy areas. They are very kind! (Big tip: learn some Japanese as they appreciate it!)
I've just seen the video of the tourists blocking the rail crossing in Kyoto. This is out of control - I've actually avoided Kyoto for years but it is ridiculous now.
We’ve booked a cruise next year to Japan, will be stopping at Kyoto / Osaka & Tokyo for 2 days each… but also stopping at Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Kagoshima & Shimizu…. Apart from Tokyo can you recommend things to see / places to go in the other places? 😊
Hi I have lived here 26 years and of course there is going to be more tourists. But I don’t mind the tourists. And the we cope very well .
As someone who has been to Japan 14 times tourism is destroying Japan especially from the Chinese who can be very pushy, dirty, and ignorant. I only wish they would push me when I am there because I would give it to them right back. Now many Japanese citizens can't even take a vacation as the cost has increased significantly. I wish Japan would now charge $100 a head just to scare off some folks because its getting out of hand. Cheers.
It is destroying like 4-5 prefectures. the rest of the country has few tourists. I saw no foreign tourists at all in Kazuno Akita, Tono Iwate, Tosa Kochi, or Iwakuni Yamaguchi. I saw very few foreign tourists in places like Imabari Ehime, Hirosaki Aomori, or Karatsu Saga
Kyushu is underrated compared to Tokyo and Osaka
I'm going to Japan on a guided tour. in April I have a few days break between the tour end in Osaka and the start of a cruise in Yokohama. Where should I go? Anyone?
thank you, great video.
I was there October 2024 and October 2023 and honestly it didn’t seem that bad at all.
Also when did you move there? 😊
It’s hard to dissuade first time visitors from min maxing their trip. They want the hyped up experience from the moment they step out of customs (there is multiple content just on the airports). Short of visa restrictions it’s kind of shoganai. Personally, I did all the sightseeing stuff almost 30 years ago as a student. So when I go to Japan it’s more to eat, play Pokemon, and hang out with friends. If there is a like equivalent of Azabudai Hills in Osaka, please make content for it.
One thing I'd add from my last visit is that...yes...it's packed....but you have to realize that the Japanese infrastructure is UNPARALLELED in handling congestion. The amount of people you see in those pictures does not show you just how easy and convenient it is to get to ANYWHERE compared to most places. Especially the USA. So sure, the pictures look PACKED, but it won't be the same kind of packed you're used to. Things in Japan move much faster than most are used to because the Japanese are so conscientious of each other's space that everyone is working together to make sure everything flows.
stopped going to those major places...
Coming to Tokyo in April with my son looking for tips on things to see we like history and hiking any suggestions?
Get a tokyo wide pass and go to nikko, kinugawa onsen, omiya (railway museum is awesome), atami, and mt fuji!
Thanks
Come to Nagasaki City!
hii 🥰🥰
How is the flu outbreak in Japan right now? I can hardly find anything about it in the news. All I see are the posts in Twitter.