Japan Overtourism — How You Can Help As A Tourist

Japan is hot right now — so hot. Tourism numbers have definitely bounced back from the pandemic lows. This past February alone (2025), there were nearly 16% more tourists visiting Japan compared to last February.

Japan is on trend and it’s not showing any signs of stopping.

This is great for the economy, but it also creates strain on local areas. And so, Japan overtourism is a big issue right now.

If you’re planning your next trip to Japan, this is everything you can do to help alleviate some of the overtourism issues there.

Now let’s do this!

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Table of Contents

Japan Is Dealing With Overtourism — Here’s Why

Overtourism — when too many people visit a place — sucks. It leads to environmental degradation, infrastructural issues, and overcrowding. Also, it impacts the visitor experience and the quality of life for locals.

So what’s going on with Japan these days? A few things, but for starters, too many people are visiting too few places.

Visitors tend to visit the popular areas most (usually around Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka). Despite Japan having much more to offer, tourism is still concentrated in the ‘typical’ spots.

But there’s more! Japan is also pretty small.

Take Tokyo for example, it’s one of the biggest cities in the world, yet it’s full of narrow streets and alleys, packed trains, busy street corners, and tiny restaurants and izakayas.

It gets congested pretty quick.

Most people live in the city centers, and most tourists go there too. So this creates uneven distribution of economic value and leads to overtourism issues.

So, why is Japan so popular anyways?

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Why Is Tourism So High In Japan?

I love Japan. It was my first international trip and my personality fits perfectly with the culture. It’s pretty nostalgic for me (there’s a reason I live there part-time). Still, there are plenty of reasons to love the country.

Just visit the country once and you’ll likely fall in love with it too. Here are just a few reasons why:

• The cheap yen

• There’s lots to do

• Anime culture is huge

• It’s a freaking beautiful country

• The people are super welcoming and friendly

• It’s super safe here (aside from the occasional natural disaster)

Helping Japan’s Overtourism (5 dang tips)

Around Tachikawa on a rainy fall day

1. Visit Lesser-Known Spots

Since most people are visiting the most popular places (understandably), deciding to explore other lesser-known spots is one of the most effective ways to combat overtourism.

Luckily, Japan is full of hidden gems.

Here are some lesson-known areas worth checking out in Japan:

• Fukuoka

• Nagano

• Okinawa

• Takayama in Gifu

• Naoshima Island

• Hakodate in Hokkaido

• Akabane and Oji in Tokyo

• Atami — about 30 minutes from Tokyo

• Random suburbs and small towns—just hop on a train and get off somewhere random

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2. Travel During Japan’s Shoulder Seasons

Visiting Japan during its slow seasons isn’t just great for reducing tourism bloat, it’s also great for your wallet (and makes for less-stressful slow travel).

Japan’s shoulder seasons (the months between peak season and offseason) are from late May to August and after koyo season (which is around late November). The low season is during the winter months (January to early March).

Obviously, one of the most popular times to visit Japan is in the spring for cherry blossoms (usually around April) or the fall for koyo (leaf peeping).

Summer is brutally hot and winter get pretty dang cold, so these are less ideal.

But, for overtourism, it’s worth it. Japan is beautiful to visit any time of the year and there’s still plenty to do. While spring and fall are the best, I’ve spent plenty of winters and summer there too — I’m never disappointed!

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3. Avoid Touristy Hot Spots During Peak Hours

“If you’re set on seeing all the typical Japan sightseeing spots, then visiting during non-peak hours or days is a smart move.”

Raining outside? Perfect. Go check out that hot spot — there’ll be less crowds.

Wake up at sunrise? Then head out early to grab some photos before everyone else. For example, Ameyoko street between Ueno and Okachimachi stations is super cool (especially before it becomes a zoo of people).

And if you can, avoid the weekends, holidays, or busy travel times. You can always check Google for a location’s typical peak hours.

All this is to say, stay flexible with your itinerary. And avoid those peak hours if you can.

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4. Go Off the Beaten Path

I’m not anti-tourist spots. But there are plenty of (often more authentic) experiences with far less people nearby.

Even popular spots like Asakusa have quieter streets with restaurants and shops just a couple of blocks away from the typical touristy areas (like Nakamise Shopping Street).

You don’t necessarily need a plan. An adventure mindset and a willingness to explore and get a little lost is enough. But don’t worry about getting too lost — Japan’s trains are super convenient, well connected and pretty much everywhere.

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5. Stay Polite

This is probably the easiest way to help with overtourism: stay polite and respectful.

Japanese etiquette is one of the best ways to show respect and help alleviate the pressures of overcrowding. Staying patient and following the general rules of society go a long a way.

Even if you just follow these simple “rules”, you’ll be helping with Japan’s overtourism a ton:

• Avoid eating or drinking on trains

• Don’t litter — carry your trash with you

• Don’t be loud or talk on the phone on trains

• Stand to the left on escalators in Tokyo area; stand to the right in Osaka and Kansai

• Take your shoes off when entering someone’s home and at certain locations/restaurants

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➤ Japanese Etiquette You Need to Know

Freaking FAQs

• Why is Japan experiencing overtourism?

  Likely a combination of factors, including a weakened yen, increased coverage (YouTube, articles, etc.), a persistently strong anime culture, delicious food, general safety, and super nice locals.

• What should I NOT do in Japan as a tourist?

  Some of the biggest faux pas in Japan include being loud or obnoxious (especially on trains), eating or drink on trains, not taking your shoes off at certain locations, littering, or just being generally rude.

• Is Kyoto actually overrun with tourists?

  Recently, yea. I was there in 2024 and compared to my previous experience (pre-pandemic), the crowds were intense. Walking to the top of Kiyomizu-dera was pretty much a shoulder-to-shoulder trek through a narrow street lined with cafes, restaurants and shops.

• How are tourists treated in Japan?

  Generally quite well! Japanese people are extremely friendly and welcoming (unless you’re being rude). I’ve never personally experienced any hostility while traveling or living in Japan.

• Is Japan friendly to American tourists?

  Definitely, especially if you put in a little effort to respect the culture and its etiquette. Locals in Japan are super nice and often eager to help. There are plenty of times someone will ask me if I need anything (usually when I’m scratching my head and looking lost at a busy train station lol).

• How does Japan deal with its overtourism?

  Local governments have taken a number actions, like adding signs for no photography, closing certain streets from access, or adding an extra “lodging tax” in certain locations (like Kyoto).

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