Is your experience of Japan about to become a lot more regulated? A new proposal would require tourists in some cases to hire tour guides.
Sep 30, 2023 • Subscribe
More like this


Japan Will Eliminate Credit Card Signatures Soon. Will That Impact Travel?
As of March 2025, Japan will eliminate the "PIN bypass" procedure that's allowed customers to get away without entering their secret code.


South Korean Tourists Praise Japan for Cost/Performance Travel
South Korean tourists now comprise the largest group of tourists to Japan - and many say it's because the price is right.
When Will Japan Be Open For Travel?
With increasingly brutal restrictions on foreign expats living in Japan now lifted, just how long will an entry ban last on those wishing to visit Japan for tourism?


Tourists Return to Japan – But Japan Stays Home
More and more people are coming to Japan, with some countries setting new records. So why isn't Japan returning the favor?


Will Japan Start a “Two-Tier” Charging System for Tourists?
With tourists flooding into Japan and taking advantage of the country's weak currency, some say it's time to jack up prices for visitors.


Report: Japan Will See Record 40 Million Tourists in 2025
JTB says Japan will see a record number of inbound tourists. Meanwhile, the number of Japanese traveling abroad continues to drop.


Otakon 2021: Have Cosplay, Will Travel
Photo Credits: Samantha Ferreira The area surrounding the Walter E. Washington Convention Center was already abuzz with activity by the early hours of


Will Tourists Flock Back to Noto Peninsula Amid Quake Recovery?
Tourism in Hokuriku took a heavy hit post-quake. Are tourists ready to return to the heavily hit Noto Peninsula?
Japan Foundation Tour 2023
by Jeremy Clarke. This year’s Japan Foundation (JPF) Touring Programme, which runs throughout February and March and is celebrating its 20th edition, contains three manga-related live-action films and…


4 Reasons to Hire a Japan Tour Guide
Considering a tour guide for your trip to Japan? Here are four ways having a Japan tour guide can improve your experience.
Do Tourists to Japan Have Bad Changing Room Manners?
From wearing heavy perfume to failing to remove their shoes, Japan tourists are making headaches for shoppers and staff alike.


Japan Tourist Attraction Issues “White Taxi” Warnings to Tourists
Here's why police around Himeji Castle are telling tourists that if the plate is white, you should say, "thanks, I'm alright."


Tourists Are Flocking to Japan – and Leaving Their Luggage
Tourists to Japan are leaving a lot behind - in some cases, including their broken luggage. One hotel found a neat solution to the problem.


eSIM for Japan Travel: The Easy Way to Data
Got data in Japan? Here's why an eSIM for Japan travel is a hassle-free way to stay connected while seeing the sights.


Viewers Will Soon Discover Warner Bros. Discovery
Between Crunchyroll's departure and Discovery's more edutainment-based focus, you have to wonder how anime fits in Warner Bros. Discovery's vision.
Japan Foundation Film Tour 2021
By Jasper Sharp. The ongoing Coronavirus crisis may have disrupted many aspects of the cultural calendar, but it is heartening to report that one the Japan Foundation UK…


Japan To Charge Tourists Consumption Tax and Refund At Departure
Thanks, scammers. Due to some people exploiting the system, Japan will now change how it handles duty-free purchasing by tourists.


Are Foreign Tourists to Japan The Only Ones Behaving Badly?
Media reports blaming foreign tourists for bad behavior in Japan abound. But some say they're just imitating what the locals do.


Budget Travel Tips For Exploring Japan
Want to make the most out of your trip to Japan? Here are the best Japan budget travel tips from train passes, accommodations and more.
Regional Japan: slow travel in Setouchi
How to explore the 'real' Japan? Pick a region, and explore it in depth! Here's everything you need to know about Japan's Setouchi region.


Regional Japan: slow travel in Setouchi
How to explore the 'real' Japan? Pick a region, and explore it in depth! Here's everything you need to know about Japan's Setouchi region.


Will Japan’s Cigarette Vending Machines Soon Fade Away?
You can still find public cigarette vending machines here and there in Japan. But an upcoming change could drive many into extinction.


New Travel Discounts Seek to Boost Earthquake-Stricken Region in Japan
Japan's government is rolling out a new discount package to rejuvenate tourism in the earthquake-affected Hokuriku area.


Welcome Suica App Aims to Make Tourist Travel in Japan Easier
A new app from Japan Railways East set to debut next year will make it easier for tourists to get around before they even leave their homes.


Bicycling in Japan: How to Travel and Sightsee on Two Wheels
Bicycling can be a great way to get more out of your Japan trip. Here's what you need to know before you put on a helmet.
PDF Travel Brochures and Resources For Visitors to Tokyo and Japan
There is a world of information on the internet about visiting Japan. This blog is one example. Getting information about a destination is...


Are More Tourists Getting Defrauded in Japan?
More tourists to Japan report getting overcharged or just plain ripped off for goods and services. Here's how to avoid getting fleeced.


Japan’s Duty-Free System For Tourists Will Change to Refunds in November 2026
Japan's planning to change how tourists shop: the country's new duty-free laws will now require requesting a refund at the airport.


Top 10 Japan Travel Destinations For 2024
Ready to explore? Here are our top picks for Japan travel destinations for 2024. From seasonal blooms to healing hot spring waters and more.


Top 10 Japan Travel Destinations For 2025
Ready to explore? Here are our top picks for Japan travel destinations for 2025. From seasonal blooms to healing hot spring waters and more.


Japan Really, Really Wants Tourists to Stay Outside of the Big Cities
Japan is welcoming more tourists than ever. Unfortunately, their money isn't benefiting the entire country.


How to Avoid Being Bad Tourists in Japan: Essential Dos and Don’ts
Learn how to avoid common mistakes made by bad tourists in Japan with our guide on respecting local customs and public spaces.


Japan to End Entry Ban on 106 Countries; Tourists Not Yet Included
Japan's government has announces that a slew of countries will no longer be subject to their wide-ranging entry ban, yet the practical effect remains limited.


The Most Popular Castles in Japan Among Tourists
Which castles in Japan have the most fans among incoming tourists? One company ran the numbers to find out.


Tourists are Spending More in Japan Than Ever
Tourism to Japan is almost back to its 2019 levels - but spending is through the roof, with travelers shelling out more than ever.


What Japanese Do Tourists REALLY Need in Japan?
I went to Japan earlier this year, and this is all the Japanese I used/heard. Hopefully this helps you prepare for your trip! PDF Cheat Sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A2_1oPicB6Lhw8rg58JmPk5YfFN9c2aC/view?usp=sharing TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro 01:34 Top…


Why Kyoto’s Gion Will Start Leveling Fines on Trespassing Tourists
As Japan wrestles with problems created by overtourism, Kyoto's Gion neighborhood decides it needs to start leveling fines.


Are Japanese TV Interviews with Tourists Staged?
Why are "tourist on the street" interviews so abundant on Japanese TV? One local columnist takes these "staged" segments to task.


This Romcom Light Novel Will Definitely Get an Anime Soon
Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian (or Roshidere for short) by Sunsunsun is absolutely going to get an anime in the near future. The story was initially…


My Top 5 Anime With Time Travel
I love stories with time travel so whenever I find an anime that uses it, it gives me a little thrill. Here are 5 anime with tie travel.


Better Train Etiquette in Japan: Tips for Tourists to Ride Like a Local
What is proper train etiquette in Japan? What's are the social rules every tourists should follow so they don't embarrass themselves?


Deb’s France-Japan Travel Diary Day 2 : Train Pain from Paris to Monteux
Deb Aoki's Paris travel diary from Gare de Lyon to Provence, with train mishaps, ghosts, and good food discovered along the way.
Adapting to Society with Wandering Son [May ’20 OWLS Blog Tour]
Don’t we all adapt to society, if it doesn’t adapt to us instead?


Unscrupulous Shops in Japan Target Tourists As Yen Weakens
The weak yen has made it more attractive than ever to travel to Japan - but some restaurants and stores are taking advantage of that.


The Shopping Destinations in Japan Tourists Are Loving Now
Tourists are spending more than ever in Japan. But where? Check out these popular shopping destinations on your next trip.


Get Ready, Japan Tourists – Here Comes the “Tourist Tax”
As tourists pour back into Japan, more and more municipalities are taxing their stay. Here's what it means for your trip.


Can Japan REALLY Accommodate 60 Million Tourists a Year?
Japan will see 35 million tourists in 2024. The government wants to raise that by another 25 million by 2030. Is that even possible?


The Shopping Destinations in Japan Tourists Are Loving Now
Tourists are spending more than ever in Japan. But where? Check out these popular shopping destinations on your next trip.


Japan Sets New Monthly Record for Tourists in November
As media in Japan continues to focus on overtourism, Japan announces that it saw more tourists than ever last month.