For subscribers
Field Notes from Japan
Fewer Chinese tourists might be the overtourism break Japan needs
Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments
Chinese tourists wear kimonos as they visit the Sensoji Temple in the Asakusa district of Tokyo on Nov 15.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
- China's travel restrictions to Japan, triggered by a diplomatic dispute over Taiwan, have led to a decline in Chinese tourists.
- This decline offers Japan a chance to alleviate overtourism, with some locals welcoming fewer crowds despite potential economic impacts.
- Japan faces a complex situation, balancing economic reliance on Chinese tourism with the benefits of reduced congestion and improved tourist experiences.
AI generated
SAPPORO/TOKYO – The cacophony of rapid-fire Mandarin has grown conspicuously quieter across Japan, amid the diplomatic winter between Asia’s two largest economies.
Sapporo was relatively calm during my visit last week, with ample space to walk around and bask in the festive atmosphere of winter illuminations and the Christmas market at Odori Park, under the iconic television tower.
