thanks for all the info! really useful for everyone who isn't keeping up with the news over there. how will the new earthquake/tsunami warnings affect travel for now?
Happy New Year, dude! I think you're absolutely spot on about Osaka and GU. I've purchased a few things from Uniqlo while in the states and it's not the novelty it once was when I'm in Japan. I'm definitely more eager to check out GU these days. Keep up the great work!
Happy New Year 🎊 Yea I agree Japan just continues to get more crazy busy , airports I noticed are doing really well in arrivals and departures, well they were for me having used Narita and Haneda in the last weeks , more flights , yes please more choice and competition
Going to Japan for the second time in April. Heading to Osaka this year but mainly using it as a base to explore the area. Also doing Hiroshima and thinking of extending the stay there to do a day trip to Fukuoka. Pretty sure will end up going a third time and I'd like to go north/West of Tokyo to places like Hokkaido.
I often think I would have loved to have started traveling to Japan 10 years earlier then I did. Being it has now been almost a decade since my first Japan visit, I'm glad that at least I started when I did. 10yrs ago the Japan travel hotspots were busy enough, now I'm glad I have them behind me and I'm primarily venturing into less visited locations. My last four trips during 2023/24 have been to such locations where rarely a western gaijin is seen. With the current marketing push to get tourists exploring beyond the BIG-3, I predict it's going to be a quick catch-up by new visitors so the name of the game is going to be to stay ahead of the pack and search out the even less travelled spots. It'll be interesting to see the growth in numbers venturing into the more outlying locations over coming years 🤔
It's not just Uniqlo that's expanding outside of Japan. My local shopping centre in Suburban Melbourne has a Uniqlo, a Daiso & a Muji. Gacha popups are now common as well. The US is now unaffordable for Aussies, UK & Europe aren't cheap either so Japan is now one of the top holiday destinations from Australia.
Afraid when smaller cities will get overcrowded and when they have less infrastructure. I choose to stay in Nara instead of Kyoto during the low season. Less expensive and less crowded. While in Tokyo, I choose to stay in the shitamachi districts.
I've seen predictions of just over 40 million tourists for 2025. With Expo 2025 and Chinese tourism ramping back up they'll reach that milestone by Q3. 2025 will see over 45 million tourists, which will be insane if you stick to the tourist hotspots. My family and I have have been on annual trips each year since 2008 (aside from the pandemic), so I'm glad I was able to experience it before everyone else discovered how amazing the country is to visit.
1. Flights will really depend especially with more flights being available. It may result in easier to find deals during certain period as supply catch up with demand. To add, airlines may also compete with each other more leading to the price going down. 2. I suspect the overcrowding will be worse in Osaka region with the expo, though I really hope more will go into region such as wakayama, shiga, tottori, yamaguchi though i suspect people will still only focus at Hiroshima, Miyajima, Kyoto and Nara. 3. Speaking of AI, i agree it will definitely be boosted but i truly hope people do review what AI gives you. Seen too many crazy possible itinerary but those are not travel , it is a tickbox exercise. 4. On cherry blossom, foliage, flexibility and knowledge will be key. Most still see cherry blossoms as a single kind of tree, forgetting you can focus other varieties which equals you can see sakura in wider period. For foliage, few realize if you move to a more hilly area, you can also see it if you are not at the ideal period. Finally, japan also has other flowers that are just as stunning as these two main highlights!
@NinjaMonkeyguy sadly i have seen too many of those AI chat gpt itinerary on reddit where so many "lazy" traveler who don't even open google map and expect others to help correct it! Examples are day 1 in tokyo, day 2 go to hiroshima, next go to takayama then back to kyoto and then go hakone....and then fuji.
God I hope the cherry blossoms don't bloom earlier. i bet on earlier bloom last year so went in 3rd week march and completely missed the cherry blossoms by over a week due to a sudden cold snap from russia. I have pushed back the next visit to beginning of april so i hope i see the cherry blossoms in full bloom this time.
I hate to say it, but you are spot on with your predictions. Things will be more expensive, because it rarely goes the other way without some sort of global fiscal collapse. Local governments are always looking for what they term fresh sources of revenue. Tourist's are seen as pockets that can be picked, without upsetting the voter base. Tourism levies are a delicate thing. Set them too high and suddenly less tourists come, defeating the purpose. I theory I don't mind paying to preserve historical sites, improve crowd management, and transportation options. However, often local governments don't use the funds for those issues, but just gobble up the excess for maintaining and expanding government.
You're right. It's only going to go one way from here. We're seeing it already with the JR Pass price hikes (which we all know will hit the regional passes soon enough). Before long any prefecture which is on the tourist trail at all will start imposing a per-night tourist accommodation "levy" if they aren't already, and the competition for accommodation and dining will only send the price of hotels and restaurants one way: Up. For International Tourists though I don't have a problem with this. If we want to travel there we should be willing to pay for it, especially given the current exchange rates. It is the Japanese domestic tourism market that I feel the worst for. They have to compete with the rising competition and prices while handicapped by the value of the Yen, and they are also penalised if they want to travel abroad because their currency has so little purchasing power at the moment.
I still think it's wise to strike while the iron's hot and tax tourists/tourism more to help stave off higher taxes for citizens when they have to endure all this overtourism in many places and more costs to maintain, run and protect these overrun areas. I remember going to Himeji Castle in the 90's and it was mostly empty on a weekday. Now it's worse than Disneyland queues, crowded beyond belief and worse, there's bad behavior by some visitors.😔☹
Planning for my 5th visit to Japan in Summer, starting this year there's now a direct flight from the Philippines to Sapporo. Hoping I can secure an affordable ticket 🤞 Sadly overtourism has started in Takayama already. Visited in Nov and went to the same Hida beef restaurant I dined last Winter/Jan, it was already fully booked at 6pm!
* One of the key predictions was accidently left out.. I predict more AI in travel around Japan!
ok what does that even mean? real time translations? sure, virtual guides (that would be a thing I'd like to see)
You are the final boss of tourists of Japan
Hahaha no no
My wife and I excited for our fourth trip in two years to Japan in March/April, making it our 15th+ hanami experience in 20 years.
Wow you are serious about Japan! Thats awesome!
@ Japan has everything that we like. And with the strong USD, it’s our perfect spring break destination.
thanks for all the info! really useful for everyone who isn't keeping up with the news over there. how will the new earthquake/tsunami warnings affect travel for now?
Ultimately just be prepared! heres a video I made all about it: th-cam.com/video/0EUYxVY5nco/w-d-xo.html
Nice predictions!
Happy New Year, dude! I think you're absolutely spot on about Osaka and GU. I've purchased a few things from Uniqlo while in the states and it's not the novelty it once was when I'm in Japan. I'm definitely more eager to check out GU these days.
Keep up the great work!
Thanks.. yea i got a feeling Osaka and social media will be crazy this year.. I apologise in advance!
Happy New Year 🎊 Yea I agree Japan just continues to get more crazy busy , airports I noticed are doing really well in arrivals and departures, well they were for me having used Narita and Haneda in the last weeks , more flights , yes please more choice and competition
It is definitely getting busier and busier each year! and Airports are doing a good job I agree!
Going to Japan for the second time in April.
Heading to Osaka this year but mainly using it as a base to explore the area.
Also doing Hiroshima and thinking of extending the stay there to do a day trip to Fukuoka.
Pretty sure will end up going a third time and I'd like to go north/West of Tokyo to places like Hokkaido.
I often think I would have loved to have started traveling to Japan 10 years earlier then I did.
Being it has now been almost a decade since my first Japan visit, I'm glad that at least I started when I did.
10yrs ago the Japan travel hotspots were busy enough, now I'm glad I have them behind me and I'm primarily venturing into less visited locations.
My last four trips during 2023/24 have been to such locations where rarely a western gaijin is seen.
With the current marketing push to get tourists exploring beyond the BIG-3, I predict it's going to be a quick catch-up by new visitors so the name of the game is going to be to stay ahead of the pack and search out the even less travelled spots.
It'll be interesting to see the growth in numbers venturing into the more outlying locations over coming years 🤔
I'm glad you're getting to explore the less well-known parts of Japan - you're right, it'll be interesting to see how things evolve!
It's not just Uniqlo that's expanding outside of Japan. My local shopping centre in Suburban Melbourne has a Uniqlo, a Daiso & a Muji. Gacha popups are now common as well. The US is now unaffordable for Aussies, UK & Europe aren't cheap either so Japan is now one of the top holiday destinations from Australia.
Afraid when smaller cities will get overcrowded and when they have less infrastructure.
I choose to stay in Nara instead of Kyoto during the low season. Less expensive and less crowded. While in Tokyo, I choose to stay in the shitamachi districts.
good tips
I've seen predictions of just over 40 million tourists for 2025. With Expo 2025 and Chinese tourism ramping back up they'll reach that milestone by Q3. 2025 will see over 45 million tourists, which will be insane if you stick to the tourist hotspots.
My family and I have have been on annual trips each year since 2008 (aside from the pandemic), so I'm glad I was able to experience it before everyone else discovered how amazing the country is to visit.
You are lucky to know the Japan of before social media times haha
The great prognosticator Ninjadamus
HAHAHA
Doesn’t he look like Chris Broad?
1. Flights will really depend especially with more flights being available. It may result in easier to find deals during certain period as supply catch up with demand. To add, airlines may also compete with each other more leading to the price going down.
2. I suspect the overcrowding will be worse in Osaka region with the expo, though I really hope more will go into region such as wakayama, shiga, tottori, yamaguchi though i suspect people will still only focus at Hiroshima, Miyajima, Kyoto and Nara.
3. Speaking of AI, i agree it will definitely be boosted but i truly hope people do review what AI gives you. Seen too many crazy possible itinerary but those are not travel , it is a tickbox exercise.
4. On cherry blossom, foliage, flexibility and knowledge will be key. Most still see cherry blossoms as a single kind of tree, forgetting you can focus other varieties which equals you can see sakura in wider period. For foliage, few realize if you move to a more hilly area, you can also see it if you are not at the ideal period. Finally, japan also has other flowers that are just as stunning as these two main highlights!
So true, there are so many varieties of Cherry trees! and I do hope people don't simply blindly follow AI!
@NinjaMonkeyguy sadly i have seen too many of those AI chat gpt itinerary on reddit where so many "lazy" traveler who don't even open google map and expect others to help correct it! Examples are day 1 in tokyo, day 2 go to hiroshima, next go to takayama then back to kyoto and then go hakone....and then fuji.
Was looking at airline prices in August, £1500. Almost unaffordable. 🙁
Oh boy!
@@logansrun3126 from where?
God I hope the cherry blossoms don't bloom earlier. i bet on earlier bloom last year so went in 3rd week march and completely missed the cherry blossoms by over a week due to a sudden cold snap from russia. I have pushed back the next visit to beginning of april so i hope i see the cherry blossoms in full bloom this time.
Fingers crossed for you! If going on a 2 week break I would have tried to arrive around 23rd/March to have more flixibility
Agree....
will be interesting to watch back in a years time!
I hate to say it, but you are spot on with your predictions. Things will be more expensive, because it rarely goes the other way without some sort of global fiscal collapse. Local governments are always looking for what they term fresh sources of revenue. Tourist's are seen as pockets that can be picked, without upsetting the voter base. Tourism levies are a delicate thing. Set them too high and suddenly less tourists come, defeating the purpose. I theory I don't mind paying to preserve historical sites, improve crowd management, and transportation options. However, often local governments don't use the funds for those issues, but just gobble up the excess for maintaining and expanding government.
You're right. It's only going to go one way from here. We're seeing it already with the JR Pass price hikes (which we all know will hit the regional passes soon enough). Before long any prefecture which is on the tourist trail at all will start imposing a per-night tourist accommodation "levy" if they aren't already, and the competition for accommodation and dining will only send the price of hotels and restaurants one way: Up.
For International Tourists though I don't have a problem with this. If we want to travel there we should be willing to pay for it, especially given the current exchange rates. It is the Japanese domestic tourism market that I feel the worst for. They have to compete with the rising competition and prices while handicapped by the value of the Yen, and they are also penalised if they want to travel abroad because their currency has so little purchasing power at the moment.
Jim im very interested to look back and maybe react to this video in a years time!
Well.. I chose July because I thought there will be less tourists. I guess they dont. :D
haha maybe not! it will be hot and humid though
The Chinese are taking over more than Aussies. When is the most popular season for Chinese?
The same as for everyone, Spring, Summer and Autumn
@NinjaMonkeyguy so would January winter be better?
I still think it's wise to strike while the iron's hot and tax tourists/tourism more to help stave off higher taxes for citizens when they have to endure all this overtourism in many places and more costs to maintain, run and protect these overrun areas. I remember going to Himeji Castle in the 90's and it was mostly empty on a weekday. Now it's worse than Disneyland queues, crowded beyond belief and worse, there's bad behavior by some visitors.😔☹
Its finding the middle ground and mitigating for the yen strengthening in the future because this would really affect tourism
📹 🎉👏🏼
hehe happy new year!
Hope you’re not right about more tourists and increased prices 😅
lets see what happens huh
Planning for my 5th visit to Japan in Summer, starting this year there's now a direct flight from the Philippines to Sapporo. Hoping I can secure an affordable ticket 🤞
Sadly overtourism has started in Takayama already. Visited in Nov and went to the same Hida beef restaurant I dined last Winter/Jan, it was already fully booked at 6pm!
Wow direct flights are great.. good luck on the ticket!
Why would we need to know predictions ?
TRYING to stay ahead of trends can be useful, dont take the video to seriously.. it was just fun to make :)
Gu means tool or foolish so maybe Japanese are trolling people who shop there
haha maybe lol