February 2, 2026 (Monday) – Trisha Jain
The sound of a temple bell echoes across Kyoto, Japan, but this time it’s paired with the buzz of camera shutters. Queues to draw omikuji fortunes stretch past the incense burner and into the main courtyards - a daily reminder of how much tourism has intensified.
In 2025, Japan recorded a record-breaking 42.7 million international visitors, reaching its highest monthly peak with 3.6 million in December. An increase compared to the total of 31 million in 2019.
There are multiple factors that drive this increase. One of the most significant reasons is the depreciation of the Japanese yen against major currencies. As of early 2026, the exchange rate is around ¥155 per U.S. dollar, compared to around ¥110 per dollar before the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that the cost of accommodation, dining, and services costs significantly less in foreign terms than they did a few years ago. This favorable exchange rate reduces the overall cost of travel for international tourists and encourages many more bookings.
Beyond economic factors, Japan’s global cultural influence has also played a major role in the tourism boost. The country’s “soft power” is reflected in the popularity of anime such as Demon Slayer and Attack on Titan, video game franchises including Pokémon and Super Mario, and the global demand for Japanese cuisine due to social media.
According to Kyodo News, 8.1% of inbound tourists in 2024 visited anime-linked spots. Furthermore, due to content on platforms such as TikTok, Japanese convenience stores (konbinis), food tourism increased by 5000%.
In 2025, tourists spent a record ¥9.5 trillion across accommodation, shopping, and dining. This tourism revenue has given Japan more flexibility to reinvest in infrastructure, transportation, and cultural preservation, so that its long-term economic stability can be preserved and maintained. For example, the funding is being used to expand major airports such as Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, which will increase flight capacity and allow the airport to handle the growing number of visitors.
The tourism income is also being used to support railway services, such as Japan’s famous bullet trains, the Shinkansen, its smaller railway lines, and the JR (Japan Railway). These investments will improve the connectivity between major cities and rural areas, making travel much more efficient for both tourists and citizens.
However, the rise in tourism has not come without challenges. Popular destinations such as Kyoto, Tokyo, and Osaka have experienced major overtourism, especially in peak seasons such as spring (late March - early April). Many locals have expressed frustration, with one expert stating that “the very existence of tourism feels negative”. In Kyoto, overcrowding has become so severe that officials have had to intervene, announcing measures to “tell tourists to stay out of their private streets. Reports also show that “transportation and restaurants are at their limits,” while customers complain about tourists “throwing garbage everywhere”.
Although the tourism revenue does allow the government to invest in the maintenance of infrastructure and other factors, these improvements may not immediately solve the strain that is felt by local communities. The attraction of more visitors could increase congestion, and therefore could contribute to higher rental prices and increased costs of goods and services for residents and citizens.
Ultimately, Japan’s tourism surge causes both opportunities and risks. While economic growth and global appeal have allowed the country to be one of the world’s leading destinations, sustaining this will depend on how effectively Japan will be able to balance the expansion while protecting its infrastructure and local communities.
Trisha Jain
Grade 9
International School of Ho Chi Minh City
Written on February 2, 2026 (Monday)
