How Japan is dealing with the mega-number of tourists in its own country: locals pay less in restaurants
Japan: who doesn’t have it on their bucket list? The country is incredible, with culture, nature and culinary delights that are truly something else. None of this is a secret. The country is overflowing with tourists. To keep things somewhat under control, restaurants and tourist attractions are now taking measures. Locals are the ones who benefit most.
Tourism in Japan has gone absolutely crazy, especially over the past two years. That’s because the country became accessible again in autumn 2022 after the Covid period. But also because the yen—the currency of Japan—is now incredibly favorable. This is causing tourists to flock to Japan like bees to honey. For owners of restaurants, hotels and tourist hotspots, it is almost impossible to keep things under control.
Tourist chaos
It takes Japanese people a great deal of effort to properly serve foreign tourists. Very little English is spoken in Japan, even though it is the common language for many foreigners when they travel. Many Japanese restaurants therefore hire English-speaking staff. They also spend a great deal of time and effort explaining the dishes on the menu. For non-Japanese speakers, these are impossible to read.
On top of that, tourists do not always know how to behave. Earlier this year, a resort at the foot of the famous Mount Fuji already took action. Tourists flocked to a photo spot, making it incredibly crowded and leaving behind huge amounts of rubbish—bizarrely antisocial, especially when you consider how respectfully Japanese people themselves treat their surroundings. The resort owners put up nets to block the view. Better to have fewer tourists, then.
Financial advantage for locals
So what is happening mainly in restaurants in Japan? They are not raising their prices, but are choosing to let locals pay less than tourists. Instead of making tourists pay more, locals are now being given an advantage. Tamatebako, an all-you-can-eat restaurant in Tokyo specializing in grilling fish, for example, gives its regular local customers a standard discount of 1,000 yen. There are also restaurants offering popular local dishes at an attractive price. An advantage for the local population, then.
Many tourists are not even aware of this difference in pricing. The lower prices for locals are often written in the local language on the menu, which many tourists cannot understand. And as a tourist, you still won’t be paying top dollar—great, right? Just don’t order a cheese board in Japan—forewarned is forearmed…
Also read:
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- Why I’m addicted to Japanese Kewpie sesame sauce (and you soon will be too)
- 10 hidden gems in Europe that you have to see
Source: CNN Travel
