Japan is pleading with Australian visitors not to flood its main tourist areas and to explore the country beyond ‘what is trending on social media’.
The country is proving to be a magnet for Aussie adventurers as the Australian dollar surges against the yen.
A record 637,000 Aussies visited the country between January and September last year – a 42 per cent increase according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation.
This has prompted JNTO’s Australian office’s executive director Naoki Kitazawa to attempt to steer visitors away from the buckling tourist hotspots.
‘Tokyo, Kyoto, and the Golden Route offer incredible experiences, but there’s so much more to discover beyond the obvious and what’s trending on social media,’ he said.
‘We strongly encourage Australians to consider lesser-known destinations, as well as look at shoulder travel seasons, such as autumn, as well as Japan’s summer – known locally as the ‘green season’ where the country’s rural and regional areas really come into their own.
‘Don’t just stick to the postcard sights – venture out and uncover the stories that aren’t always on the tourist trail.’
While Mr Kitazawa said Japan was ‘heartened’ to see the pace at which Australians have returned to the country post-Covid, the numbers risked overwhelming and even spoiling the places they had come to see.
Japan is pleading with Australian visitors not to flood its main tourist areas and to explore the country beyond ‘what is trending on social media’ (stock image)
‘By making informed decisions, travellers can contribute to preserving the beauty and integrity of the places you visit, ensuring they remain vibrant for future generations to enjoy,’ he told news.com.au.
For visitors wanting to experience the beauty typified by Kyoto, Mr Kitazawa suggested the much less famed Kanazawa.
The city, which is known as ‘little Kyoto’, is about two hours and 30 minutes by train from major cities Tokyo and Osaka.
Like Kyoto, Kanazawa had a rich teahouse and Geisha culture but both are more open and accessible to tourists, according to Mr Kitazawa who also said a visit to Kenrokuen Garden, consider one of Japan’s most beautiful, is a must.
For a taste of traditional rural Japan, Mr Kitazawa recommended Takayama in the mountainous Gifu Prefecture.
Other ‘off the beaten track’ destinations include canyon exploring in the UNESCO Eco Park, taking guided tours through ancient cedar forests, or meeting snow monkeys in Joshin’etsu Kogen National Park.
Mr Kitazawa also suggested trying the widespread traditional town and heritage stays as well as sleeping among the branches in the Treeful Treehouse Sustainable Resort in Okinawa’s Yambaru National Park.
Australians are not only visiting Japan in record numbers, but they tend to be among the longest staying, according to official data.
In 2023 Indonesia pleaded with Aussies to explore more of the country beyond Bali.
Concern over tourists overstaying their visa and behaving badly in Bali led Indonesia to launch a crackdown in October last year.
Crimes that previously would have seen tourists jailed for six months to a year are now punishable by 10 years up to a maximum of 20 years behind bars.
