What does Japan need to do in order to attract more tourists?

Wednesday 05th November, 06:04 AM JST

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Sarge at 01:55 PM JST - 9th November

How about a weaker yen?
japantodaykenji at 03:01 PM JST - 9th November

Hi Sarge,

The exchange rate was about 265 yen to the US dollar in 1985, then plummeted to 120 within two or three years. That brought the first large influx of English teachers to Japan to earn what suddenly looked like huge wages when reconverted to their own home currencies during the economic bubble here. Tourism was largely only for the backpacker and the wealthy, both before and since then, and even now. Compared to most other countries, there are still relatively few middle-class family options for visiting Japan available at the local tourist agencies back home.

Europe and Hawaii are easy, but Japan is not. I think that anyone who can put together a satisfying and meaningful tour package for such people, with the right balance of the exotic and the familiar, and without the inevitable hassles, could make a lot of money. Local, temporarily resident English teachers are probably the very ones who could do that when they return home. They know more about Japan--from their compatriots' perspectives--than anyone else, and those who have lived here longest have probably read all the books and lived the daily experiences, and thus are best able to explain the reasons why exactly it is Japanese do or don't behave in what would would ordinarily be thought of as the "right way of doing things" in any other particular culture.

Caveat: The ability to speak and read Japanese is essential for any would-be tour operator or guide. Many of the misunderstandings and rants that many of us foreigners occasionally have magically dissolve and evaporate when we read the fine print and converse in the local lingua franca.
japantodaykenji at 03:35 PM JST - 9th November

Reading through all the previous posts, I notice that many express frustrations. This is perhaps natural and understandable, but the question is not "Why don't tourists come to Japan?" but more specifically, "What does Japan need to do in order to attract more tourists?" The government clearly does want to encourage tourism.

Though the Japanese government may primarily be targeting nearby Asian neighbors who can get here easily, the people posting on this topic are largely from English-speaking countries. But as we do of course have constructive things to say, I'm glad to see that some people are indeed trying to answer the question asked. As for racism and xenophobia, sure it exists, but in every country, to varying degrees.

I'm Caucasian-Asian, and have encountered hurtful attitudes in every country I've ever been to. No big deal. Whatever you look like or wherever you come from, you can play it to your advantage or disadvantage.
Himajin at 01:53 PM JST - 10th November

Read once more.......

over 70 percent of Japanese inns and hotels that didn't have foreign guests last year don't want any in the future either.
LostinNagoya at 08:03 PM JST - 10th November

And that was an OFFICIAL survey, published by the government itself. What it shows is that the central government is trying hard to bring tourists to Japan, but the base of the business pyramid is not ready at all - and as the survey shows, don´t want to be ready either. Only the

IMO, Japan should be more flexible when issuing tourist visas. Just like in other Asian countries where tourism is really strong, such as Cambodia, Thailand, etc...Sure, it would bring a lot of problems, but in the long run it would bring a ¨on vacation¨ atmosphere that Japan doesn´t have at all, which on the other hand would bring even more tourists.
kawabunga at 08:23 PM JST - 10th November

Clean up the public toilets. puke
cleo at 08:24 PM JST - 10th November

the base of the business pyramid .....

70% of less than 5%. Some base.
japantodaykenji at 08:30 PM JST - 10th November

I believe the article said that inns and hotels that didn't have any foreign guests last year made up 40 percent of the total surveyed. The 70 percent of that 40 percent of establishments, who said they don't want any foreign guests in the future, would likely include the very small and the very rural, so it is more likely that it is because they have no English, Korean or Chinese speaking staff and don't know what the needs of non-Japanese guests are, than that they are racist. There are also a large number of hotels that cater exclusively to Japanese businessmen, and who probably wouldn't want any Japanese women, laborers, students or families either.

In any case, increasing tourism from abroad is the goal, and though the staff, and probably older managers, at such places may need to be educated in more enlightened attitudes or shown how to cater to foreigners, the government is probably trying to focus on the larger number of inns and hotels that are in fact on the tourist trail, and that welcome foreigners. The number of such places has grown overall, and will continue to grow. We all have stories of having experienced racism, but I think that using this poll as proof of insufferable and horrendous discrimination or xenophobia is untenable.
Nessie at 10:34 PM JST - 10th November

Oh, one more. I was accused of passing counterfeit coins the other day in a department store. Things like that probably don't help.
PaizuriSan at 09:30 AM JST - 11th November

1)Give us a GOOD reason we cant be in a place rather than....... 2)Teach the girls how to BE sexy and not just DRESS sexy! 3)Add gargabe cans!!! 4)More foreign TV programs like in America. 5)Teach Japanese girls how to flirt!
PaizuriSan at 09:42 AM JST - 11th November

BTW.I and MANY GaiKokuJins who can understand the language HATE! Repeat HATE when Japanese people assume we can't speak even simple Japanese! Hajimemashite! J-person: Naisu tu meeto yuu! (or) Weaa aa yuu furomu?
tatsumi at 03:56 PM JST - 11th November

At the moment, Yen is stronger to any currencies than before. No wonder many people hesitate to travel to Japan today. In terms of it, what Japan can do is to think more unique offers ever! Otherwise they won't choose Japan for travel destination. We are facing hard time now anyway...
TheMax at 02:08 AM JST - 12th November

Spent a month travelling there last year and had an amazing time. Found people extremely helpful and friendly. Friends that found out that I had spent time in Japan assumed that it was really expensive, but Japan can be done on a budget. Hostels/guesthouses from around £10GBP - £15GBP a night and eating can be quite cheap also with the variety of noodle bars and sushi restaurants conviently dotted around. Didn't have too much trouble when it came to getting around and I for one would not like to see it cater too much for westerners as most of the world nowadays is becoming too westernised. There are small pockets of westernisation, but not enough to taint it. I would say that Japan is a must for anyone embarking on world travels!
1eyedjack at 04:55 PM JST - 12th November

Japan is still competeing with more, much more, attractive destinations like Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore etc. There is no need to come to Japan to fight the crowds, deal with the language barrier, get gawked at by slack-jawed country bumpkins (sorry but its true, Japanese in the sticks have few manners it seems), or face the hustle and bustle of an expensive country that really doesn't want visitors, just their money. For further evidence of what I speak just ask yourself, why do so many Japanese pack their bags and leave this country every opportunity they get ? In other countries people can have a nice relaxing vacation right in their own backyard... not Japan ! And people will pay through the nose just to get away. Sorry, no confusion here !
japantodaykenji at 09:35 PM JST - 12th November

To relax and get away, Japanese go by the tens of millions to hot springs, ski resorts, and on sightseeing bus tours throughout the country, especially in Autumn and Winter. The network is amazingly complex, with a stunning array of options and destinations, but is largely unknown to foreigners, who prefer to go sightseeing on their own, alone or in very small groups. The travel brochures and pamphlets are everywhere at any large train or bus station, and at all the travel agencies, but they are in Japanese, and often go unnoticed by foreigners.

I took a number of JNTO special sightseeing bus tours with English speaking guides years ago, and enjoyed them very much. But I also felt uncomfortable with some of the other foreigners, naturally, as we all had very different expectations and interests. For the same reason, some tour operators might be reluctant to actively seek out foreigners to join their tours. I've been on the Japanese tours, speaking only Japanese, and found them very satisfying and at times even riotous good fun. Perhaps small bus tours could be targeted at a mix of English speaking Japanese and foreigners, but it might not be cost effective.

Most Japanese also get away by returning to their hometowns and parents' homes at New Year's, O-bon, and Golden Week. Very relaxing sitting around all day eating, chatting and just hanging out with old school friends scattered far and wide by their work, and with families and relatives, which is the whole point.

Foreign travel, however, is usually a non-stop sensory overload, on purpose, for a glimpse of something utterly different from their own culture. They're not looking to relax in a country where their language is not widely spoken and their customs are largely unknown.

By the way, Japanese "in the sticks" do actually have exquisite Japanese manners, but don't know or care to follow the more outgoing, friendly public style, i.e., with total strangers, more common in most Western countries.