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Tourism in Japan

Japan attracted 28.69 million international tourists in 2017. Japan has 21 World Heritage Sites, including Himeji Castle, Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto and Nara. Popular foreigner attractions include Tokyo and Hiroshima, Mount Fuji, ski resorts such as Niseko in Hokkaido, Okinawa, riding the shinkansen and taking advantage of Japan's hotel and hotspring network.

The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017 ranks Japan 4th out of 141 countries overall, which was the best in Asia. Japan gained relatively high scores in almost all aspects, especially health and hygiene, safety and security, cultural resources and business travel.

Background

Land and Climate

Spring: March-May: mild weather

Averages °F

	High	Low
March	54	41
April	63	50
May	70	57

Summer: June-August: rainy, humid weather

Averages °F

	High	Low
June	75	64
July	82	72
August	84	73

Fall: September-November: Dry and mild - Warm temperatures during the day with cooler temperatures for a jacket in the evenings.

Averages °F

	High	Low
September	79	68
October	68	59
November	59	48

Winter: December-February: North Regions - Large amounts of snow and cold temperatures. South regions - shorter winters with plenty of sun.

Averages °F

	High	Low
December	52	39
January	46	36
February	48	36

*Averages taken from Tokyo temperature averages

Japan has a temperate marine climate. Four distinct seasons lasting mostly equal lengths of the year. In the winter, there is heavy precipitation as snowfall in the north of the country with more mild, dry winters in the south. In the summer, Japan experiences another rainy season, making for humid and hot days.

Location: Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula.

Map references: Asia, Oceania

Area: 377,915 km²

• land: 364,485 km²
• water: 13,430 km²

Land boundaries: the ocean

Coastline: 29,751 km (18,486 mi)

Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous, can easily be compared to Norway, both having about 70% of their land in the mountains.

History

The origins of early traditions of visits to picturesque sites are unclear, but early sight-seeing excursions was Matsuo Bashō's 1689 trip to the then "far north" of Japan, which occurred not long after Hayashi Razan categorized the Three Views of Japan in 1643. During the Edo era of Japan, from around 1600 to the Meiji Restoration in 1867, travel was regulated within the country through the use of shukuba or post stations; towns where travelers had to present appropriate documentation. Despite these restrictions, porter stations and horse stables, as well as places for lodging and food were available on well-traveled routes. During this time, Japan was a closed country to foreigners, so no foreign tourism existed in Japan.

Following the Meiji Restoration and the building of a national railroad network, tourism became more of an affordable prospect for domestic citizens and visitors from foreign countries could enter Japan legally. As early as 1887, government officials recognized the need for an organized system of attracting foreign tourists; the Kihinkai (貴賓会), which aimed to coordinate the players in tourism, was established that year with Prime Minister Itō Hirobumi's blessing. Its early leaders included Shibusawa Eiichi and Ekida Takashi. Another major milestone in the development of the tourism industry in Japan was the 1907 passage of the Hotel Development Law, as a result of which the Railways Ministry began to construct publicly owned hotels throughout Japan.

The People

Population

2016 Population of Japan was 126.93 million, 1.7 of the world's population. Japan, being the 11th largest country by population, holds 340.8 persons per square kilometer in 2015, ranking ninth among countries with a population of 10 million or more.

Japans population measure 30 million through the 18th and 19th centuries until the Meiji Restoration, growing more than 100 million in the 1960s. Japan's growth has stopped and started to decline since the last Census in 2010 indicating a decline of almost 1 million.

Government

Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy

Capitol: Tokyo

Emperor: Akihito

Prime Minister: Shinzō Abe since 2012

Japan has a parliamentary system of government but do not elect their president directly. The government system consist of three branches of government - legislative (the Diet), executive (the cabinet), and judicial (the courts). Diet members elect a prime minister from among themselves. The prime minister forms and leads the cabinet of ministers of state. The cabinet, in the exercise of executive power, is responsible to the Diet. The emperor is the ceremonial head of state.

Japan is divided into 47 prefectures, each of which have their own local government elected by the people. Local government responsibilities include education, welfare and infrastructure maintenance.

Economy

Market Oriented Economy, ranked third largest in the world. The economy faces numerous growing troubles with a declining population which is aging. Japan is mostly known for it's technological advances and integrating these technologies into their goods including cars, robots, and medical instruments.

Language

Official Language: Japanese

The transportation system within Japan, public trains, include indications in foreign languages and pictograms for foreign travelers.

Tourist attractions and international business also have announcements for signage in English. Large hotels also commonly have staff who speak multiple languages from neighboring countries and even English. The closer proximity you are to urban areas, the more likely you are to find someone to assist you in English. Smaller towns in Japan do not always have English speakers or signage

Religion

Shinto and Buddhist: 32.6% (45,820,000)

Unaffiliated: 57% (72,120,000)

Christian: 1.6% (2,030,000)

Other: 5.2% (6,580,000) This group includes Folk Religion, Hindu, Jew Muslim and other religions.

If you visit a Shinto shrine or a Buddhist temple, follow the appropriate customs, of bowing and showing respect. This includes bowing slightly before entering the temples, the cleansing procedure at the chōzuya; also before you enter, and burning incense.

Food/Diet

Soy and Rice are common foods included in traditional Japanese cuisine.

Traditional Japanese foods include: Kaiseki Cuisine, sashimi, sushi, Sukiyaki, Shabu-shabu, Tempura, Yakitori, Tonkatsu and Soba and Udon. Each of these dishes are commonly found in each region of Japan with variation depending on the region and season.

Japan also commonly recreates foreign inspired dishes, from China and other parts of the world with their own seasonal and traditional ingredients.

Customs/Courtesies

General

• shoes are expected to be removed in many buildings
• avoid loud conversations
• avoid talking on your cell phone on public transportation
• smoking should be in designated areas only
• Public displays of affection should be simple and short if hugging or kissing, Japanese are tolerant of homosexual and heterosexual couples.

Eating

• Return everything to its original position when you've finish - including putting lids back on dishes.
• Do not mix your sauces together - wasabi and soy sauce

Chopsticks

• Do not stick chopsticks (up and down) into your food.
• When finished with your meal, place your chopsticks together across your plater or bowl. Do not leave them on the table.
• Do not use your eating chopsticks to serve food. Ask for a pair of clean serving chopsticks

Drinking

• It is polite to pour others' drinks before your own, usually the gesture is returned in kind.
• before drinking, especially in socially settings such as bars, wait for everyones glass to be filled in your group.

Conversational

• Slight bows when being introduced is most appropriate, rather than shaking hands
• when pointing, use your full hand and not just one finger to point at anything including people
• Do not pat anyones back, as this is seen as rude, especially during first time introductions
• Do not discuss politics

Tipping

• Do not tip - this can cause confusion and insult or otherwise the server may think there was a mistake

Holidays & Festivals

Holidays

• 1 January — New Year's Day (ganjitsu 元日, gantan 元旦 or o-shōgatsu お正月)
• 2 and 3 January — New Year's Bank Holidays
• Second Monday in January — Coming-of-Age Day (seijin no hi 成人の日)
• 11 February — National Foundation Day (kenkoku kinen no hi 建国記念の日)
• 21 March — Vernal Equinox Day (shunbun no hi 春分の日)
• 29 April — Showa Day (shōwa no hi 昭和の日) — first holiday of Golden Week
• 3 May — Constitution Day (kenpō kinnenbi 憲法記念日)
• 4 May — Greenery Day (midori no hi みどりの日)
• 5 May — Children's Day (kodomo no hi こどもの日) - last holiday of Golden Week
• Third Monday in July — Marine Day (umi no hi 海の日)
• 11 August - Mountain Day (yama no hi 山の日)
• Third Monday in September— Respect-for-the-Aged Day (keirō no hi 敬老の日)
• 23 September — Autumnal Equinox Day (shūbun no hi 秋分の日)
• Second Monday in October — Sports Day (taiiku no hi 体育の日)
• 3 November — Culture Day (bunka no hi 文化の日)
• 23 November — Labor Thanksgiving Day (kinrō kansha no hi 勤労感謝の日)
• 23 December — The Emperor's Birthday (tennō tanjōbi 天皇誕生日)
• 31 December — New Year's Bank Holiday

Festivals

The JNTO website has a list of several dozen festivals throughout the year in English. Some of the most well-known festivals are:

• Sapporo Snow Festival (さっぽろ雪まつり Sapporo Yuki-matsuri) in Sapporo (February, 7 days starting the second week) — elaborate snow and ice sculptures
• Hakata Dontaku in Fukuoka (May 3–4) — Japan's largest festival, drawing over 2 million people during the Golden Week holidays
• Kanda in Tokyo (May, Sa-Su closest to May 15 in odd-numbered years)
• Hakata Gion Yamakasa in Fukuoka (July 1–15) — famous for racing one-ton floats
• Gion in Kyoto (July, the whole month but particularly 14-17 and 21-24)
• Nebuta in Aomori (August 2–7)
• Awa-Odori in Tokushima (August 12–15) — folk dance festival

There are also several nationwide festivals:

• New Year's (正月 Shōgatsu) (December 31 - January 3)
• Hina matsuri (March 3) — during the "Doll festival", families pray for their girls, and arrange displays of dolls of the emperor and his court
• Tanabata (around July 7; in Sendai, August 5–8; some places based on lunar calendar) — sometimes called the "Star Festival", celebrates the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (the stars Vega and Altair) who could only meet on this day each year
• Obon or Bon (three days usually around August 15, but date varies by region) — when spirits of the deceased return to this world; families have reunions, and visit and clean ancestors' graves
• Shichi-Go-San ("Seven-Five-Three") (November 15) — for girls age 3 and 7 and boys age 3 and 5

Tourism

Visa/Entry Requirements

Visa's are not required for US Citizens visiting Japan for short stays up to 90 days.

68 Countries and Regions for Visa Exemptions (as of July 2017)

Currency/Conversion

The Japanese currency is the Japanese yen, abbreviated ¥ (JPY) . Cash is distributed using coins and paper bills, each piece distinguishable by color equalling different amounts of JPY; varying from ¥5-¥2,000.

JPY Exchange Rates as of April 13, 2018

Japan JPY		United States USD	Euro Members EUR	United Kingdom GBP	Canada CAD	China CNY
1 JPY	=	0.00931694	0.00754740	0.00654408	0.0117426	0.0584491
500 JPY	=	4.65842	3.77384	3.27204	5.87129	29.2225

Traveler Information

Most places in Japan accept major credit cards and debit cards. Applepay and cardless transactions are an available option in major cities such as Tokyo. If you are planning on leaving urban areas, carry cash on you for small transactions and purchases.

Niche Markets

Gastronomy

• Sushi
• Candy

Adventure/Outdoor Travel

• Hiking
• Seasonal Outdoor sports
• Japanese Gardens

Culture

• Sumo Tournaments
• Tea Ceremonies
• Kimono
• Onsen
• Manga and Anime

History & Religion

• Temples
• Shrines
• Castles
• World Heritage Sites
• Samurai
• Museums

Tourism Development

Foreign tourists to Japan

In 2017, 28,690,900 foreign tourists visited Japan.

Rank	Country	Number (people) in 2017	Percentage change 2016 to 2017	Number (people) in 2016	Percentage change 2015 to 2016	Number (people) in 2015	Percentage change 2014 to 2015
1	China	7,355,800	15.4%	6,373,000	27.6%	4,993,689	107.3%
2	South Korea	7,140,200	40.3%	5,090,300	27.2%	4,002,095	45.3%
3	Taiwan	4,564,100	9.5%	4,167,400	13.3%	3,677,075	29.9%
4	Hong Kong	2,231,500	21.3%	1,839,200	20.7%	1,524,292	64.6%
5	United States	1,375,000	10.6%	1,242,700	20.3%	1,033,258	15.9%
6	Thailand	987,100	9.5%	901,400	13.1%	796,731	21.2%
7	Australia	496,100	11.2%	445,200	18.4%	376,075	24.3%
8	Malaysia	439,500	11.5%	394,200	29.1%	305,447	22.4%
9	Philippines	424,200	21.9%	347,800	29.6%	268,361	45.7%
10	Singapore	404,100	11.7%	361,800	17.2%	308,783	35.5%
	All countries	28,690,900	19.3%	24,039,053	21.8%	19,737,409	47.1%

The Japanese Government continues to promote foreign visitors to vacation in Japan and increase annual visitors. The most tourists visiting Japan are from South Korea which makes up arounds 27% of the visitors annually. Chinese tourist average the highest spending.

Transportation Options

Unless visiting Japan by cruise ship, foreign visitors must fly by plane to get to Japan.

Plane: International and Domestic form of transportation. The most expensive option for domestic transportation.

Train: Bullet trains and larger urban subway systems are widely used in Japan for domestic transportation. There are many different train lines and routes to get to most prefectures. This is the best recommended for domestic travel to other Prefectures and regions. Tokyo transit is available to use by foreigners, commonly with English signage.

Car: Taxis are available in urban areas for quick across town trips.

To drive as a foreigner, you must first acquire an International Driving Permit (IDP). Driving is on the left side of the road and most metropolitan areas have English signs.

Attractions

Must See Attractions

Cities & Places:

• Tokyo: shop, dine and cultural experiences. There are attractions in the city from most of Japans niche markets here.
• Mt. Fuji: Hike, Climb and View the lovely landscape.
• Fushimi Inari Shrine: Shinto Shrine in Kyoto known for its thousands of gates.
• Temples and Shrines
• Hiroshima: Historical museums and shrines from WWII.

Activities:

• Cherry Blossom Festival
• Sumo Tournaments in Japan occur year round.
• Onsen: bathe and relax at these Japanese spas.
• Stroll in a Japanese Garden
• Japanese Tea Ceremony
• Geisha Entertainment

Secondary Attractions

• Japanese Karaoke
• Snow Monkeys
• The Islands of Okinawa
• Disneyland and DisneySea
• Sake Tasting

Seasonal Attractions

See Holiday and Festival Section

Spring

• Cherry Blossoms: known in Japan as sakura, are in full bloom in early spring. During this time, parks are a picturesque tourist attraction . You can also find a variety of foods, snacks and drink with a sakura flavoring.

Summer

• Firework Displays: hanabi taikai in Japanese. Community recreation during the weekends can including collaborated firework displays, summer festivals also commonly include fireworks through the summer. These events can include street food vendors, live music and dancing.
• List of most Popular Summer Festivals

Winter

• Sapporo Snow Festival: (February) Events for snow sculpture viewing and competition including ice castles and illumination.
• Northern Japan also offers a variety of winter sports and activities including skiing and snowboarding.
• Onsen: Hot Springs in Japan are enjoyed for health benefits and relaxation. Onsen sites can be natural or man made, indoor, outdoor and varying prices to experience. Here is a list of Onsen Experiences in Japan

Other Attraction Lists

• World Heritage Sites in Japan

• National Treasures of Japan
• List of museums in Japan
• List of National Geoparks in Japan
• List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites and Special Natural Monuments
• Groups of Traditional Buildings
• Japanese museums
• Ryokan (Japanese inn)
• Japan's Top 100 Castles

Weather/Climate Concerns

*See Land and Climate.

Typhoon season occurs during their winter season in the northern regions. This can cause flooding, landslides and avalanches.

Safety/Security Concerns

Japan ranks 28th in safety in the world with 79.9 in the safety index.

Japanese crimes towards foreigners include scams, pickpocketing and mugging.

Take normal traveling precautions to protect yourself all these incidents, including keeping copies for personal identification on you or luggage.

Environmental Concerns

Earthquakes & Tsunamis: Japan is susceptible to Earthquakes which can often cause a tsunami. However, Japan has become a world leader in research on causes and prediction of earthquakes. Advanced technology has allowed for safer construction of large buildings in the cities. Japan has an early warning system that sends information that an earthquake will shake a specific area. Use this invaluable time to cover up before the actual jolt.

Volcano: There are multiple active volcanos in Japan including Mt. Fuji and Mt. Yake. Be sure to monitor local volcanos activity and seek shelter at the event of an eruption.

Pollution: In larger metropolitan areas, like Tokyo have harmful and toxic pollutants to people, pollution is worse during the spring when winds bring pollution across the ocean from Eastern China. Consider wearing a mouth mask especially during high allergy seasons and flu seasons.

Socio-cultural Concerns

Japanese are tolerant of religions and most considerate public displays of affection from all types of couples.

Some rural areas may turn down service to foreigners in bath houses or restaurants, due to common foreigners lack of understanding to proper etiquette.

There can also be stems of racism and sexism in conversation and interactions, though Japanese are respectful and do not intend to offend anyone.

Emergency Contacts

Emergency calls can be made from any phone free of charge.

Police: 110

Fire/Ambulance: 119

List of Embassy's' Information in Japan

US Embassy in Japan

See Also

Japan National Tourism Organization