Japan Travel Update - Q1 2025
Hard to believe it’s already February! Seems like the Year of the Snake was just starting, and here we are with a whole month that’s flown by.
2024 was a record year for inbound travel & tourism in Japan, with some 37 million people visiting this amazing destination. By all accounts, 2025 is already off to a hot start (numbers wise, of course, since it’s actually a little chilly here in Japan right now) and promises to be another record-breaking year.
What does this mean for you, the traveler planning a trip to Japan in 2025? Let’s break it all down.
Japan Travel Trends Right Now
We’re starting to hear (and read) more buzz about Expo 2025 Osaka.
The 2025 edition of the world exposition takes place in Japan this year, from April 13 to October 13.
To be honest, the expectations among Japanese haven’t been all that high, at least not until recently. Not that it won’t be great… just that there have been a lot of unknowns.
The Expo site has been under construction for some years, with the bulk of the building taking place in the last year or so – and happening right now as we speak.
The site is on Yumeshima island, an artificial island on Osaka Bay. Recently, the Osaka Metro train line opened up a new station at Yumeshima, with the inauguration taking place in January 2025. By the looks of things, the station is well equipped to serve the crowds expected each day of the Expo, which has little parking in the area and thus most visitors are expected to use trains to and from the venue.
Domino Effects of Expo on Osaka, Kyoto, Kansai Region & Elsewhere in Japan
As you can imagine, the anticipated crowd numbers will add to the booming travel situation already witnessed in cities like Osaka and Kyoto.
We’re already seeing the effects of “overtourism” in a few parts of Kyoto city proper – though not everywhere, I want to be clear about this. Rarely would I advise anyone to skip a place like Kyoto solely for the reason of avoiding overtourism. In most cases, we recommend that you visit Kyoto, especially if it’s your first time in Japan. But visit Japan strategically.
Kyoto is going to see some pretty big crowds during Expo 2025. That’s basically guaranteed. But not all of Kyoto. Sure, Kiyomizudera, Fushimi Inari Shrine and Kinkakuji will usually be packed (though we’ve got tips on how to mitigate that, too). Get out and see the lesser visited sights in Kyoto, though, and you’ll largely find relative calm and “normalcy,” as it were.
Oh, and the period where cherry blossom season (aka “Sakura”) – one of the peak seasons for Japan travel in places like Kyoto – overlaps with the start of Expo 2025? That’s probably going to be a double whammy. We’re talking about the first few weeks of April, most notably the stretch between April 8-20. If you’re coming during this time… well, I can’t even say “book early,” since ‘early’ has already passed. But the next best time to book your accommodations, restaurant reservations and local experiences is right now.
It won’t be just Osaka & Kyoto, either.
We expect to see heightened demand for day trips and overnight accommodations in nearby Nara, Kobe, Himeji and elsewhere across the Kansai region.
And with folks coming to Expo 2025 Osaka/Kansai, of course that means added interest in other destinations in Japan. Tokyo? Absolutely. Hiroshima? Many, yes. But there’s a whole country to get out and explore here. So if you’re coming for Expo, make a point of getting off the beaten path and finding some hidden gems in Japan!
Dangerous Tourism in Japan – Crackdowns, Pushback & Protection
A woman recently lost her life trying to take a photo on a train track in Otaru, on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido.
Let that sink in for a minute. Taking a photo on an active railway, near a station, and not thinking that a train might be approaching.
Sadly, this was a long time coming – and isn’t the first incident of tourists behaving badly to the point of causing nuisance (“meiwaku” in Japanese) and danger.
In other parts of Japan, tourists inspired by social media or anime have flocked to previously-local spots to re-create images with their phones. It’s been a big headache for Japanese folks who live in these areas, causing traffic jams, security issues and downright safety problems.
So this latest incident which ended in a fatality was only a matter of time.
And it’s prompted authorities at various levels of government to put measures in place. Don’t be surprised if you show up to one of these spots and see barriers, detours or limited access – thanks to the actions of a minority of travelers (driven by FOMO) ruining it for everyone.
Here at Japan Travel Pros, we encourage folks to slow down and enjoy a more authentic journey in Japan. Drive-by itineraries and photo-op travel not your thing? Ours, neither.
Looking for some great ways to avoid these types of jam-packed, over-touristed places — and get out there to see more of the real Japan? Talk to us and find out how!
Kyoto Accommodation Taxes Going Up A Bit
On the bright side, taxes are going up.
No, really, I mean that in a positive way. Hear me out!
Kyoto as a city has kinda been going broke for a long time. Despite the boom in tourist numbers, the city government hasn’t exactly, um, been run very well! Sorry, maybe that’s too far. Has experienced mitigated results in its efforts not to go into debt? Yeah, there we go.
A hotel tax has technically been in place for some time, to help pay for infrastructure that’s being used in greater numbers by visitors. But in many cases, that tax is barely a dollar. Not one dollar on every hundred, like 1%, but 200 yen total, or about a buck and change. At that rate, it costs more to administer the tax than the revenue it generates.
The new tax will range something along the lines of 200 yen/night for room rate of 6,000 yen or less; upwards to 4,000 yen for rates of 50,000~100,000 yen and 10,000 yen for luxury hotel rates of 100,000 yen or more. Yes, that’s more like it.
Now, if you’re a traveler wondering why Japan Travel Pros wants you to pay more taxes? That’s a fair point. But the goal is to keep Kyoto great and enable nice folks like you to keep visiting and enjoying it without the place bursting at its seams.
It’s similar to the US, for example, where cities, counties and states put taxes on hotels and rental cars to let visitors pay their fare share for what’s being used.
Will the Kyoto government ensure that the funds go to the right places, that locals and visitors will all reap the benefits? Only time will tell.
But for now, I’ll remain optimistic.
Airline Expansion for Japan Travel in 2025 & Beyond
Airlines are once again increasing their capacity to serve routes into and out from Japan.
ANA (All Nippon Airways, Japan’s largest airline) says it will have an 8% increase in international flight capacity for 2025 over 2024. Japan Airlines (JAL) is also expanding and adding routes.
Passengers visiting Japan from Europe and North America, among other origins, are seeing higher airfares these days due to increased demand, so the added capacity will be a welcome development.
Interestingly, while inbound tourism to Japan is back to and above 2019 levels, the number of Japanese who traveled outside Japan in 2024 was only around 70% of the level seen in 2019, before the global pandemic. That’s because of the weakened yen, favoring travelers visiting Japan but serving as a disincentive for Japanese to travel abroad.
This means that more Japanese will travel domestically, leading to a need for added capacity for flights and rail routes within Japan.
The airlines are doing their part, adding capacity on routes between Tokyo, Sapporo and Osaka, among others.
And while it’s not that easy to add bullet trains onto routes overnight, over time we’re seeing the acquisition of more rail stock. In the meantime, for peak seasons (and even “shoulder” season) in Japan, be sure to book your train or air tickets as early as possible.
What’s Ahead for Japan Travel in the Winter, Spring & Summer Months?
Here at Japan Travel Pros, January was a busy month – and we’re grateful for it.
We continue to help visitors to Japan plan their itineraries, and support folks after arriving here with our virtual concierge service.
Things are shaping up to be a very active spring and summer.
Want to find out how to get out ahead of the rush and make the most of your Japan trip? Why not schedule a free consultation with Japan Travel Pros, using the calendar tool below.
Until next time, happy travels!